Morrison defeats Friedman in 29th Senate District

West Deerfield Township Supervisor Julie Morrison is moving her political career to Springfield.

Unofficial results from 139 of 141 precincts in Cook and Lake counties late Tuesday show Morrison topped Arie Friedman for the 29th Senate District seat. Morrison received 44,768 votes to Friedman’s 37,570.

“This election has always been about the values of the 29th District. I will be an independent voice in Springfield putting our community ahead of party and special interests,” Morrison said.

Morrison will assume a state senate seat for parts of Arlington Heights, Buffalo Grove, Wheeling, Mount Prospect, Highland Park, Lake Bluff, Lake Forest, Northbrook, Deerfield, North Chicago and Glencoe. Friedman, a pediatrician from Highland Park who unsuccessfully ran for Congress in 2010, called her to concede Tuesday night even though early and absentee votes still have to be counted in Cook County.

Democratic state Sen. Susan Garrett of Lake Forest, who represented the district for a decade, didn’t seek re-election this year, thus opening the door for Friedman and Morrison to go for the seat without facing an incumbent.

Elected as West Deerfield Township’s supervisor in 1997, Morrison said tax credits should be given to any businesses, not just Fortune 500 companies, that create jobs.

During the campaign, the Deerfield resident accused Friedman of being against abortion rights, despite him stating that was his position in candidate interviews and political advertising.