Elliott Hartsein, Buffalo Grove
Elliott Hartstein, the village president of Buffalo Grove, campaigned hard for Barack Obama, so he's pleased he'll have a chance to see him take office. Hartstein is going to Washington, D.C., for the U.S. Conference of Mayors and staying for the inauguration.
Hartstein pounded the pavement for Obama's campaign, going to Wisconsin, Indiana and Iowa to talk to voters.
"It's exciting to see this become a realization," he said. "I was very enthused about his campaign from the outset because I thought he could make a difference to this country. I view this inauguration as a new beginning."
Although the financial crisis is likely to be one of the first tasks handled, Hartstein said he hopes Obama also will tackle issues including health care reform, energy and the environment early on.