Thillens: Thank you for your support

I am humbled. The amount of friendship and support I received throughout this campaign is amazing. My family sacrificed my presence for too many hours without complaint. I can't thank everyone enough.

I congratulate Representative Marty Moylan on winning his second term. I look forward to working with him as a constituent to enact many of the policies we agreed upon on the campaign trail.

It is surprising that in the Illinois House, in a time when so many voters are displeased with their government, not one seat changed hands in the entire state. Not one incumbent lost their seat to a challenger. That is a testament to the strength of the partisan drawn district maps, and to the power of incumbency, both of which should certainly be re-evaluated and structurally challenged.

During this campaign, we all made great strides in re-establishing the Republican party in this area. We should be proud to have a new active organization in Maine Township, one that helped to elect our new governor. We need to continue to build on that to further bolster a balanced, two-party system in Illinois.

Thank you to everyone who voted for me, and to all of you who endured the endless advertising. I look forward to us seeing each other around town, rather than from your mailbox.

Mel Thillens

Park Ridge