Hatcher holds off foes in 50th Dist.
Freshman lawmaker Kay Hatcher held off two challengers Tuesday in her bid for the Republican nomination for the 50th House District 2-year term.
With 100 percent of precincts counted, Hatcher had 46 percent of votes, and Wheeler had 40 percent, according to unofficial returns. Bob McQuillan of Geneva had 13 percent. Hatcher tallied 8,763 votes, Wheeler 7,392 and McQuillan 2,541.
The winner will face Democrat Linda Healy of Aurora in November. Healy was unopposed in Tuesday's primary.
"The most defining (message from the vote) is 'experience counts,'" Hatcher said.
Both of her opponents, she said, could promise to do things when they got to Springfield, "but I have reflected that in my votes."
Wheeler, former chairman of the Kendall County GOP, criticized Hatcher for accepting funding from a political action committee that supports abortion rights.
Wheeler and McQuillan are opponents of abortion rights.
McQuillan, who founded a group that watches the spending of the Geneva school district, spent little money on his campaign, saying it was ridiculous to spend large amounts of money on a job that pays relatively little.
He called for limiting campaign spending for all offices, depending on the level of office.
Hatcher ran on her reputation as a social moderate and practical fiscal conservative, willing to work for compromise and consensus.
She cited her work bringing the state's Accountability Portal to fruition.
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<li><a href="/news/politics/elections/2010/primary/race/?id=67">More on 50th Dist. House race </a></li>
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