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Illinois State Senate Candidate Michael Bond

For Democrats, a ray of hope
Lake County leaders say bitter GOP race could help nominee

By Susan Kuczka, Tribune staff reporter
Posted Sunday, March 23, 2006

Illinois Democrats wondered Wednesday whether Suzanne Simpson's victory in the Republican primary could boomerang in Democrat Michael Bond's favor in the November race for the Senate's 31st District seat in northern Lake County...

Some Democrats believe it's possible that Bond might benefit from a backlash against Simpson from Geo- Karis' supporters.

"It could leave a bad taste in people's mouth, given the fact that this became a hard-fought primary ... so it could be a naturally occurring effect," said Steve Brown, a spokesman for state Rep. Michael Madigan (D-Chicago), head of the Illinois Democratic Party.

Sen. Terry Link (D-Waukegan), chairman of the Lake County Democratic Party, said he believed Democrats would take the 31st District seat with the help of former Geo-Karis supporters.

"I truly feel that Sen. Geo-Karis was mistreated," said Link, who visited the longtime senator's campaign headquarters after her defeat Tuesday night. "Friendship goes a lot further than politics does."

Bond, 36, a Woodland School District 50 board member from Grayslake and corporate finance director for Allstate Insurance Co., ran unopposed on the Democratic side of the ballot. He wouldn't say Wednesday if he thinks a backlash could help him...

(This was a) primary that ended the career of one of Lake County's political icons.

Source: Chicago Tribune 3/23/06


	© 2006, Michael Bond for Illinois State Senate