Friedman, Morrison Open Offices, Trade Barbs

The two candidates hoping to succeed , opened their campaign offices a mile apart Saturday and wasted no time differentiating themselves from each other.

, the Democratic contender, criticized the lack of government experience of , the Republican choice. She claimed he has never been responsible to citizens and taxpayers.

“I am the only candidate in the race who has held elective office,” Morrison said to more than 50 people at the formal office opening. “I know what it’s like to be accountable to taxpayers and my opponent does not. I know how to balance a budget.” She has held her post 14 years.

Friedman admits he has not held elective office but speaks about his time as a public servant in the U.S. Navy. He also thinks his business experience running a medical practice has taught him budgeting.

"While it's true that I haven't held elected office, I'm a retired naval aviator who deployed to the Persian Gulf during Operation Desert Storm,” Friedman said. “I'm a small business owner who's had no choice but to actually balance his budget each and every year.”

. “I am the only 100 percent prochoice candidate,” she said.

“My understanding is he believes in parental consent,” she told Patch after her speech.

When asked before his office-opening event, Friedman indicated he supports a women’s right to choose. “I am completely prochoice,” he said.

“This is a medical issue and there is no place for the legislature to be in there,” he added referring to the parental consent question.

One of the few things Morrison and Friedman agree on is the proximity of their campaign offices to the residents of the 29th State Senate District. Friedman’s headquarters is in Highland Park’s Crossroads Shopping Center near Lake Cook and Skokie Valley roads.

"I am proud that we are located in a centralized area of the district and will be able to help support the small businesses that occupy the Crossroads Shopping Center," Friedman said to the 80 people who attended the opening event.

, at Lake Cook and Waukegan roads, Morrison had similar thoughts. “The district is half in Lake County and half in Cook County, and we want to be equally accessible to both constituencies,” she said.