Endorsement: Sager for state House Dist. 63
Four-term Woodstock Mayor Brian Sager wants to take his message of social progressivism and financial conservatism to Springfield.
Sager believes a graduated income tax - which is up for a vote throughout Illinois on Nov. 3 - will help 93 percent of Illinois taxpayers who already face burdensome property taxes, leaning on the wealthiest of Illinoisans to pay a higher income tax rate to support public schools.
He supports a measure to stop legislators from leaving to become lobbyists for at least 10 years.
Sager has been a popular mayor. He defeated Peter Janko by a 2-1 ratio in March to win the Democratic primary for the statehouse.
His opponent, incumbent Republican Steven Reick, also of Woodstock, was elected in 2016 when Democrat Jack Franks left the General Assembly after 18 years to pursue the chairmanship of the McHenry County Board.
Reick defeated Democrat John Bartman, who was given the nod to run after Franks left the race, and Sager is the first real competition he has faced. Reick was uncontested in the 2018 general election as well as in the 2020 primary.
An egregious DUI charge last year and an outburst on the House floor led to Reick apologizing.
We are encouraged that he has owned his mistakes, but they do show a lack of judgment that is concerning.
The 63rd House District extends to the Wisconsin border and includes Woodstock, Harvard, Marengo, McHenry, Wonder Lake and a portion of Huntley.
Sager is endorsed.