Endorsement: Pettorini for House Dist. 61

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

In four years in the House, Democrat Joyce Mason has been a serviceable representative for her far northeastern IIlinois district and a reliable vote for Democratic Party leadership.

We think there's a better alternative for Dist. 61, which ranges from just north of Grayslake to the state line, encompassing communities like Antioch, Zion and Winthrop Harbor.

Republican Peter Pettorini brings the experience of a teacher and school board member and reasoned criticism of the direction of many state policies. He is an independent thinker - evidenced, among other issues, by his seeming eagerness to challenge the status quo on teachers union positions ranging from curriculum to classroom management. He expresses a strong interest in decision making that is focused on reason rather than partisanship, and pushes for spending policies that he believes are more in line with the state's revenues.

Although he serves on the Millburn Board of Education, Pettorini vows to resign if he wins the legislative election because "the responsibilities of each position require full attention and to try to do both would be a disservice to each."

That's the kind of commitment we like to see in a state lawmaker. Mason did not participate in our editorial board meeting to discuss candidates' visions for the state and the district, and she has not submitted answers to our questionnaire. We think Pettorini offers a more responsive alternative. He gets our endorsement.