Endorsement: Canty for House Dist. 54

This endorsement is a consensus opinion of the Daily Herald Editorial Board.

Come January, there will be someone new representing the 54th Illinois House District, which serves portions of Arlington Heights, Mount Prospect, Prospect Heights, Rolling Meadows, Palatine and Buffalo Grove.

Republican incumbent Tom Morrison, a steady conservative voice for the district since 2011, decided against seeking reelection.

But in the 2020 redistricting process, the borders of the district shifted eastward. Time will tell whether the political leanings of the electorate have shifted as well.

Morrison's replacement will be either political newcomer Michele Hunter or first term Arlington Heights Trustee Mary Beth Canty, running as a Democrat.

Both candidates are attorneys who live in Arlington Heights. But that's where the similarities end.

Canty favors the Safe-T Act, while Hunter favors its repeal.

Canty calls for “not putting weapons of war (AR-15s) on the streets of Illinois.”

Hunter notes a local gun law in Highland Park did not prevent the July 4 mass shooting and a “feel good” gun law would not solve Illinois' gun violence problems. Rather, she said, the state should ensure people with mental health problems not have access to guns.

Canty favors Illinois' position on abortion rights, while Hunter calls it the most extreme in the nation.

Both candidates speak intelligently on their positions, but Canty's service on the village board and her position on guns give her the edge.

Canty is endorsed.