November 6, 2002
Environment A Big Winner In Illinois Elections
Voters Reward Pro-environment Republicans and Democrats
Open Space Measures Prevail As Other Funding Proposals Fail
One clear trend emerging from the results of Illinois' election is that voters chose pro-environment candidates from both parties, from local to statewide races.
"Clearly voters are looking for candidates who share their commitment to clean air, clean water, and conservation," said Jack Darin, Director of the Sierra Club, Illinois Chapter. "Environmental issues are important to both Democratic and Republican voters in Chicago, the suburbs, and downstate."
For the first time in its history, Sierra Club endorsed Illinois candidates for Governor and Attorney General. Sierra Club endorsed U.S. Rep. Rod Blagojevich based on his strong support in Congress and in Springfield for environmental legislation, and for his ambitious campaign proposals to clean up water pollution, promote clean energy, and help manage urban sprawl.
Sierra Club backed State Senator Lisa Madigan based on her work in the Illinois State Senate on water pollution, clean air, and natural areas protection issues, and applauded her campaign proposal to beef up enforcement of Illinois' environmental laws.
"We are very excited to work with Rod Blagojevich to better protect Illinois' environment," said Darin. "We are confident that Lisa Madigan will make our communities cleaner and safer by cracking down on environmental violators."
In federal races, voters re-elected Sierra Club-endorsed Republicans Mark Kirk and Tim Johnson, and Democrats Dick Durbin, Jan Schakowsky, Luis Gutierrez, Danny Davis, Rahm Emanuel, and Lane Evans.
All candidates endorsed by Sierra Club for the Illinois General Assembly were victorious. Key contests included narrow victories by Republican Beth Coulson and Democrats Kathleen Ryg, Elaine Nekritz, and Naomi Jakobsson in Illinois House races, and Democrat Susan Garrett's election to the Illinois Senate.
On an Election Day when most tax increases went down to defeat, all open space protection tax increases passed. In Kendall County, voters approved a bond referendum to raise $5 million to protect natural areas from development, on an Election Day when voters rejected most bond issues. In Lake County, voters approved a tax increase to improve Lake County's beautiful Forest Preserve District properties. In Lake Forest, voters approved spending $ 6 million to save a 25-acre parcel of open space from development.
Sierra Club-endorsed incumbents for DuPage, Cook, and Lake County boards were all victorious.
Sierra Club volunteers mounted their most ambitious Illinois voter education effort in history, reaching out to over 100,000 Illinois voters in targeted districts over the course of the campaign. All of Sierra Clubıs endorsements are available online at our Ballot 2002 page.