Kifowit beats Fee for 84th House seat

Democrat Stephanie Kifowit won the 84th state House seat, claiming 62 percent of the vote against Republican Pat Fee with all precincts reporting unofficial totals.

Kifowit, a 41-year-old Aurora alderman and substitute teacher, said she chose to run for a state-level position because “you realize there’s so much more that can happen for the residents if the state just comes together and starts working together.”

After a hard-fought campaign that involved negative tactics from both camps, Kifowit bested Fee, a 57-year-old Aurora homemaker and community volunteer, to earn a 2-year term in the state House.

Kifowit said her top priorities for her term include getting the state’s economy back on track while creating jobs, reforming the state budget and cutting taxes. She said she will approach the state representative job by trying to be an advocate for the community.

“The biggest thing we’ve got to work on is jobs and the economy and the finances of the state,” she said, adding she now will be conducting more research and broadening her knowledge base of state financial issues before being sworn in.

The newly drawn 84th district includes parts of Aurora, Naperville, Montgomery, Oswego and Boulder Hill. No incumbent sought the seat.