Village president takes on incumbent in 25th Senate

A bumpy stretch of state Route 56 led Sugar Grove Village President Sean Michels to run for the Republican nomination for state Senate District 25.

"It seems minor," he says.

Last year, the town was putting on its best face for the thousands of visitors expected at the international Solheim Cup golf tournament at Rich Harvest Farms. But one of the major roads to and through Sugar Grove - Route 56 - was in bad shape, he said.

"Kay Hatcher (50th House representative) reached out in March and said, 'What do you need?' " Michels said. She then helped arrange a meeting between village and state transportation officials, which resulted in repaving of the road being moved up to be done before the tournament.

"How come we can't get this done more regularly?" Michels thought.

His answer: Because Sugar Grove is represented by Sen. Chris Lauzen of Aurora.

Michels contends that Lauzen's alienation from Republican leadership in Springfield costs the district in state money and in influence.

"He's not effective in his own party," Michels says, noting that after 17 years in office, Lauzen has no party leadership post.

This from a man whose own father contributed to Lauzen campaigns, as recently as 2007.

Michels said during his village and park board experience, he has learned how to work with other people, despite differences in opinions, to get things accomplished, "instead of just voting 'no' on everything."

But if that's meant to hurt Lauzen's feelings, forget it. He is used to criticism, and it may even be a badge of honor to him.

"There are four gripes the GOP has with me," Lauzen says.

No. 1: He criticizes party leaders. "The leadership job has been poor," Lauzen says, leading him to propose legislation that would change the way state Republican party leaders are elected. "If the results were good, I would not have a problem.

"I'm here to do a job on principle."

And it's not just state leaders he's criticized. "The worst thing was the Bush bailout of banks. Another example of the GOP says one thing and does another," he says.

No. 2: That he doesn't bring home the bacon - i.e., money for projects and programs in his district. Lauzen contends that he has; and that furthermore, his reputation as "Senator No" may be unfair. He says his district is one of the tops in getting state money. He also says he was "ready to bite the bullet" on approving sales tax on Internet purchases, to fund the recent capital bill - "but when they put the crack cocaine of gambling - the video poker - in" he voted no.

"Abraham Lincoln was a big building guy," he says.

No. 3: "They say, 'You won't shut up about corruption in your own party,' " Lauzen says. He's gone so far as to criticize members of former Congressman Dennis Hastert's family for profiting from land sales near the path of the proposed Prairie Parkway, even though the sales are legal. Hastert's son, Ethan, is running for the nomination for the Congressional seat.

No. 4: They don't like his temper. " 'Chris, you're not as happy-go-lucky as you used to be.' If you saw what I've seen in 17 years ..."

The primary is Feb. 2.

The winner will face Democrat Leslie Juby of Geneva in November. Juby, a Geneva school trustee, is unopposed in her primary bid.