Schmidt plans to use consensus-building skills in state senate
Republican Lake County Board Chairwoman Suzi Schmidt says she's confident she can be an effective state senator, even as part of the minority in the Democrat-controlled chamber.
Schmidt, 59, of Lake Villa, bounced Democrat state Sen. Michael Bond in Tuesday's election for the Senate District 31 seat. Bond, 40, of Grayslake, won his first 4-year term in 2006 when he beat Republican Warren Township Supervisor Suzanne Simpson.
After she's sworn in as a state senator in January, Schmidt said, she plans to scour the budget for potential cuts. She said areas of concern include the state-subsidized All Kids insurance program and Medicaid, both of which may have too many participants who should be ineligible because they are not needy.
Schmidt said she believes she can attract Democrat support for her efforts in Springfield because of her success in working with the party over the years on the Lake County Board. Schmidt has been the county board's chairwoman since 2000.
“I'm a pretty common-sense person,” she said Wednesday. “I've always been able to work with people on all sides of the aisle.”
The 31st Senate District covers most of northern Lake County.
Lake County Board member Pat Carey, a Democrat from Grayslake, agreed Schmidt has had an ability to work in a nonpartisan manner on issues.
“I would certainly expect she would take that approach and use it in Springfield,” Carey said.
One of Schmidt's future colleagues said it won't be easy being a Republican in the state senate. However, GOP state Sen. Dan Duffy of Lake Barrington said Schmidt's expertise in handling various county board factions will serve her well in Springfield.
“She is really going to have to rely on her consensus-building skills,” Duffy said.
Duffy, elected to the senate in 2008, said he plans to work on issues with Schmidt.
Schmidt stepped into local politics in 1985 when she was elected as a Lake Villa Township trustee. She departed that post for the Lake County Board in 1988.
Veteran Lake County Board member Steve Carlson said Schmidt is ready to move into state government. He also praised her ability to garner support from Democrats.
“She's mature,” said Carlson, a Republican from the Gurnee area who won re-election Tuesday. “She knows how to build a coalition. She knows how to work with others.”
County board members are expected to select a new chair in early December. Schmidt said she plans to keep her county board seat through that selection process, then resign before she joins the state senate in January.