Both candidates for 62nd House District would bring Grayslake Village Board experience to Springfield

As recently as March, Adam Shores and Laura Faver Dias were colleagues on the Grayslake village board. But in November, the duo will face off as voters choose which one will represent the 62nd state House District in Springfield.

Shores, who ran unopposed in the Republican primary, initially was appointed to the Grayslake board by Mayor Rhett Taylor in 2016 and served until April 1, when he and his family moved to a new house in Libertyville.

Dias, who won a three-way race to represent the Democratic Party, was first elected to the Grayslake board last spring.

The two started working together in 2019, when Dias was selected to serve as a resident member of the village's Economic Development Commission, chaired by Shores.

"The commission sought to create an environment where businesses wanted to be here," Shores said.

"It was really smart to make sure we expanded our commercial tax base and attracted good businesses," Dias added.

Both made cases for their bids to represent the district, which includes most of Grayslake and the Round Lake area and parts of Libertyville.

Shores pointed to accomplishments he helped the village achieve before Dias' involvement, such as attracting Japanese manufacturer Okabe Ltd. to the village in 2017.

"She was just elected last year, and we've had a respectful working relationship," Shores said of Dias. "I'm proud of my leadership style where I work to find commonality even in the face of opposing opinions."

When discussing how she and Shores differed, Dias cited the vote she cast in February against the plan to build a Casey's General Store and gas station at Lake Street and Belvidere Road near the town's namesake lake.

Dias said more than 500 residents expressed concerns about the project and she chose to take that into account.

"I'm looking forward to a robust campaign and debates when we have them," Dias said. "Ultimately, it comes down to two people who want to serve in the state legislature and not about my relationship with Adam."

Board member Elizabeth Davies said she found both Dias and Shores to be intelligent people who care about the community.

"We're a great governing body and have done great things for the community," Davies said of the Grayslake board. "It's great that someone from our board is going to take that to the state Capitol."

Davies does not plan to make an endorsement. "I wish them both luck, whoever gets elected," she said.