Peterson retirement opens up race for Senate seat

The race is on to replace retiring Long Grove state Sen. William Petersen.

The period to officially get in the race came to a close Monday, with four men -- two Democrats and two Republicans -- throwing their hat in the ring for a chance to become the next state senator from the 26th District.

The candidates vying to represent each party in the Feb. 5 primary are Democrats Bill Gentes from Round Lake and Richard Hammes from North Barrington and Republicans Rod Drobinski from Wauconda and Dan Duffy from Lake Barrington.

While he won't be endorsing any of the candidates, Peterson, who has spent the last 15 years as a state senator, said he will be supporting his party.

"I think both of the (Republican) candidates are fine choices," Peterson said.

On the GOP side, voters will decide between Duffy, a 41-year-old data management executive and an active member of the National Federation of Independent Businesses, and Drobinski, a Lake County assistant state's attorney.

Drobinski had sought a seat on the Fremont Library board of trustees in 2006. However, he was removed from the ballot after it was determined he did not live in the district.

Democrats will choose between Gentes, the 47-year-old mayor of Round Lake and a real estate trade group executive, and Hammes, a 66-year-old business management consultant and psychologist.

Whichever candidate ultimately wins will have a big challenge, Peterson said.

The 71-year-old said with so little getting accomplished in Springfield, this has been his toughest year in office.

"I will be very happy when my term expires," Peterson said. "There is just total chaos (in Springfield)."

The 26th District includes an area that stretches from Libertyville Township in Lake County west to Nunda, Dorr and McHenry townships in McHenry County and south to part of Palatine Township in Cook County.