Endorsements
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For U.S. Senate: not Dick Durbin
Friday, October 31, 2008
U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin has by historical standards been one of the luckiest politicians in the state's history.
He's now seeking his third term. In his other Senate campaigns he faced marginal competition and won easily, and that was before Illinois' Republican Party collapsed into a state of near complete dysfunction.
City can support township without tax increase
Friday, October 31, 2008
If members of the Champaign City Council support an increase in the township fund for general assistance, they can pay for it with city funds – and without going to the taxpayers.
Voters in Champaign are being asked to support a 2 cents per $100 of assessed valuation increase in their property tax rates to support the general assistance program in the City of Champaign Township. The tax increase would cost the owner of a $150,000 home about $9 a year.
Endorsements for Vermilion County offices
Friday, October 31, 2008
Auditor
Incumbent Democrat Linda Lucas Anstey, who has been in office for 19 years, is the clear choice over Republican challenger Stephen Green. Anstey, a certified public accountant, is more qualified and has more experience than Green.
Our endorsements for Champaign County Board
Thursday, October 30, 2008
District 1
Republicans John Jay and Larry Sapp are a good match for their largely rural and conservative district in northwest Champaign County. Both are conscientious county board members who are appropriately skeptical of increased spending. We hope they continue to be skeptical, particularly as it applies to the county nursing home, which is single-handedly ruining the county general fund bottom line. We would be remiss if we were not to mention the thoughtful campaigns of their Democratic opponents, Eric Thorsland and Scott Hays. We are particularly impressed with Thorsland.
Judges deserve another term
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Three judges who sit in Champaign County Circuit Court – Harry Clem, Thomas Difanis and Arnold Blockman – are running in a retention election across the six-county (Champaign, DeWitt, Moultrie, Piatt, Douglas and Macon) Sixth Judicial Circuit. The News-Gazette endorses their continued service on the bench.
Clem is the longest serving of the three. He was a lawyer in private practice before being appointed as an associate judge in 1979. Since then, he was elected to the position of circuit judge and has performed admirably. During his long tenure, Clem has presided over both civil and criminal cases and earned a reputation as a thoughtful and careful jurist.
For Congress: Tim Johnson
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
In a political campaign season that, especially in Illinois, appears to favor Democrats overwhelmingly, incumbent U.S. Rep. Tim Johnson, R-Urbana, faces only token opposition from the Democratic Party. Perhaps it is because of the strong rural and conservative nature of the 15th Congressional District. Perhaps it is because of Johnson's unusually independent voting record, especially the distance he has kept from President Bush on some noteworthy votes.
In any case Johnson's opponent, Steve Cox, has put up only a nominal campaign, with little money and even less organization. Still, he deserves credit for giving voters a choice. He has run a truly gentlemanly, issue-oriented and grass-roots race, much like Johnson's 2006 opponent, Dr. David Gill. But Gill managed to get just 42 percent of the vote, and he had significantly more resources than Cox has.
McCain best man for White House
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Tested by time, John McCain has shown the character, commitment and judgment necessary to be an effective president.
Almost all presidential campaigns are special historical events. But even by that lofty standard, the 2008 race between Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain has been special.
Vote 'yes' on Illinois constitutional convention
Friday, October 24, 2008
The opponents of a constitutional convention in Illinois have collected more than $1.2 million for a campaign to persuade Illinoisans that there's nothing wrong with Illinois government that elections won't fix. But that's part of the problem. The special interests opposed to a convention are the same interests that bankroll and control the Legislature and state government today. How satisfied are you with that mess?
Once every 20 years the Illinois Constitution gives voters the opportunity to call a convention to examine whether Illinois' constitution needs revision. Thankfully this year – a time when the Legislature is spending more than it is taking in, when the governor is clearly exceeding his authority on spending issues and when the courts and others have permitted the actual wording of the con con referendum question to go on the ballot with outrageously biased terms – is that year. These events and much more provide ample evidence that there are fundamental problems with Illinois government that only a constitutional convention could fix.
For county auditor: Brad Jones
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
For multiple reasons The News-Gazette endorses Republican Brad Jones for Champaign County auditor.
First, Jones has a much broader financial background than his Democratic opponent, Tony Fabri. While Jones has an MBA from Emory University, 18 years of experience in financial fields and most recently has been vice chairman of the county board's finance committee, Fabri's experience has largely been on the job, both as a county board member and as the auditor appointed two years ago to replace Mike Frerichs.
For circuit clerk: Kim Hooper
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
For the last two elections we've bemoaned the poor choice available to voters in the race for Champaign County circuit court clerk. Both times we felt as if our lukewarm endorsement of incumbent Linda Frank was essentially a default position; that she wasn't a good choice but her opponent was worse.
Finally we think the Democratic Party has come up with a competent candidate – 32-year-old Kim Hooper – who with her experience, zeal and personality, can undo the mound of problems in the office and help make it an efficient part of the county's judicial system.
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