advertisement

Endorsement: Ellman for Illinois Senate in the 21st District

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

Last Dec. 23, Kathleen Murray of Lombard was doing last-minute Christmas shopping at Oakbrook Center when she heard shots ring out and customers scream.

She estimates she was about 15 feet away from one of the two gunmen. Five people were wounded, including one of the gunmen. Another shopper was injured in the rush to get away.

It was a life-altering moment, Murray told us, a terrifying one in which she was forced to come to grips with the possibility she might be shot.

It led her to recognize, as the Republican website for her campaign for Illinois Senate District 21 explains, "that one cannot sit idly by waiting for change or waiting for the next tragedy, but that she must become an agent of change."

We have no doubts about the depth of her interest in the public welfare. Frankly, we wish we could endorse her.

But Murray is new to politics and to public policy, and it is clear she needs to strengthen her resume. As an example, she espouses a law requiring taxpayer-funded agencies to fire and replace a minimum of 10% of their lowest-performing staff each year. The impracticality of that and the chaos it would create should be obvious. We encourage her broaden her study of the issues.

Our endorsement goes to incumbent Democrat Laura Ellman of Naperville, whose expertise has catapulted her even in her first term into a leadership position in the Illinois Senate on next-generation energy issues and the future use of nuclear energy.

The newly drawn district takes in parts of Downers Grove, Glen Ellyn, Lisle, Lombard, Naperville, Villa Park, Warrenville and Wheaton.

Article Comments
Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.