DeSart considering run at Senger's 96th House seat

Dawn DeSart, who was elected to the Indian Prairie Unit District 204 school board this spring and was seated in May, already has her sights set on a higher office.

DeSart confirmed Monday she is considering a run at the 96th District House seat held by first-term Republican Rep. Darlene Senger of Naperville. The House district covers western Naperville, eastern Aurora and a small part of Warrenville.

She's always dreamed of running for statewide office, but DeSart said she didn't think that would happen for at least another decade. Then the Democrats came knocking.

The Aurora woman said she was first approached "in early summer" by state Democratic officials about challenging Senger. DeSart said she committed to solicit signatures on nominating petitions within the past week.

"I was told that the Democrats were searching the district for someone with a passion for public service who could work across the aisle and my name came up," DeSart said. "It sounds cliché, but I believe Springfield has too many politicians and not enough public servants and I've led a life of public service."

Nominating petitions, with at least 500 valid signatures, for the Feb. 2 primary must be filed with the state board of elections between Oct. 26 and Nov. 2.

"This is a little premature because I'm not officially running yet," said DeSart, who started circulating petitions Saturday and already has 300 signatures. "I'm putting a high mark on myself and won't even file unless I get at least 3,000 signatures because I need to know if there's any support out there."

If she was to be elected in the November 2010 general election, DeSart would have served less than half of her four-year school board term.

She said she doesn't think voters would hold it against her if she doesn't finish her term.

"I think people in this district are savvy enough to realize that most people running for an office already hold a lower or equal office," DeSart said. "I still have my number one job and that's the school district. I will not and I have not been shirking those responsibilities."

She also promised that, if she does make a run at Senger, it will not get as "controversial or negative" as the campaign run by Senger's previous opponent, Dianne McGuire, that tried to link Senger to "back-alley abortions."

"I live in this town and have a reputation in this town so if I run, it will be nothing like last time," DeSart said. "I have to go to church here and my kids have to go to school here, so I will not do anything to jeopardize my reputation."

Senger could not be reached for comment Monday.