Local Cook Co. races can affect you most directly

Even though Senate and gubernatorial races get more attention, your vote goes a lot farther in smaller contests where fewer people get to vote.

That includes some Cook County and state House races, as well as local referendums in Barrington, Tower Lakes, Mount Prospect and Wheeling that will affect everything from garbage pickup to phone bills.

Today's primary election will decide which candidates advance to the general election in November. For both parties, one of the most contentious races is in the 59th District.

For the Democrats, Buffalo Grove Village President Elliott Hartstein is running against incumbent Carol Sente.

Sente, 48, was a Vernon Hills Park District commissioner when she was appointed to replace Kathy Ryg. Sente said creating jobs and improving the economy are her two top priorities.

Hartstein, 61, whose history of public service dates back to the 1970s, says the first task should be to "get the state's financial house in order."

Hartstein claims Sente looks to House Speaker Michael Madigan as her "political godfather," while Sente accuses Harstein of supporting legislation that would reduce free speech rights at zoning meetings.

On the Republican side, Vernon Hills Trustee Cynthia Hebda is running against attorney Dan Sugrue and business owner Mohan Manian, both of Green Oaks.

Depending on the outcome of the race, Hebda could demand a special election. Her name was removed from the ballot for petition violations, but then it was reinstated, which means early votes cast for her will not be counted.

It's teacher versus teacher in the 54th House Republican race. State Rep. Suzie Bassi, 64, of Palatine, a former teacher and school board member, is vying for her seventh term against political newcomer Tom Morrison, a 34-year-old former teacher who now owns a disaster cleanup franchise.

And in the 56th House Republican race, Schaumburg Township District Library Trustee Anita Forte-Scott, a 40-year-old preschool and day care administrator, is making her second run for office. She lost the race in 2008 against incumbent Paul Froehlich. Forte-Scott is running against political newcomer Ryan Higgins, a 28-year-old health care attorney from Schaumburg.

In Cook County, Sheriff Tom Dart is being challenged for the second time by retired sergeant Sylvester Baker. And three political veterans with different backgrounds are running for Cook County assessor - longtime county and state official Joseph Berrios is running against retired Judge Raymond Figueroa and Inspector General Robert Shaw.

The opening on the Cook County Board of Review is being sought by Wheeling Township Assessor Dan Patlak and Palos Park business owner Sean Morrison.

Four suburbs will have referendums. Barrington voters will decide whether state legislators should consider pension system reform for police officers and firefighters.

Tower Lakes is asking its residents for a tax levy of 0.108 percent of equalized assessed value in order to keep garbage pickup a centralized service of the village, and Mount Prospect residents will vote on whether to establish its own rules for municipal elections or use the State Board of Elections' rules.

In Wheeling, residents will vote on whether to increase the 911 surcharge by 70 cents.