Gentes in state Senate 26
Illinois Senate 26 Democrats
Voters in the Illinois Senate District 26 Democratic primary are fortunate to have two solid candidates for the seat being vacated by William Peterson, a Long Grove Republican who is retiring after 15 years. The 26th District stretches from Libertyville Township in Lake County west to Nunda, Dorr and McHenry townships in McHenry County, and south to part of Palatine Township in Cook County.
Bill Gentes, 48, has a reputation for action as Round Lake's mayor for seven years, working behind the scenes to help put Round Lake Area Unit District 116 on solid financial footing, lobbying to bring a hospital to town and contributing to several regional agencies.
Richard G. Hammes, 66, of North Barrington, a psychologist, management consultant and part-time community college instructor, volunteers as an advocate for children in Lake County courts and has served on the boards of the Barrington Chamber of Commerce and Barrington Area Council on Aging.
We endorse Gentes based on his experience in government dating to 1997, when he chaired the Round Lake Planning Commission until 2001. Since then, he's served on the boards of CENCOM, his area's 911 service; the Lake County Stormwater Management Commission; and Lake County Partners, an economic development nonprofit. He chairs the Route 120 Corridor Planning Council for road expansion in central Lake County.
Gentes, director of operations for the Realtor Association of Northwest Chicagoland, says he'll quit the mayor's job if elected senator. His priorities include extending Route 53 into Lake County and adding commuter train service. We don't agree with his idea of raising corporate taxes to help pay for schools in this economy, but he supports a state constitutional convention in hopes of revamping school funding. Gentes would support new casinos to raise state revenue and pledges to work to get a dollar back in services for every dollar sent to Springfield.
The Democratic primary winner will face Dan Duffy of Lake Barrington in November.