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Michael Bond for State Senate

WINNER TO REPLACE GEO-KARIS IN SENATE

by Art Peterson
News Sun

For the first time in 28 years, voters in northern Lake County will elect a state senator who is not Adeline J. Geo-Karis.

Competing to fill those shoes are Suzanne Simpson, Warren Township supervisor, and Michael Bond, a finance professional and member of the Woodland School Board.

The district stretches from Antioch to the Lake Michigan shoreline, and south from the Wisconsin border to the round lake villages, Grayslake, Gurnee and Beach Park. The term is for four years; the salary $57,619 annually, plus an allowance for the district office. Also, while the Senate is in session, $120 per diem plus one round-trip flight per week to Springfield.

Geo-Karis, 87, was elected to the House in 1972, and in 1978 to the Senate. She held the Senate post until defeated by Simpson in the Republican primary. Geo-Karis has since endorsed Bond.

The major difference between the candidates is their background. Simpson, a Republican, has extensive experience in governmental service, including a stint in the state House, and contends that will help her "hit the ground running." Bond has private sector experience in finance and budgeting, and contends that would serve residents better than "a politician. We need more business people in the Legislature."

In 2002, Simpson filled the one year remaining in the term of the retiring Andrea Moore (now a member of the Illinois Pollution Control board). Simpson accepted the appointment with the understanding that she would only serve that year.

Bond has worked more that 11 years with Allstate Insurance in Northbrook and is a director of corporate finance. He sees stem cell research as a focus for creating a "bio-tech corridor in Lake County," building off the capabilities of Abbott Labs and Baxter. He sees stem cell research as carrying tremendous potential for "how we fight and cure disease," with an impact "across the globe. We need to move aggressively."

Reforming school funding is a common theme. "Chicago hasn’t had a referendum in 45 years and each student get $3,900 annually in state funds; lake County students only $2,100. Taxing and funding should be the same," Simpson said. She prefers a "gross receipts tax" over increases in property taxes or the state income tax. "Lake County would loose jobs to Wisconsin, and we need to build our job base."

Bond said property taxes and business taxes should be reduced and state funding to schools increased "through a better job of managing the money we have."

Both would like to see the state Health Facilities planning Board ease the path for a new hospital and medical center in northwest Lake County. ‘Now if you have a heart attack in Antioch, you better have a priest and great EMT close by, because it’s about 40 minutes to Victory or Condell," Simpson said.

Simpson blames governors from both parties for "raiding the road fund of $3 billion" while Lake County has “the worst transportation system."

Bond said he could better bring transportation funding to Lake County "as part of the majority caucus."

Source:
News Sun 10/19/2006


	© 2006, Michael Bond for Illinois State Senate