After Battlin' Bill decided to retreat to the sidelines, two experienced candidates stepped forward to take his place.

It's a different kind of Illinois House race in the contest to succeed retiring Republican state Rep. Bill Black of Danville.

There's a Republican (former Catlin Mayor Chad Hays) and a Democrat (Danville Alderman Mike Puhr). But there's no traditional conservative/liberal split. Hays and Puhr both are running as conservatives, and Puhr is not only touting his conservative stands on social issues but also has denounced longtime Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan, the most powerful man in Illinois politics.

Although there is considerable agreement on social issues (pro-life and pro-gun) between Hays and Puhr, there are substantive differences on economic issues. It's our opinion that Hays offers the state a better alternative for gaining control of its serious budget problems and putting its economic house in order.

For that reason, Hays is our choice as the next Illinois House member from the 104th District.

Both candidates have considerable experience in public life at the local level.

The 55-year-old Puhr has been a Danville alderman for 10 years, filling a variety of roles in city government. He said he "loves community service" and described his decision to run for Black's open seat as a logical next step for someone of his interests.

Hays, who is 47, was elected mayor of Catlin when he was 28, and he served from 1991-99. He is a vice president of development and mission services for Danville's Provena United Samaritans Medical Center, a position that gives him considerable insight into a variety of health-related issues and social problems.

Out of political necessity, both candidates have focused on the state's egregious budget problems during their campaign. Puhr has called for a moratorium on new programs, limits on spending increases for some state programs and cuts in others. But he also has said an increase in the state income tax is necessary because the state's budget cannot be balanced without new revenue.

He suggested raising the state income tax from 3 percent to 4 percent to address the state's current budget deficit and passing an additional 1 percent to be used to pay off the state's $13 billion debt. Puhr also suggested approving property tax relief along with the tax hikes, and said that, ultimately, the state needs to implement a progressive income tax to replace its current flat tax.

Adopting a progressive income tax, where high-income individuals and families pay higher income tax rates, would require an amendment to the state Constitution.

Hays said that he would approve a state income tax increase only after the governor and legislators show a real commitment to reducing spending and paring back unaffordable programs. He suggests state government, like private business, needs to be constantly rethinking its approach with an eye on doing things better and cheaper.

Further, Hays said that Illinois has established "dramatic barriers" to business development and that until a variety of changes are made in areas of worker's compensation law and tort reform the state will continue to lose business opportunities to other states. That means little or no job growth.

One area in particular illuminates a crucial difference between the two candidates.

This past year, the governor and Legislature changed the pension rules for state employees hired after Jan. 1. The newer, less generous plan for new employees is part of the effort to gain control over the skyrocketing costs of public employees.

Puhr said he opposes the two-tier plan because it's unfair, and he suggests that state employees pay a greater share of their pension from their paychecks to shore up the system. But he said the biggest problem with public pensions is that the state has failed to make its required payments.

Hays was supportive of the two-tier pension approach, and so is The News-Gazette.

To continue to operate the state's pensions system as it is now is unaffordable. Certainly, the state bears huge responsibility for the problem of failing to meet its pension obligation payments. Legislators preferred to provide money for education, roads, Medicaid and public safety. But there hasn't been enough money to go around in the past and that won't change in the future unless big changes in spending are made, including in our public pension systems.

Public pension costs are a time bomb that are wiping out the state's ability to meet its core functions. Out of loyalty to labor unions, including public labor unions, Puhr is embracing an approach that can only lead to disaster.

Hays' opinion on the need to control pension costs is no great insight. It's obvious, however much unionized public employees may not like it. But it's also indicative of his view that Illinois must change the way it does business. That's why he has our endorsement in this important House race.