GOP bypasses regulars, puts faith in 28-year-old to regain 56th House District seat

Schaumburg Township Republicans have placed their hopes in a young lawyer and political novice to recapture the Illinois House seat held by party defector Paul Froehlich.

Ryan Higgins, 28, who's never held elected office, beat out two seasoned office holders - local school board member Char Kegarise and library board member Anita Forte-Scott - to win the endorsement from precinct captains for next February's GOP primary for the 56th House District.

"I think people are frustrated with the way things are going in government in Illinois and are looking for fresh faces," said Higgins, who holds degrees from Dartmouth College and Duke University and interned with former U.S. Sen. Peter Fitzgerald.

He said his top issues will be job creation, fiscal responsibility, health care reform and ethics in government.

Schaumburg Township GOP Committeeman Mike Adelizzi said Higgins' relative youth and inexperience are challenges he must continue to overcome, and called Thursday evening's endorsement session "rather lively."

But Adelizzi said Higgins won over party officials with his smarts and charisma.

"You don't automatically have wisdom just because you are 50 years old, because you own a home," Adelizzi said. "The thing I like about Ryan is he has an absolute grasp of the issues ... clearly, Ryan is in touch with people."

Other local Republicans have also quietly bristled at that fact Higgins has only lived in the district since September, though he did grow up in Palatine and is a Fremd High School graduate.

Other Republicans could still petition to run against Higgins in the primary but would lack party support.

Froehlich, who beat Forte-Scott last year to retain the seat after switching to the Democratic Party, announced this month he won't seek re-election next year. The Democrats haven't announced a candidate to replace him.

The district includes most of Schaumburg and parts of several surrounding suburbs.