Schaumburg Twp. highway commissioner will challenge Mussman for House seat

Schaumburg Township Highway Commissioner Scott Kegarise announced Monday he will run as Republican in November for the 56th state House District seat held by Democrat Michelle Mussman since 2010.

Kegarise, a 40-year resident of Schaumburg, said he was recruited to run for the seat by local GOP officials after no Republican filed before the March 17 primary election.

"I am truly humbled by the tremendous grass-roots support that our campaign has received in such a short period of time," Kegarise said in his announcement. "I believe our community is finally losing its patience with the Mussman/Madigan machine, and I intend to bring our message of job creation, property tax relief, and term limits to Springfield."

The 56th District includes parts of Schaumburg, Elk Grove Village, Hoffman Estates, Bartlett, Hanover Park, Palatine, Rolling Meadows and Roselle.

Kegarise's wife, Char, ran for the same legislative seat as a Republican in 2018, but was defeated in the GOP primary by Jillian Bernas, who went on to lose to Mussman the following November.

According to his announcement. Kegarise collected 1,350 petition signatures in three weeks to get on the November ballot, something Schaumburg Township Republican Committeeman Joe Folisi described as a "terrific grass-roots accomplishment."

Kegarise is in his second term as highway commissioner, and previously served two terms as a township trustee. He's also served as president of the Schaumburg Athletic Association and president of the Schaumburg Jaycees.