Illinois Pro-Environment Candidates Do Well in November Elections

In Illinois on November 5, voters chose pro-environment candidates from both parties, in local and statewide races. Open-space measures also were supported by the voters, as most other funding proposals failed.

A key example is Governor-elect Rod Blagojevich, who showed strong support as a representative in both Washington and Springfield for environmental legislation. He proposed ambitious plans to clean up water pollution, promote clean energy, and help manage urban sprawl.

Lisa Madigan won the post of Illinois Attorney General. Madigan has worked in the Illinois State Senate on water pollution, clean air, and natural areas protection issues. Her campaign platform included a proposal to beef up enforcement of Illinois' environmental laws.

In federal races, voters elected pro-environment Republicans Mark Kirk and Tim Johnson, and Democrats Dick Durbin, Jan Schakowsky, Luis Gutierrez, Danny Davis, Rahm Emanuel, and Lane Evans.

On an election day when most tax increases were defeated, all tax increases to protect open space passed. In Kendall County, voters approved a bond referendum to raise $5 million to protect natural areas from development. In Lake County, voters approved a tax increase to improve Lake County's forest preserves. In Lake Forest, voters approved spending $6 million to save a 25-acre parcel of open space from development.

Pro-environment candidates also prevailed in the Illinois General Assembly. Key contests included narrow victories in Illinois House races by Republican Beth Coulson and Democrats Kathleen Ryg, Elaine Nekritz, and Naomi Jakobsson, as well as Democrat Susan Garrett's election to the Illinois Senate.

Also, in DuPage County, voters elected a separate board for the Forest Preserve District for the first time.

— Jack Darin