The following is the letter sent by Greg Bedell to the Sun-Times’ Editorial Board after its effective endorsement of a one party election:

To the Editorial Board:

As one of the non-Democratic Party candidates in the race for the 5th Congressional District seat, I was disheartened, not by your selection of Mr. Quigley, but what can only be seen as the Sun-Times’ endorsement of a one party system.

The Blagojevich scandal, the pay-to-play scandals (which your paper headlined on its front page just last week) and what seems to be the never ending stream of corruption surrounding our local governments, are testimony to the inevitable abuses inherent in a one party system. It is clear that this situation will not change until the party in power is truly challenged and, if merited, removed.

Notwithstanding that the Sun-Times sees a statistical inevitability in this election, the people of the 5th District have many choices available to them across several parties. The Sun-Times has done a disservice to its readers, and has failed in its public trust, by failing to inform people of their choices and guide them, if it sees fit, through thoughtful endorsements. This is unfortunate; and a city with the stature of Chicago deserves better.