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Michael Bond for Illinois State Senate

DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE MICHAEL BOND MOST IMPRESSIVE NEWCOMER

by John S. Matijevich
Shaw Newspapers
10-20-2006

There are too many political contests in the Nov. 7 election to discuss in just one column. In every election there are new candidates, so I thought that I would write about the one among them, in my mind, has been the most impressive candidate and run the best campaign in Lake County.

I have come to the conclusion that Michael Bond, a Democrat from Grayslake and a candidate for the Illinois State Senate from the 31st District, is the most outstanding of all. What is remarkable is that, except for his election to the Woodland School District Board 50, this is his first run at a political office.

Bond is running in what is traditionally a Republican district, and represented since the last reapportionment map by the venerable and respected Sen. Adeline Geo-Karis, R-Zion. His opponent is Suzanne Simpson, Warren Township supervisor, who defeated Geo-Karis in the March primary election. She entered the race on the premise that "Geo" picked her to be the successor when Adeline retired. The catch was that Sen. Geo-Karis had not officially decided to "hang it up".

It was apparent to me that this was more than a unilateral decision made by Simpson.

The Republican Senate leadership team led by Minority Leader Frank Watson, Sen. Bill Peterson, Antioch State Rep. JoAnn Osmond, and others to "give Adeline the boot."

Last March, I wrote here that Sen. Geo-Karis, for her long and loyal leadership in behalf of national, state, and local Republicans, deserved better treatment from GOP leaders.

Also, I wrote that the Republican leadership decision to abandon Geo-Karis could backfire in the November general election. It would be probable that many of her loyal and staunch voters might not forgive the GOP leaders for the way that they conspired to pull the curtain on her long and distinguished career.

Given the background of the 31st Senate District campaign, I have given special attention to that race. I had not known of Michael Bond up until then, but I have since watched that contest closely and found him to be as talented and ready for public office as anyone I have seen for some time.

On issues, Bond and Simpson seem to take similar positions, so there might not be much to choose from there. Let's face it, most candidates know that the major state issues are the three "E's:" Education, Economy, and the Environment; and the two "T's", Transportation, and Taxes.

What is always important to me, when I judge candidates, is who can best articulate the issues when they are sent to square off in legislative bodies, and who will stand more forcefully in representing the people of the district. Bond has a shown a confidence in himself when he speaks on issues and expresses a sincerity of his beliefs. All of us tire of public officials who tell you one thing on a given day and another thing on the next day. I believe Bond says what he means, and means what he says.

Another thing that impressed me about Bond was that, although a novice in political campaigns, he handled himself almost like a seasoned campaigner in the away that he has organized and run his campaign. Just as his energy and commitment have allowed him, at a relatively young age, to climb the corporate ladder in the private sector, he uses the same zeal and effort in his political campaign.

As one who ran all of my campaigns with special emphasis on door-knocking, I know that Bond's relentless person-to-person contacts will bear positive results in his campaign. Voters always appreciate when a candidate makes a personal effort to see them.

Considering the apparent apathy in the election process, I have been amazed that Bond has been able to attract "new faces" to assist in his campaign. To me it means that many others, after meeting him, are so enthused with his campaign that they have volunteered to join it.

Also, one of the hardest things, and especially for a newcomer, is to raise the necessary funds to finance a respectable political race. Bond has used his exceptional organizational and marketing skill to raise those funds, which will allow him to be competitive right up to Election Day.

I believe that Bond has been the most impressive newcomer during this election season. He will do well. Add to all that, the fact that Sen. Geo-Karis has chosen not to endorse in the Senate 31 race, he might pull the biggest upset in the county. Although she made no endorsement, she publicly states that she has been very impressed by him as a candidate. And everyone knows that she means what she says.

Source:
Grayslake Journal 10-20-2006


	© 2006, Michael Bond for Illinois State Senate