Roth asks Crespo why he won't tout his party

GOP challengers across Illinois have tried to handcuff Democratic incumbents to House Speaker Michael Madigan and other state party leaders all election season.

The strategy isn't anything new, but Republicans are hoping to take advantage this year of the strong discontent with the Democratic majority in Springfield.

Among them is Billie Roth, the GOP challenger for the seat held by 44th District House State Rep. Fred Crespo. The district includes Bartlett, Hoffman Estates and Streamwood.

Roth on Wednesday casually asked Crespo why he was playing down his party affiliation during an endorsement interview at the Daily Herald.

“I'm curious, Fred, why you haven't even listed that you're a Democrat on any of your literature, she said. “You've said you're not concerned about the tide against Madigan.

Crespo quickly said the exclusion had “nothing to do with Mike Madigan. He even said he'd consider another candidate besides Madigan for speaker of the House.

“I'm running for state rep. I'm representing everyone, Crespo answered.

Roth's attack and Crespo's reaction were predictable, said Kent Redfield, a professor of political science at the University of Illinois at Springfield.

“Only if you're in a safe Democratic district, like the city of Chicago, you're going to emphasize the party, Redfield said. “If you're not, you're going to emphasize the people in the district, not the Democratic Party.

With more candidates claiming they're independent, Redfield said, there's been a shift to excluding affiliation on printed materials over the last 20 years.

When challengers can't focus on the incumbents personally, they can instead go after the legislator's party, Redfield said.

“They'll say he's a member of the party that's screwed up the government, he said.

With a month before the election, the race between Roth and Crespo has turned nasty. But their comments Wednesday seemed to follow the strategy template outlined by Redfield.

Roth, who's spent 22 years as Streamwood village president, said new legislators like her would help in Springfield.

“Fred is seen as part of the problem. He's been there for four years and the state is in worse shape four years later than it was four years ago, eight years ago, Roth said. “And I think (voters) see him as part of the problem and they're looking for change. And they're looking for some people to make that change and not talk about change.

Crespo said he's proud of his relationships with his colleagues, regardless of the party they represent. He pointed to his friendship with Republican State Sen. John Millner of the 28th District.

“If you take a close look at the bills that I've passed, I've passed some difficult bills. If you look at the sponsor list you're going to see bipartisan sponsorship on most of my bills, Crespo said.