Story posted Thursday, January 28, 2010
59th Candidates Get Final Jabs In
By RICHARD MAYER Assistant Managing Editor
With less than a week to go until the Feb. 2 primary election, critical remarks between candidates in 59th State House District are picking up.
Two candidates remain on both the Democratic and Republican party sides now that Vernon Hills Trustee Cindy Hebda has been removed from the Republican ballot for signing a Democratic petition last fall.
Whoever wins each side will then face one another in November's general election.
On the Democratic side current State Rep. Carol Sente claims she is committed to being an accessible representative to constituents and welcomes community participation in the legislative process.
"I think it is important that voters know that my opponent went to Springfield to lobby for a bill that would take away the right for citizens to ask questions, raise objections and have their voices heard when a village board is considering rezoning or annexing properties that could affect property tax rates," said Sente. "He (Hartstein) has said that taxpayers could voice their objections in court. We need to find ways to get citizens more involved in the government process, not try to pass laws that would keep them out."
Opponent and Buffalo Grove Village President Elliot Hartstein countered: "She is not willing to take a stand on issues but chooses to give fuzzy answers that does not let the voters know how she will vote in Springfield," said Hartstein.
Hartstein added that Sente has chosen to distort his record and his position with the assistance of House Speaker Mike Madigan with mailings to voters.
"Despite the economic downturn that has pushed many middle-class families to the financial edge, my opponent supports a tax increase of up to 66% and says the state should consider expanding the sales tax to include services and Internet sales which are not currently taxed," said Sente, who said she opposes an income tax increase.
Items on Hartstein's list for budget savings include broadening the sales tax base by adding sales from the Internet, reducing low-risk prison inmate population with more home release and electronic monitoring, and eliminating millions of dollars handed out by leaders to individual legislators for their "pet" projects.
Republican candidate Mohan Manian declined to point out criticisms of his opponent Dan Sugrue.
"I am a small business owner and I have firsthand knowledge of cost of doing business in this state," said Manian. "I can go beyond the talking points of cutting taxes and cutting programs, and I can explain the systems of unemployment, workmen compensation, and liability insurance cost."
Manian said he believes he has the knowledge and experience to provide "commonsense solutions" to provide essential services without increasing taxes.
Manian's opponent Sugrue, declined to comment.
The 59th District includes portions of Buffalo Grove, Green Oaks, Gurnee, Indian Creek, Lake Bluff, Lake Forest, Lincolnshire, Long Grove, Mettawa, Mundelein, Northbrook, North Chicago, Park City, Riverwoods, Vernon Hills, Waukegan, and Wheeling.
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