Duffy state Senate replacement McConchie sworn in

Dan McConchie was sworn in as the new 26th District state senator at a ceremony Wednesday night, filling the empty seat left by Barrington Hills Republican Dan Duffy who first announced his resignation March 16 after McConchie won the Republican primary.

McConchie was sworn into office by Lake County Judge Daniel Shanes at a meeting of the committee tasked with filling the Senate seat at 112 Wool St. in Barrington Wednesday night.

After being sworn in, McConchie said he will drive down to Springfield Thursday morning to join his new colleagues and get to work.

"We aren't lacking good ideas to solve what ails us. What we are lacking is the political will to do what is right," McConchie said in a statement released Wednesday night. "It's time to stop the cronyism and self-dealing that has characterized our state for decades. I will work every day to do that."

McConchie, a Hawthorn Woods Republican, won the primary election in March, defeating Mettawa Mayor Casey Urlacher and Barrington Hills Mayor Martin McLaughlin. The appointment means he will have around seven months in office before the November election.

No Democrat candidates have filed to run in November.

The committee who appointed McConchie to Duffy's old seat consists of Republican Party Chairs from Kane, Lake and McHenry counties and the elected Barrington and Hanover Township Republican Committeemen from Cook County.

Duffy resigned April 3 to take the position of President and CEO of Prevent Child Abuse America.