ENDORSEMENT: Grant Wehrli for Illinois House in 41st District

Being an effective legislator means more than expounding on one’s overarching goals. It’s about having a command of the broad range of issues that lawmakers face. Even in the recent pandemic-shortened session, the Illinois House considered more than 5,800 bills.

In the 41^st Illinois House District, we believe the candidate who has better demonstrated that depth of knowledge is Republican incumbent Grant Wehrli, even if we frequently don’t always agree with his policy positions.

Wehrli has supported a 72-hour wait on long-gun purchases and the state’s “red flag” law that allows relatives to petition courts to temporarily remove firearms from people who are a threat to themselves or others. He was chief House co-sponsor of a bill enacted into law to cap ethylene oxide emissions at sterilization facilities and distance them from schools and parks. He has taken on the issue of police and fire chiefs who “double dip” by taking two pensions. Property tax relief is among his other goals.

Democrat Janet Yang Rohr, who is running a race well-funded by Democrats, espouses appealing ideals, but she needs to do more homework.

Illustration by Catherine Hurley

For more information about this race and others, including candidate questionnaires, go to our Illinois primary voting guide. Our newspaper is owned by a group of civic-minded and, in some cases, politically active investors; for details, see our owner information page.

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