Villa Park's Conroy claims second term in 46th

Democrat Deb Conroy of Villa Park won her second term to represent the 46th House District in Springfield.

The incumbent beat out Republican candidate Heidi Holan.

With all 75 precincts reporting, Conroy garnered 11,730 votes while Holan received 10,783 votes.

Before serving in the state legislature, Conroy was a board member for Elmhurst Unit District 205.

During her campaign, Conroy said she does not support the extension of the income tax increase nor the pension cost shift to schools, and that state spending cuts are necessary for the budget.

The 46th District includes all or parts of Addison, Bloomingdale, Carol Stream, Elmhurst, Glen Ellyn, Glendale Heights, Lombard, Oakbrook Terrace and Villa Park.

Conroy said she loves being a legislator, and that she would look forward to getting back to her job and representing the interests of the 46th district.

"I take on any fight that comes my way that represents them," she said. "And I look forward to every challenge that there is. And right now it's basically budget issues and fighting SB 16."

Senate Bill 16 would divert more state money for education to poorer districts, while reducing payments to wealthier, often suburban, districts.

Conroy said "priority No. 1" is "making sure that the folks that are carrying that bill (SB 16) understand that poverty is not a ZIP code anymore."