State candidates say why they're running

The candidates seeking election -- or re-election -- to the General Assembly in the Lake County area have varied reasons for running.

Some say they want to serve in the House or Senate because new voices are needed in Springfield. Others say lawmakers must do more to deal with the struggling economy, improve roads or help create more jobs.

The candidates talked about their motivations, their key issues and other topics in questionnaires for the Daily Herald and in follow-up interviews.

State Senate District 26

Democratic Round Lake Mayor Bill Gentes and Republican Dan Duffy differ a bit when it comes to their top three campaign issues.

Both men are running for a seat being vacated by retiring Republican state Rep. William Peterson of Long Grove. District 26 covers parts of Lake, Cook and McHenry counties.

Gentes, 49, lists property tax reduction, road improvements and education as his top three issues.

"I enjoy public service, and I believe that I have something to offer downstate as senator for the 26th District," Gentes said.

Duffy, 42, a business co-owner from Lake Barrington, said job creation, keeping taxes low and fighting corruption in Springfield are tops with him.

"As a father of five and a small-business owner, I have a vision for Illinois that is opposite of what is happening right now in Springfield," Duffy said.

State Senate District 30

Democratic state Sen. Terry Link is banking on his four-term experience in the Senate and legislative record to get him re-elected, while Republican challenger Keith Gray argued Link hasn't done much for his district.

Link, 61, a Waukegan Democrat who leads the party's Lake County wing and is the Senate majority caucus chairman, said he has been a strong advocate for his district since first being elected state senator in 1996.

"The 30th District needs someone who has the experience to continue to get the job done for them in Springfield," he said. "Last year, I passed into law the most important piece of legislation that I have had the privilege of working on, that being the Illinois statewide smoking ban. It is possibly the most important public health initiative that I have worked on."

Link said he also has led the charge on tougher environmental laws and capping property taxes. He added, the top three issues in his district are property tax relief, traffic congestion relief and education funding.

Gray said his campaign is about bringing change.

"State government is failing us, and I felt my state senator was not representing my interests, and he was going to run for re-election unopposed," he said. "I feel that I can bring a fresh perspective to state government."

Gray, 47, a small-business owner from Mettawa, listed balancing the state budget, controlling spending and ethics reform as his top issues.

The 30th District covers eastern Lake County from Waukegan south to North Chicago and southwest to Green Oaks, Mettawa, Lincolnshire and Riverwoods and a small portion of Cook County.

State House District 51

Republican state Rep. Ed Sullivan Jr. again faces a challenge from Democratic attorney Amanda Howland. Sullivan, 39, who seeks a fourth term, defeated Howland in 2006.

Sullivan, who's also Fremont Township's assessor, said lawmakers must pass a capital construction plan that rebuilds and expands roads and other elements of infrastructure. It's key to fixing the economic woes here, he said.

"By passing a capital plan, we will create over 500,000 jobs," Sullivan said. "These jobs will give a tremendous boost to the Illinois economy. A revitalized economy will provide new revenue that will allow us to address concerns in areas such as education, public safety, health care and pension fund deficits."

Howland, 56, of Lake Zurich, called herself a lifelong public servant. A former teacher who dealt with emotionally and behaviorally disturbed students, she said she also worked with public service groups and did free work while in law school in the 1990s.

She's never held elected office but doesn't see that as a shortcoming.

"I am not a career politician and believe that new voices are needed in Springfield," she said. "I am tired of the bickering and lack of action. I want to offer a voice of compromise and work on bipartisan agreements instead of getting involved in personal power struggles."

Howland cited improving education in Illinois and ethics reform among her top goals.

The 51st District includes much of central and southern Lake County.

State House District 52

Democrat Richard Garling is trying to unseat Republican state Rep. Mark Beaubien of Barrington.

Garling, 52, an Island Lake trustee, said job creation, transportation infrastructure and education are the issues topping his agenda.

"My main motivation for running is to ensure that the work the people expect from their government gets done, like passing a capital works bill," Garling said. "That alone would create jobs upfront and afterward."

Beaubien, 65, said a balanced budget, full funding of pensions and continued opposition to additional financial burdens on Illinois businesses top his list.

"I am running for re-election to the Illinois House because I believe that I am effectively meeting the needs of the 52nd District," said Beaubien, who noted his experience in the legislature, law, banking and the business community.

State House District 59

Incumbent state Rep. Kathleen Ryg said she is running for re-election based on her record of bipartisan cooperation, while her Republican opponent Daniel J. Sugrue said Ryg is a puppet of the current Democratic regime.

Ryg, 56, a Vernon Hills Democrat, said she is disappointed with the stalemate in Springfield on many issues and will continue working to build a coalition.

"I am frustrated by the current state of political gridlock and will continue to press for solutions to the many challenges we face including property tax relief, transportation and transit, education funding reform and accountability, and affordable health-care coverage," Ryg said. "I am committed to continue to meet with all my constituents to move our state forward in the most fiscally responsible way."

Sugrue, 44, a Green Oaks attorney, said Ryg has run unopposed since 2004 and the voters deserve a choice.

"She has been rated as one of the four most liberal members of the House," Sugrue said. "Her voting record represents the agenda of the Blagojevich administration more than the interests of the people in her district."

Sugrue said his top priorities are lowering the tax burden on residents of the 59th District, increasing accountability and transparency in the state budget process through sunshine laws and ending pay-to-play politics.

The 59th District is in east-central Lake County and northern Cook County from Park City south to Green Oaks, Vernon Hills, Lincolnshire, Riverwoods and Wheeling.

State House District 61

Reducing taxes is a top priority for both District 61 candidates, and one of their main reasons for seeking office. Republican incumbent JoAnn Osmond of Antioch and her Democratic challenger, James H. Parks, also of Antioch, agree Illinois residents are feeling the weight of an ever-increasing tax burden. Both say they have ideas to bring relief.

Parks, 60, an independent sales representative, said the solution is to attract new businesses to the northern edge of the county. "If we can attract manufacturers, distribution centers and warehouses to locate here, it would bring much-needed revenue," Parks said. "You would have increased property and sales tax money coming in."

Osmond, 62, said she would like to attract business like that as well, but stresses the state needs to get its fiscal house in order, too. "We need to tighten our own belts and not spend beyond our means," Osmond said.

Beyond taxes, Parks cites the need to improve the infrastructure in Lake County, including roads and utilities. Getting affordable health care for uninsured people is his third priority.

Osmond listed the creation of jobs and working to improve the overall health of the state's economy as her other top priorities.

The 61st District covers northern Lake County from Lake Michigan to the county line.