Forget abortion, gay marriage or the Iraq war.

Arguably, the most bitter issue dividing residents in the 6th Congressional District primary race is the future of O'Hare International Airport.

With hundreds of homes and businesses in Bensenville and Elk Grove Village threatened by O'Hare expansion plans, the two communities are suing to try to halt Chicago's building plans.

But the towns are losing allies close to home with influential entities such as the DuPage County Board convinced that growing the airport will create thousands of jobs.

That schism is reflected in 6th District Democratic candidates Christine Cegelis, Lindy Scott and Tammy Duckworth.

The winner of Tuesday's primary will meet Republican state Sen. Peter Roskam in the November election for retiring U.S. Rep. Henry Hyde's seat.

Scott, a Wheaton College professor, differs from his rivals in calling the project wrong.

"Bensenville will be wiped out," Scott said. "The people of Bensenville deserve to be heard and represented. I will defend them. This is not a done deal."

Duckworth, a veteran from Hoffman Estates, supports the improvements that will reconfigure and add runways.

As a helicopter pilot wounded in the Iraq War, she said crowding at O'Hare has to be taken seriously but she also sympathized with residents worried about noise.

"We definitely need to protect the quality of life the best we can," Duckworth said. "But at the same time, O'Hare expansion allows (the district) to be an economic engine."

Duckworth promised to convene regular meetings of district mayors to discuss and work on solutions to O'Hare and other issues.

Cegelis, a technology consultant from Rolling Meadows who's worked with the airline industry, is worried about O'Hare losing its edge as the world's busiest airport.

"United and American airlines are among the district's largest employers; they've had to cut back on flights because of delays. We need to expand, or we'll continue to lose jobs," she said.

Cegelis pledged to use her authority, if elected, to ensure people living near the airport whose homes are threatened get properly compensated.

"Let's make the best deal for Bensenville," she said.

Scott counters that many of the anticipated jobs will be low- paying.

"The human cost is too much," Scott said. "I don't think the people of the district really want it to become that industrialized, that congested."

He also says the O'Hare improvement plan could have been tweaked to spare homes.

But flying is not the only quagmire locally - gridlock, dangerous intersections and inadequate public transit can make getting around the 6th District a nightmare.

Both Cegelis and Duckworth touted the STAR commuter railway line plan. It would extend the Metra railway system, connecting points like Joliet and Hoffman Estates and offering access to O'Hare.

"It gives us a new approach to urban transit," Duckworth said.

She also advocates encouraging employers to provide subsidies to workers using public transit. The program could offer tax credits and be paid for by reducing subsidies to the oil industry, Duckworth said.

Another priority is beefing up local bus service. Duckworth cited the example of a commuter who was forced to take taxis to his job on the night shift because no buses were available.

Cegelis said she'll push to make the STAR line a reality.

"Some of the money has been allocated but we need more to move forward with that," she said. "Pace buses don't do it."

She advocated improving busy intersections like North Avenue and Route 83, saying a bypass could help pedestrians.

"There's no way people can cross the street," Cegelis said. Funds for the bypass could come from the federal transportation budget, she said.

Scott listed Butterfield Road and North Avenue as hazards and called for improvements.

"It's very important because several people were killed on North Avenue," he said.

Another Scott priority is obtaining high-speed rail service for Illinois, connecting spots like Springfield and Chicago or St. Louis and Chicago.

"It's ridiculous to have to fly. People spend more time in the airport than they would with high-speed rail," he said.

Scott said his ideas could be paid for by ending the Iraq war.

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