Naperville attorney jumps into secretary of state race
A Republican school board president from DuPage County is taking on Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White in the 2014 election.
Naperville attorney Mike Webster, who lives in Hinsdale, jumped into the race Monday, claiming that White should be held accountable for corruption involving a former associate.
Webster, 53, is a certified public accountant and said he’s proud not to be a politician. “I have the skills to improve the secretary of state’s office on Day 1,” he said in a statement.
Webster criticized White’s support for state Rep. Derrick Smith, a former secretary of state employee indicted on federal bribery charges in 2012. White later said he was mistaken about Smith and he led an effort to dump Smith in the November 2012 election.
White is a longtime lawmaker and Army veteran known for his charitable work with the Jesse White Tumbling Team. The 79-year-old Democrat received more than 2.5 million votes in the 2010 election, a record high for Illinois candidates.
“Jesse White is running for re-election on his record,” White spokesman Dave Druker said. “Secretary White cleaned up this office. The roads are the safest they’ve ever been. Fatalities are down. He’s used technology to improve customer service.”
Webster is a partner in the firm of Webster & Schelli, which specializes in business law, wills, and taxes. He is president of the Cass School District 63 board.
Webster received his law degree from DePaul University and is married with four daughters.
White will be seeking his fifth term, and has hinted — not for the first time — it will be his last.