Manzullo cruises to another election night win

Voters are sending Republican Donald Manzullo back to Washington for another term representing the 16th Congressional District.

Manzullo retained the position he has held for the past 16 years by defeating Democratic challenger Robert Abboud and Green Party candidate Scott Summers.

With all 132 precincts reporting, Manzullo, 64, of Egan, had about 63 percent of the vote, according to unofficial election results.

Abboud, 51, of Barrington Hills, received about 33 percent of the vote and Summers tallied about 4 percent.

"The people have been very kind to send me back to Washington," Manzullo said Tuesday night. "We will continue to work to stop the beating on Wall Street, to strengthen manufacturing and make sure there are no increased taxes."

Manzullo said his continued emphasis on cleaning up the Fox River and improving traffic conditions in McHenry County are cornerstones to his success.

During his tenure, Manzullo has helped secure more than $32 million for road projects in McHenry County including the construction of Algonquin's Western Bypass, widening of Route 47 in Huntley and also of Rakow Road in Crystal Lake.

Manzullo also helped secure funds to clean up the Fox River by putting Johnsburg and Port Barrington on sewer systems. Those systems removed about a million gallons of sewage that was flowing into the Fox River daily.

"When you talk about cleaning up the Fox River and traffic congestion, that's politics as close to home as it comes," Manzullo said.

Keeping it close to home has also factored into his almost two decade-long run as a congressman representing a district of about 725,000 people.

"I have been close to the people that I represent," Manzullo said. "When I am not in Washington, I am back here."

Manzullo has said he would continue to fight congestion - including opposing more freight trains through Barrington.