Far from the sharp change that struck the legislative delegation of DuPage and Kane Counties in 1992, the Nov. 8 election looks to be a yawner that will return familiar faces to Springfield.
In 1992, with a new Republican-drawn legislative map that benefited the collar counties, DuPage and Kane sent 17 freshmen senators and representatives, along with nine veterans, to the General Assembly.
This year, 19 Republican incumbents of the House and Senate are seeking new terms. All are expected to win in the GOP-rich region. Seven Republican senators are not up for re-election, so the 26-member GOP delegation will likely remain the same.
DuPage’s delegation is likely to change only if Sen. Judy Baar Topinka (R-North Riverside) wins in her bid for state treasurer. Topinka’s Senate term expires in 1996.
Still, Democrats have candidates running in 12 of the 19 races.
None of the local Republicans are considered vulnerable, even by Democratic officials plotting strategy to retain control of the Illinois House of Representatives. Only three local Democrats ran in the March primary, and only two had raised $1,000 by June 30, according to state records.
One is Robert Ormsby, a Bolingbrook resident challenging Rep. James Meyer (R-Bolingbrook) in the 82nd House District. Ormsby’s son, David, is a staff member for House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago).
Ormsby, a special account representative for a Chicago-based steel company, said he supports a ban on assault weapons. Meyer voted against such a ban.
Another Democrat mounting a serious run is Kathleen Murray in the 48th House District, which includes a small portion of Downers Grove Township. Murray, a registered nurse for LaGrange Memorial Health Systems and a Willow Springs resident, is opposing Rep. Anne Zickus (R-Palos Hills).
In the 44th District, Democrat Frank Cole of Berwyn is opposing freshman Rep. Thomas Walsh (R-LaGrange Park). And in the 46th District, David Stachura of Schiller Park is running for the second time against House Minority Leader Lee Daniels (R-Elmhurst).
The eight other Democrats trying to capture a piece of DuPage or Kane-five in House races and three in Senate races-were picked to run after the March primary by local party officials.
In House races, Lombard resident Keith Murphy is opposing Rep. Vince Persico (R-Glen Ellyn) in the 39th District, and Naperville resident Mary Bednar, an administrative assistant at an insurance agency, is challenging Rep. Mary Lou Cowlishaw (R-Naperville) in the 41st.
In the 50th, Hanover Park resident Mark Elkins is running against Rep. Thomas Johnson (R-West Chicago). Lawrence Craig, a sales and marketing manager who lives in Elmhurst, is challenging Rep. Robert Biggins (R-Elmhurst) in the 78th.
And in the 81st, Downers Grove resident Bill Chalberg is running against Rep. Judy Biggert (R-Hinsdale)
For Senate seats, Larry Nelson is opposing Sen. Beverly Fawell (R-Glen Ellyn) in the 20th District. Nelson of Glen Ellyn,is a computer programmer. Lombard resident Keith Petropoulos is opposing powerful Senate President James “Pate” Philip of Wood Dale, the DuPage GOP chairman, in the 23rd District.
In the 41st, R. Christine Hotchkin of Hinsdale is challenging Sen. Kirk Dillard (R-Hinsdale). Hotchkin teaches children with learning disabilities.
Seven Republican incumbents are running unopposed for House seats: Peter Roskam of Wheaton in the 40th District, Suzanne Deuchler of Aurora in the 42nd, Kay Wojcik of Schaumburg in the 45th, Carole Pankau of Roselle in the 49th, Patricia Reid Lindner of Aurora in the 65th, Douglas Hoeft of Elgin in the 66th and Thomas Cross of Oswego in the 84th.
