Kotowski wins reelection to state Senate

Democratic incumbent Dan Kotowski was reelected to his District 33 state senate seat by getting about 60 percent of the votes cast in his district on Tuesday. He defeated Republican Mike Sweeney of Arlington Heights.

"We did exactly what we wanted to do," said Kotowski from his campaign party in Park Ridge. "We got the information out there and communicated with our constituents."

With 163 of 188 of precincts reporting, Kotowski led with 60 percent of the vote while Sweeney received about 40 percent, according to unofficial vote totals.

Kotowski said he's more of an independent and that resonated with voters.

For example, Kotowski said he supported the recall amendment and pointed to his vote for a measure that banned statewide officials like Gov. Rod Blagojevich from taking campaign cash from contractors. Kotowski also supports Harper College's push to offer four-year degree programs.

During his next term as state senator, Kotowski wants to work toward property tax reform and helping parents with the rising cost of college tuition.

"I want to make sure people can stay in their homes," he said.

Sweeney called Kotowski and congratulated him at about 11 p.m. on Tuesday.

"I wished him the best of luck. He has a lot of work to do when he gets back to Springfield," Sweeney said. "We ran a heck of a campaign and I have a great group of volunteers. I wouldn't have done anything differently. The voters made their decision and I respect that."

In the months leading up to Tuesday, the two criticized each other's television ads and had different stances on expanding gambling. Kotowski has opposed expanding gambling, but that last year he voted for it "because it was the only revenue option available at the time that did not involve higher taxes that put people to work through school construction, road and infrastructure projects, and to create alternative forms of energy," he wrote in his questionnaire.

Sweeney said he "will not support gambling expansion to fill budget gaps created by irresponsibly out of control spending."

The 33rd District covers parts of Elk Grove, Park Ridge, Arlington Heights, Mount Prospect and Des Plaines.