Endorsement: Gillespie for Senate Dist. 27

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

Arlington Heights corporate attorney Ann Gillespie entered politics as a state senate candidate four years ago, inspired by the Women's March. In her first term in office, though, she has proved herself to be a well-rounded senator who has addressed such thorny issues as ethics reform, taxation and special financing districts.

In fact, she chaired the Senate's first ethics committee, which worked on and vetted legislation that seeks to put what is widely known as one of the most corrupt states in the country on a better path.

Under her stewardship, Illinois has closed the nagging ethics loophole for shadow lobbyists, those former state legislators who become "consultants" rather than registering as lobbyists.

She advocates for stricter rules on tax increment financing districts that would apply objective standards to what kinds of areas can be called "blighted" to prevent TIF district misuse.

Challenging Gillespie is Republican Bill Robertson, a former superintendent in Fremont District 79 and school board president in Palatine-Schaumburg Township High School District 211. He declined to participate in an interview with the editorial board but in his candidate questionnaire cited corruption, crime and high taxes as his primary concerns.

Gillespie is endorsed.

The 27th Senate District includes portions of Arlington Heights, Mount Prospect, Prospect Heights, Palatine and Buffalo Grove.