New Lake Co. Board member eyeing run for Legislature

A mere two months after being appointed to the Lake County Board, Aaron Lawlor on Sunday said he's weighing a bid for the state House.

Lawlor, a Vernon Hills Republican, is eyeing the 59th District seat recently vacated by Democrat Kathy Ryg. She quit in August to lead a children's advocacy group.

The 27-year-old Lawlor said several people have approached him about running, including House Republican Leader Tom Cross and members of Lake County's GOP delegation to the General Assembly.

It's now a matter of deciding whether the state House is a good fit, Lawlor said. He expects to make a decision within the next few weeks.

Lawlor was named to the county board, which doubles as the county's forest preserve district commission, in July to replace longtime member Pam Newton. He and was Newton's hand-picked successor.

Lawlor knows he could be labeled as a political opportunist for seeking higher office so soon after joining the county board. He pledged to finish his current term, which ends in December 2010, if he runs for the House.

"I'm fulfilling the commitment that I made," he said.

Lawlor had previously served six years on the Cook Memorial Public Library board, four of them as its president. He also has worked on U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk's staff and now is on Kirk's Senate campaign team.

That political experience is a plus for Lawlor, said Dan Venturi, chairman of the Lake County Republican organization.

"I think he's a great candidate," said Venturi, who's among the Republicans encouraging Lawlor to run. "This is an opportunity that's come up, and it's either step up and (run) now or don't do it."

Ryg was a popular legislator who won her seat in 2002. She handily beat Green Oaks lawyer Dan Sugrue to win a fourth term in 2008.

Her resignation opened up many political possibilities in the 59th District, Venturi said.

"When Kathy Ryg was running, it was a much tighter race," Venturi said. "This changes the dynamics significantly."

If Lawlor runs for the House, he'll be the third Republican in the race.

Sugrue and Green Oaks business owner Mohan Manian already are set to face off in the February 2010 GOP primary.

When reached by telephone on Sunday, Manian and Sugrue welcomed Lawlor to the race.

Sugrue also made a couple cracks about Lawlor's relative youth and his interest in various political offices in recent years.

"I think he needs to make up his mind as to what he wants to do," Sugrue said.

On the Democratic side, Carol Sente of Vernon Hills was sworn in as Ryg's replacement on Saturday. She was appointed to the post by Democratic Party leaders.

Sente said she plans to run for election in the 59th District in 2010. Buffalo Grove Village President Elliot Hartstein has said he plans to run for the post as a Democrat, too.

Buffalo Grove Trustee Lisa Stone's name has been mentioned as a potential candidate in both the Republican and Democratic primaries.

Most of the 59th District is in eastern Lake County. It includes a small portion of Cook County.