Endorsement: Walker for House Dist. 53

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

It's not every political race that offers two strong candidates.

But with the contest between Democratic incumbent Mark Walker and Republican challenger Jack Vrett in the 53rd House District, we find ourselves with good things to say about both of them.

Walker, of Arlington Heights, a retired business executive, served as District 53's representative from 2009-2011 until he was beaten by David Harris. When Harris decided not to seek reelection in 2018, Walker ran and took it back.

Vrett, an attorney and labor and employment negotiator, decided to run for office after representing a group of seniors in fighting the graduated income tax referendum on the basis the change would open the door to taxing retirement income.

While Walker voted for the hotly-debated Safe-T Act, he admits trailer bills are required to iron out some issues.

Vrett, however, feels the entire act should be repealed. Like many people these days, he is focusing on the no-cash-bail portion of it. He and Walker disagree entirely on what the law says.

While the Safe-T Act has some issues to be resolved, it should be amended, as is the case with most broad-reaching legislation, rather than scrapped entirely.

We like Vrett, but Walker has the benefit of a more nuanced approach to these matters.

Walker is endorsed.

The district includes portions of Arlington Heights, Mount Prospect, Rolling Meadows, Schaumburg and Elk Grove Village.