Froehlich, Forte-Scott spar over Democratic ties

State Rep. Paul Froehlich got right to it on Saturday.

In his opening remarks at a candidate forum in Schaumburg, Froehlich asserted that he is not "a friend to Rod and Todd," referring to Gov. Rod Blagojevich and Cook County Board President Todd Stroger.

"I worked against both in '06, and would not support either of them in future elections," he said.

Froehlich, a Schaumburg Democrat who bolted from the Republican Party last year, has tried hard to distance himself from the two politicians throughout his campaign to retain the 56th House District seat. On Saturday, he said Blagojevich and Stroger are the "poster boys for a recall."

Anita Forte-Scott, a Republican from Schaumburg running against him, said she's not convinced by Froehlich's remarks, and repeatedly accused him of changing sides for personal gain.

"To jump ship and join them now, to advocate for what they're doing, is wrong for (the district)," Forte-Scott said.

The two discussed other issues during the forum, including the excessive partisanship among legislators in Springfield.

Froehlich said legislators have to stop pointing fingers and blaming the other party for all the state's problems.

"I'm the only member of the Legislature who has been in both party caucuses," he said. "I think I'm best equipped to take a relatively bipartisan approach to policy-making."

Forte-Scott said she would make it a priority to work not just with the other party, but with legislators from other parts of the state.

"Illinois is not just suburbs and city, it's agricultural land and farms and all the small towns and cities in between," she said.

On the issue of education, Froehlich said the state has to find a way to reduce its reliance on property taxes to fund schools, without endangering property-rich school districts. Forte-Scott said making the state and school systems more accountable for how they spend money has to be a part of the discussion, as well.

Saturday's forum at Friendship Village retirement community was sponsored by the League of Women Voters of the Palatine Area. The general election is Nov. 4. The 56th House District includes Schaumburg and portions of Elk Grove Village, Hoffman Estates, Palatine, Rolling Meadows, Hanover Park, Roselle and Bloomingdale.