Hatcher takes GOP prize in 50th House race

Kay Hatcher emerged on top in the four-way Republican race to replace Patricia Reid Lindner on Tuesday.

She will be the Republican nominee for the 50th House District seat, facing Democrat Mary Schneider in the general election.

Hatcher earned a commanding win, with 10,423 votes, according to unofficial vote totals. Following her were: David Richmond of Batavia with 4,788 votes; Terry Hunt of Big Rock with 4,699 votes; and Tony Graff of Yorkville with 1,392 votes, according to unofficial totals.

"This isn't a political endorsement, it's a community endorsement," Hatcher, of Yorkville, said Tuesday night.

Hatcher has a long history of holding public office. She is now a member of the Kendall County Board and is the Kendall County Forest Preserve president. She was also a member of the Oswego school board from 1985 to 1991.

Lindner has endorsed her for the seat, which she had held since 1993.

Lindner's retirement spurred the crowded field. Hatcher's opponents were Graff, a former police chief and city administrator; Hunt, a businessman; and Richmond, former director of constituent services for Dennis Hastert.

Hatcher said she thought voters connected with her long history of public service. As she talked with voters in Kane, Kendall and LaSalle counties, she found the same concerns.

She had a strong lead in each county with most of the precincts reporting Tuesday night.

Hatcher said ethics reform, transportation and environmental issues would be priorities for her in Springfield if she wins the seat in the general election.

All the candidates said that limiting rising property taxes and ethics were important to their campaigns.

Hunt was the lone candidate opposed to the Prairie Parkway and in favor of term limits for legislators. Hatcher was the only candidate in favor of abortion rights.

The 50th district covers the south and west central portions of Kane County, most of Kendall County and a small part of LaSalle County.