Buffalo Grove's Hartstein drops out of state House race

Former Buffalo Grove Mayor Elliott Hartstein on Monday announced he's dropping out of the race for the state House 59th District seat.

Hartstein's decision comes one month after he said he was running for the post now held by Democrat Carol Sente of Vernon Hills.

Sente isn't seeking re-election. She has represented the 59th District, which includes parts of northwest Cook County and southern and central Lake County, since 2009.

In a news release, Hartstein, a Democrat, said he believes he can accomplish more as a public policy advocate than as a legislator.

Hartstein also used the news release to bash Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan, railing against what he described as Madigan's "unlimited power and control" in the General Assembly.

Hartstein was the first candidate from either major political party to announce a bid to succeed Sente.

However, the field has grown since then, with candidates from both parties announcing plans to run.

They include: Democrats Daniel Didech, Tim Kobler and Susan Malter; and Republicans Karen Feldman and Marko Sukovic.

The primary election is in March 2018. The general election is in November.