School board member may challenge Sandack in primary
Teacher Keith Matune says is preparing for a Republican primary election challenge to state Rep. Ron Sandack of Downers Grove and could receive backing from a top conservative group.
Matune, a member of the Downers Grove-based High School District 99 school board, says he’s gathering petition signatures and will run if he gets enough. He is a social studies teacher at Waubonsie Valley High School in Aurora.
Matune said he’d be the “clear conservative” in the race and pointed to Sandack’s support of same-sex marriage after previously being against it.
“My point is a matter of character and personal ethics,” Matune said.
Sandack announced his re-election bid earlier this week and touted his support of the one of two competing pension reform proposals that would cut benefits further and save the state more money.
And he argues supporting same-sex marriage is a conservative position because it keeps government out of a personal decision.
The primary election is March 18.
Jon Zahm, a field representative for Illinois Families First, said the group might spend money independently to support Matune but wouldn’t work with him directly because of campaign finance laws.
The group, led by Chicago-based Family PAC director Paul Caprio, has worked to find a primary election opponent for the suburbs’ other House Republican who has backed same-sex marriage, state Rep. Ed Sullivan of Mundelein. Matune said he’s not talked to anyone from Illinois Families First.