Riess enters 51st District race

Hawthorn Woods village trustee Steve Riess announced his candidacy Wednesday for the 51st state representative seat, citing state spending as a priority.

A village trustee the past 10 years, Riess is running on the Democratic ticket for the post held by Republican incumbent Rep. Ed Sullivan, who will be seeking his fifth term in Springfield.

The district is in south central Lake County and a small portion of northern Cook County, including the communities of Round Lake Park, Mundelein, Lake Zurich, Long Grove, Kildeer and Deer Park.

Riess, a critic of former Hawthorn Woods mayor Keith Hunt, described himself as a fiscal conservative who would push for open and honest government.

"I think I've done a lot of good work for the village of Hawthorn Woods and I'd like to take the next step," said Riess, 56.

Though he has not formulated a specific plan, the small business owner said increased taxes aren't the answer to Illinois' budget problems.

He said the state needs to go on a diet and more closely examine spending.

"A diet doesn't mean cutting, necessarily. A diet means paying attention," he said.

As owner of Nu-Way Search, a firm that finds information technology professionals for clients, Riess said the emphasis needs to be on making small businesses profitable.

"I'd much rather see the engine produce more value for taxing bodies than (have them) take a bigger slice of the pie."

Riess acknowledged it would be an uphill battle against Sullivan, but said residents need to stop sending the same people back to Springfield, "because when we do, nothing ever changes."

Riess is the first declared challenger in either party. Sullivan said Wednesday he plans to run for re-election.

"I look forward to an open and honest debate," he said. "I'm running once again to protect residents from high property taxes."

Sullivan, who also serves as Fremont Township assessor, said state budget deficits also remain a priority.

In November 2008, Sullivan easily defeated Democratic challenger Amanda Howland of Lake Zurich for a second consecutive time.