Sente tops Hartstein in House District 59

Democratic state Rep. Carol Sente will square off against Republican Dan Sugrue in the Nov. 2 general election for the 59th House District seat.

Sente, prevailed over Buffalo Grove Village President Elliott Hartstein in the contentious primary campaign. Sugrue beat Vernon Hills Trustee Cynthia Hebda and Green Oaks businessman Mohan Manian.

With all 68 precincts counted in Lake County, unofficial results showed Sente with 3,441 or 68 percent of the vote to Hartstein's 1,615 or 32 percent among Lake County voters. In Cook County, with all 13 precincts tallied, Sente had 676 votes or 68 percent to Hartstein's 310 votes or 31 percent.

"I'm so happy tonight," Sente said. "I want to go back down to Springfield and focus on job creation and expansion. That's what I heard at every door I knocked on."

Sugrue won handily over his competitors.

With all 68 Lake County precincts counted, unofficial results show Sugrue with 3,135 votes or 60 percent to Hebda's 1,719 or 33 percent and Manian's 254 or 6.5 percent. The totals in all 13 Cook County precincts showed Sugrue with 355 votes or 67 percent to Hebda's 120 or 23 percent and Manian's 51 or 9 percent.

Sugrue said he's looking forward to the fall campaign.

"Voters will have a very clear choice between the Mike Madigan Democrats and the Republican ideas of market-based solutions to problems," Sugrue said. "Voters are tired of the old tax and spend strategy. It's obviously not working."

Sente fought a sometimes nasty campaign against Hartstein. The two locked horns over Sente direct mail pieces claiming Hartstein of supporting legislation she claimed would restrict free speech rights at zoning hearings.

Sente said she knew it was going to be a tough fight against Hartstein and was surprised by her winning margin.

"I thought the results would be closer," Sente said. "This blew me away. I think going door to door, meeting people and hearing their ideas really paid off."

No stranger to the ups and downs of the political process, veteran politician Hartstein said it was too soon to tell if he would support Sente in November.

"I need to think that through," Hartstein said. "I don't want to make a hasty decision. I told Carol that I want to sit down and talk with her. I'll have a better feel after that."

Sugrue admitted the confusion with Hebda's name being on and off the ballot may have worked in his favor. A petition challenge knocked her off the ballot until the Illinois Supreme Court decided her name could appear. But that came late in the campaign.

"I'm sure it had an impact, no question," Sugrue said. "But I have the utmost respect for her."

She was knocked off the ballot for more than a month while the case made its way through the courts. It's not clear whether her votes will count until the issue is reviewed again by judges.

"I only had four real days to run this race," Hebda said. "I'm disappointed but proud of my showing."

Hebda said she'll talk to her attorneys in the coming days but hasn't yet decided on next steps.

"This was a crazy race. But we were fair, honest and aboveboard," she said.

The 59th District includes portions of Buffalo Grove, Green Oaks, Gurnee, Indian Creek, Lake Bluff, Lake Forest, Lincolnshire, Long Grove, Mettawa, Mundelein, Northbrook, North Chicago, Park City, Riverwoods, Vernon Hills, Waukegan and Wheeling.

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