When it comes to Oberweis, just call him ‘senator’
Jim Oberweis will finally get to take an oath of office.
The Sugar Grove Republican was the winner Tuesday in the race to become the state senator for the 25th District. With all precincts reporting, he defeated Democrat Corinne Pierog of St. Charles with 50,948 votes to 37,568, according to unofficial totals.
“I’m really thankful to the voters of the district to give me an opportunity to try to fix some of the problems” of the state, particularly its financial woes, Oberweis said Tuesday night.
He said he and Pierog “both ran good, positive campaigns based on our ideas.”
Oberweis intends to meet Friday with Chicago-area legislators and some experts to discuss proposals for pension reform. “I will be paying a lot of attention,” learning the pros and cons of various ideas, he said.
Oberweis will fill the post being vacated by Republican Chris Lauzen of Aurora, who has served the majority of the new 25th District since 1992. Lauzen was elected Tuesday as the Kane County Board chairman.
Pierog ran for the old 28th District Senate seat in 2010. She is a St. Charles school district trustee.
Besides being known for his investment and dairy businesses, Oberweis, 66, has also been tagged a perennial candidate. He ran unsuccessfully for governor, for the U.S. Senate and for Congress. He has been critical of his own party, especially when they picked out-of-stater Alan Keyes as its Senate candidate in 2004 after Jack Ryan dropped out of the race. Oberweis had placed second in the primary against Ryan.
During the current campaign, Oberweis promised to serve no more than eight years. He favors enacting term limits, saying career politicians become too beholden to party leaders for support for re-election.
He wants to change the way workers’ compensation cases are presented, and make sure that the 2011 temporary increases in personal and corporate income taxes go away in 2015 as scheduled.
He also called for requiring voters to show identification to vote.
The 25th District includes all or parts of Elgin, Wayne, West Chicago, Batavia, Geneva, St. Charles, Elburn, Campton Hills, Sugar Grove, Bristol, Yorkville, Montgomery and Aurora.