advertisement

GOP names challengers to Link, Ryg

A school board member and a political newcomer will challenge two established Democratic lawmakers in November's general election, Lake County Republican leaders announced Thursday.

Keith Gray, a Mettawa resident, business owner and member of the Rondout Elementary District 72 board, will challenge state Sen. Terry Link for the 30th Senate District seat.

Dan Sugrue, an attorney from Green Oaks, will try to unseat state Rep. Kathy Ryg in the race for the 59th House District post.

No Republicans ran in February's primary election for the two legislative seats, so party leaders were able to select candidates for the slots.

Dan Venturi, chairman of Lake County's GOP organization, said both candidates' platforms will focus on the exodus of businesses from the state and rising taxes.

Gray said he sought the Republican nomination for the Senate seat because Link was set to run unopposed.

Link, of Waukegan, has held the Senate seat since 1997. He also leads the county's Democratic organization and is the Senate's majority caucus chairman.

Gray knows Link is entrenched politically and is well-funded. He admitted his campaign will be an uphill battle.

"He's a very tough candidate," said Gray, who's in his second term on the Rondout board and also serves on the Mettawa zoning board of appeals. "Either we're going to make him retire or make him more accountable."

Despite Link's clout in Springfield, some Republicans have said he is vulnerable because of concerns that arose during his primary campaign. The state's attorney's office is investigating why Link's candidate petition contained the names of dead people and residents who've denied signing the form, as well as other irregularities.

Link has said he didn't personally collect the signatures for his petition. He has declined to comment on the investigation.

As for his new GOP challenger, Link said he doesn't intend to retire and maintains he has the support of his constituents.

"I've been re-elected four times," Link said. "I think the voters know who I am, what I stand for and what I've done for them through the years."

In the 59th House District, Sugrue will challenge Ryg, a Vernon Hills resident who's served since 2003.

Sugrue briefly worked on Waukegan attorney Al Salvi's unsuccessful campaign for the U.S. Senate in 1996. He is seeking elected office for the first time.

Like Gray, Sugrue said he threw his hat into the political ring after realizing Ryg was set to run unopposed, which she also did in 2006.

Sugrue accused Ryg of being out of touch with the district, particularly when it comes to taxes. He criticized her for supporting the tax-based, regional mass transit bailout despite Lake County voters twice rejecting sales-tax increases that would have funded local transportation improvements.

"With the economy the way it is, the last thing we need is more sales taxes," Sugrue said.

Ryg said she and other area officials supported the bailout because it includes millions of dollars for road projects in Lake County. The alternative, she said, is living with gridlock.

The 30th Senate and 59th House districts cover much of the same ground. Both are in eastern Lake County and include small portions of Cook County.

Venturi also announced Bill Anderson, a Waukegan Unit District 60 board member, will challenge Democratic state Rep. Eddie Washington for the 60th House seat. That district incorporates the Waukegan and North Chicago area.

Keith Gray
Article Comments
Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.