Elk Grove Township Clerk running for Senate seat

Elk Grove Township Clerk Mike Sweeney announced Thursday he will seek the Republican nomination for the 33rd District senate seat won last year by Democrat Dan Kotowski.

Sweeney said he has been considering running for several months. He said he is confident he can do a better job than Kotowski, providing thoughtful, independent leadership.

He added, "With the primary moved to Feb. 5, it's very important I get started now."

Kotowski, asked for a reaction, said he is too involved with the activity of the General Assembly as it tries to get a budget passed to think about the upcoming election.

"I think there will be time to talk about politics once the budget is passed," he said. "I've been focusing on all the initiatives that I concentrated on during my campaign, from property tax relief to stem cell research, support for ethics initiatives and violence prevention measures."

Sweeney was elected Township Collector in April 2005, but didn't get a chance to serve. Instead, he was tapped to replace Elk Grove Township Clerk Cheryl Axley, who had been appointed to the 33rd District senate seat relinquished by Republican David Sullivan.

Axley was defeated by Kotowski in the general election last year.

An Arlington Heights resident, Sweeney graduated from St. Zachary School in Des Plaines and Notre Dame High School in Niles.

Sweeney, who graduated with honors from Michigan State University with a degree in political science/pre-law, works as an assistant manager for Walgreens, in addition to his duties as township clerk.

Sweeney said he believes in limited, responsible government. He said he also believes that government should encourage economic growth by limiting taxes on citizens and businesses.

In a prepared statement, he said, "How can we continue to support ourselves and our families when we are paying an increasing portion of our income in taxes? What family or business would want to move to Illinois?"