Lt. Governor candidates on Illinois Rivers

Most people don't realize that the Lt. Governor also chairs the Illinois River Coordinating Council. The News Tribune did one of the few substantive articles I've seen on the race by focusing on this issue. It's interesting to see which candidates emphasize rivers as an economic resource for shipping without as much to say about the other ways rivers have value.



My pick in the race, Mike Boland, lives along the Mississippi and wants to expand the work of the council to protect other state waterways.

“I’m familiar with the Illinois River where my opponents are not.” Boland said he would focus as well on the Wabash, Rock and Mississippi Rivers, “to make sure those rivers stay viable, that they are increasingly being used for drinking water, transportation and recreation.”

I realize it's difficult for papers to cover an office with few job responsibilities and a long list of candidates in both parties. So good job on the News Tribune for focusing on an important but overlooked aspect of the office! The conversation needs to be expanded.