In the News
Schmidt to seek 31st Senate seat 7/28/2009
May 6, 2009
Grays Lake Review (Pioneer Press)
By JOHN ROSZKOWSKI jroszkowski@pioneerlocal.com
Lake County Board Chairman Suzi Schmidt has announced her candidacy for the Illinois State Senate in the 31st District.
Schmidt, R-3rd, of Lake Villa said Wednesday she is definitely planning to run for the state senate seat currently held by State Sen. Michael Bond, D-31st, of Grayslake. She said she will make a formal announcement at a later date.
A 35-year resident of Lake County, Schmidt has served 21 years on the County Board and nine years as board chairman.
Schmidt said she's running because she is disturbed by what's going on in Springfield and the financial situation of the state and believes it's time for a change.
"I've always loved county government and I love the county and I believe the state is negatively impacting the county," Schmidt said.
"A lot of people have talked to me from both sides of the aisle and said you'd be good person to help us downstate," she said. "I really gave it a lot of thought. I thought this is an opportunity I should take and see what the desires of public are."
Schmidt said some of the issues she would focus on in her campaign are education, taxes, economic development and improving the state's financial condition.
"I've not been pleased by way economic development has been handled in state. I think businesses have been more punished than helped. I want to make sure the state is working to bring more business to state and county," said Schmidt.
"The educational system has always a concern to mine," she added. "I'm a former teacher. I think residents are being taxed to death, especially when it comes to schools."
It's too early to say whether Schmidt will face any competition in the Republican primary or the general election.
Bond, meanwhile, has announced his intention to run as a Democratic candidate for U.S. Congress in the 10th Congressional District in 2010.
Schmidt said Bond's decision to run for Congress was not a factor in her decision to seek the state senate seat.
"Whether he was running or not I was going to run. That didn't have any influence on my decision at all," she said.
