Lisle's Connelly retains seat in Illinois House District 48

Voters in Illinois House District 48 approved another term for Republican incumbent Michael Connelly, according to unofficial results Tuesday.

Unofficial totals show Connelly defeating Democratic challenger Barbara Green of Lisle by earning more than 66 percent of 36,322 total votes, with all 92 precincts reporting.

“It's really humbling that in this environment when people are rightfully upset with Springfield and Washington insiders, they are giving me their blessing to return,” Connelly said. “I know it sounds cliché, but they want someone to go in and be a game-changer.”

Connelly, an attorney from Lisle, said job creation is his top priority and points to his record of backing business incentives for Ford, Mitsubishi and Navistar in aiming to bring jobs to Illinois. He also said tax incentives and showcasing resources such as Illinois railways and laboratories will help convince employers to settle in our state.

He also supports pension reform, saying the current state pension system is unsustainable. He said legislators should consider salary caps, changing how pensions are structured, and banning double-dipping.

Other strategies to relieve Illinois' $13 billion budget shortfall, said Connelly, include a multiyear restructuring of Medicaid to reduce funding, freezing spending and conducting a forensic audit of expenditures.

“Fixing the budget and bringing in jobs is my primary focus and, really, it should be the only focus in this legislative session.”

District 48 represents portions of Naperville, Lisle, Wheaton, Woodridge and Bolingbrook.