Voters to pick mayor or business owner for state senate

Democratic Round Lake Mayor Bill Gentes and Republican Dan Duffy are scrapping to the end of a contentious race for an open state senate seat.

Gentes and Duffy are competing for the Senate District 26 seat being vacated by retiring Republican William Peterson of Long Grove. The 26th District covers 42 suburbs in Lake, McHenry and Cook counties.

Voters will make the call on Duffy and Gentes in Tuesday's election.

On the issue of gambling, Duffy, 42, a business co-owner from Lake Barrington, said he opposes casino expansion. He said gambling is a risky and unreliable revenue stream.

Gentes, 49, said he'd support creating up to three more casino licenses for the state. He also says financial support is necessary for the horse racing industry, perhaps by allowing slot machines at tracks.

Duffy said he'd use experience as a small-business owner to make decisions on cost cuts and balancing a state budget if he's elected. He said too few politicians have experience running a company.

Gentes said his knowledge of regional issues gained as Round Lake's mayor and the value he's gotten from being a public servant would benefit residents if he's elected to the state senate.

Both candidates have traded accusations in the race.

Duffy said Gentes' campaign has misled voters into believing he backs Canadian National Railroad's plan to run more freight trains through the 26th District. Gentes said Duffy spread falsehoods about his wife's connection to a Round Lake government real estate deal.

Gentes apologized for not telling the truth during a Daily Herald editorial board interview. Last month, he said he was on a leave of absence as operations director at the Realtor Association of NorthWest Chicagoland, then later admitted he was fired in February.