Democrat hopefuls talk teamwork for Springfield

Both Democratic candidates running for the state Senate in the 26th District admit there's a lack of compromise in Springfield.

But how to fix the problem isn't so easy, they say.

Richard Hammes, 66, of North Barrington, and Bill Gentes, 48, of Round Lake, have their own ideas for bettering the atmosphere with state leaders.

If elected, Hammes wants to form coalitions with other suburban state senators to make their voices heard.

"I'd focus on the newly elected ones, and if I could get a voting bloc of 12 or 15 state senators, we could move along some legislation," he said.

Gentes said he knows that if elected, it'll be a struggle to have his voice heard since he'll be a new senator in a party that, while it controls the legislature, has seen much internal division.

"It is a shame," he said. "We are all Democrats and we all should be getting along to move the state forward."

The important thing, Gentes says, is to elect people with demonstrated leadership skills. Since he currently serves as the mayor of Round Lake, Gentes said he has what it takes.

The two candidates are running in the Feb. 5 primary for the seat being vacated by longtime Republican Sen. William Petersen, who is retiring.

Both candidates say they'd support Emil Jones as president of the senate.

"I don't think Emil is the problem," Gentes said. "I think Gov. Rod Blagojevich is the problem."

Hammes says that with the coalition he'd form, it would reach across party lines.

"We can force things out of committees if we have enough people," he said, adding Jones is probably sitting on some legislation that could be passed.

The winner of the primary will face Republican Dan Duffy of Lake Barrington in November. He is unopposed in the Republican primary.

The 26th District 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.