Didech, Feldman lead in 59th Illinois House race

Vernon Township supervisor Daniel Didech of Buffalo Grove holds a comfortable lead for the Democratic nomination, and veteran Lincolnshire trustee Karen Feldman is ahead in the Republican race for the Illinois House 59th District.

With all seven Cook County precincts and 83 percent of Lake County precincts reporting, unofficial results showed Didech leading Lake Forest attorney Susan Malter 3,248 to 2,241 votes. Feldman was ahead of college senior Marko Sukovic 1,522 to 1,027. Both are Lincolnshire residents.

The Democratic Party has held the 59th District seat since the district was reshaped after the 2000 census.

Didech and Feldman will square off to replace Democrat Carol Sente, who did not seek a fifth term. The 59th District includes portions of 21 towns, including large sections of Lincolnshire, Buffalo Grove, Wheeling, Vernon Hills and Mundelein.

Both Didech and Feldman said they will leave their local elected offices if elected Nov. 6 to the Illinois House seat.

The two had strong support from their respective party organizations and logged substantially more in contributions than their opponents.

Didech, a municipal attorney who was elected Vernon Township supervisor last year, was endorsed by Sente and by Sente's predecessor, Kathy Ryg.

During the campaign, he said high property taxes were deterring small businesses from opening in the 59th District. He advocates a property tax freeze and said increasing exemptions for seniors, veterans and middle class homeowners are priorities.

Feldman said changing the property tax and school funding systems are key issues, and she called on the legislature to approve referendums for constitutional amendments on legislative redistricting and term limits.