Local mayors standing behind Sid Mathias

The mayors of the towns included in the 53rd state house district threw their support behind incumbent Sid Mathias Wednesday, citing his track record on working for local initiatives.

"It's so key to have representatives that have listened," said Arlington Heights Village President Arlene Mulder.

Mulder joined with Buffalo Grove Village President Elliott Hartstein, Wheeling Acting Village President Dean Argiris, Prospect Heights Mayor Pat Ludvigsen and Mount Prospect Mayor Irvana Wilks to laud Mathias, a Buffalo Grove Republican.

Mathias was the village president of Buffalo Grove before he was a state representative.

Hartstein, who has been working for the election of Barack Obama, said he thought it was imperative to show his support for Mathias because of what he's been able to do for Buffalo Grove.

"He has demonstrated that he has done a tremendous job in Springfield," he said.

Carol Javens, the Democratic opponent in the 53rd district, said she's not surprised the village leaders are behind Mathias.

"He's a former mayor. He's worked with them," said Javens, who lives in Wheeling. She added, "Endorsements don't win elections."

Green party candidate Rob Sherman, of Buffalo Grove, is also running against Mathias and Javens.

However it was Javens the mayors went after at their news conference Wednesday morning at the downtown Arlington Heights train station, saying her advertising paints Mathias in an unfair light - Ludvigsen even described it as "dirty."

Most recently, Javens launched ads saying Mathias is too busy with his law practice to have time for constituents, that he voted against funding for veterans programs and also against the "largest middle class tax cut in state history."

One flyer also melded Mathias' image with that of a bus driver, citing his vote against background checks for school bus drivers in 1999.

Mathias said distorting his record is taking away from the real issues.

"The issue should be the capital bill," he said, referring to a infrastructure program the state has not had in place for nine years. "It's a jobs bill."

Javens contends that Mathias has engaged in his own mudslinging that ties her to Cook County President Todd Stroger's economic plan. She said she has consistently opposed the Cook County sales tax increase.

"I don't believe there's negative campaigning (on my end)," she said. "Everything is cited to a specific vote."

She said she's also supported a recall of state politicians, including Stroger and Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

The mayors applauded Mathias for his practice of calling them from the House floor if he thinks legislation would affect their town.

Javens pledged to keep up connections with area residents if she is elected.

Mathias has questioned the money Javens has gotten from the state Democratic party to put out the negative ads, but Javens said Mathias has gotten that same funding from the Republican side.

The mayors, meanwhile, also ran through a list of the funding Mathias has been able to get for the area, including, most recently, $120,000 he gave Wheeling Tuesday night for stream bank stabilization.

Mulder also pointed out Mathias' support of a Regional Transportation Authority bailout that ensured mass transit would stay on track.

"He is, in our eyes, Mr. Transportation," she said.

Javens, however, said Mathias just threw money at the transportation problem, and it keeps coming back.

"I think we need to have a comprehensive look at the RTA," she said.

The 53rd district covers much of Buffalo Grove and portions of Arlington Heights, Wheeling, Mount Prospect and Prospect Heights.