Coverage of the League of Women Voters Candidates’ Night for those seeking State Senate seats concludes with a combination of opening and closing statements by the six candidates.  I was taking photos for a lot of his, so notes are fragmentary.

32nd District

Craig Wilcox

• 

  Mary Mahady

  Republican Craig Wilcox – Look beyond the rhetoric and promises. My record: no pension, attending local meetings, too many governmental levels, not going down as a part-time job.  “I’m the proven tax fighter up here.  You got more than $8 million back last year.”

• Democrat Mary Mahady – being assessor motivate me to run for office.  “I want to go to Springfield to get things done,” have lived here 38 years.  “I am a voice for the people in  this district.  We haven’t had a voice for the 32nd district representing the people for a very long time. I’ll be a local voice for positive change.”

33rd District

Don DeWitte

• 

  Nancy Zettler

  Republican Don DeWitte – “Two weeks ago tomorrow night (9-6) I was sworn in.  It’s only a temporary assignment.  I’m the only one who has held public office, who has a track record of serving, of fiscal development.” Talked of re-inventing Downtown St. Charles as Mayor, building bridges, firehouses.  Was Mayor for eight years, on the RTA Board five years.  “Democrats want to tax themselves out of the abyss they have created in Springfield.” “I will fight for the taxpayers of the 33rd District.”

• Democrat Nancy Zettler -” Here to represent everybody.”  Moved here om 1999.  Will “represent people in this district against big corporate interests.”  Said many of the improvements in St. Charles “were on the backs of other taxpayers” through Tax Increment Financing Districts.  “They take that money and hand it over to developers.”  That “puts a giant burden on the backs of taxpayers.  We don’t need more greed like that in Springfield.”

26th District

Don McConchie

Tom Georges

• Republican Dan McConchie – candidate missed the opening statement time because he had a fundraiser in Cary.  Explained that he served in the Military Police.  Referring to the hit and run accident that left him in a wheelchair, he said one had to “adapt and overcome.”  He characterized himself as “a fiscal and pragmatic conservative,” who spends a lot of time on the Democratic side of the aisle.
• Democrat Tom Georges – “If we can eliminate the far right and the far left, we can get along better.” Said the people in his district had become more receptive to “progressive ideas” and that he would “represent people, not big dollar PACs.”