Illinois Chapter of the Sierra Club Endorsed Candidates
Barack Obama (D)
Barack Obama: Environmental Leader from the Land of Lincoln
There are many reasons why Americans are energized about Barack Obama’s historic campaign for the White House, but most are still unaware of his record in Illinois on the environment. Sierra Club leaders who have worked with Obama during his time in the Illinois Senate, and as our U.S. Senator, know that he will make the right choices for our country, because we have seen him make those choices for many years here in Illinois.
Sierra Club and Obama have had a long relationship, dating back to 1995, when he was beginning his first campaign for the Illinois Senate. As a first-time candidate, Obama pledged his support for a healthy environment, but more importantly offered to help build larger majorities for environmental protection by reaching out to constituencies that had not always been allies. His previous work as a community organizer in Chicago’s Altgeld Gardens public housing project, one of the birthplaces of the environmental justice movement, had shown him the many ways pollution can hurt a community, and he recognized that cleaning up pollution was a key part of lifting people out of poverty and injustice.
“When he first ran for the Illinois Senate, I took Barack to lunch to get to know him,” says Rand Sparling, who was Chair of the Chicago Group of the Sierra Club in 1995. “We recognized that he saw and spoke clearly about the same issues we cared about, and we supported and worked with him in that election and from that time on. He has a strong identification with the Sierra Club and the environmental movement.”
Obama’s early years in the Illinois General Assembly were a difficult environment for progressives - the Illinois Senate was ruled by conservative partisan leaders that killed most environmental initiatives without so much as a hearing.
He learned quickly to reach across party and geographic lines to build support for environmental protection. He was an early sponsor of renewable energy legislation, to require Illinois utilities to generate a percentage of their power from wind energy, long before most legislators knew about global warming or saw any need to upgrade energy policy. He was a sponsor of the Illinois Wetland Protection Act, to provide state protection to wetlands that had lost protection under the 2001 SWANCC Supreme Court decision. He frequently received awards and high marks from the Illinois Environmental Council, the coalition representing the environmental community in Springfield.
“Often when I ask a legislator in Springfield to take the lead on an environmental issue, there are lots of questions about the potential political downsides, like ‘which lobbyists are against it, or, will this hurt my re-election campaign”, says Jack Darin, who, as Director of the Sierra Club, Illinois Chapter, advocates for the environment before the Illinois General Assembly. “Barack was different from the start. He wanted to understand the facts to determine the right position for the public interest, and then focus on helping build a campaign and strategy to get that policy enacted."
Clean air is a major personal interest for Obama, who represented the south side of Chicago, where asthma is an epidemic. His oldest daughter suffers from the condition, and when the Bush Administration tried to open new loopholes in the Clean Air Act to weaken limits on coal plants, he worked with Sierra Club to introduce legislation closing those loopholes for Illinois.
Obama sought Sierra Club’s advice and support early in his bid for the U.S. Senate in 2004, and the Club endorsed him as he trailed that race behind better known and financed challengers. Of course, he went on to win that race, and has continued his environmental work in the U.S. Senate, where he has focused on smart energy policies, including more efficient cars and trucks and renewable incentives, cleaning up toxic mercury, and pressuring the Bush Administration’s EPA to better protect public health from pollution, to name a few.
Like many Americans, we are eager for change and excited at the prospect of an Obama administration. As Illinoisans and Sierra Club members, we have seen first hand his commitment to the environment and his skill in advocating for it, and filled with hope for the new energy he will bring to battle climate change and renew our national commitment to protecting America’s natural heritage.
Dick Durbin (D)
Dick Durbin has been a consistent friend of the environment and Sierra Club. With his leadership position in the US Senate he is able to lead on a wide range of energy, land protection, and transportation matters that concern us all.
District 2: Jesse Jackson Jr. (D)
Visit Jesse Jackson Jr.'s web site
District 3: Dan Lipinski (D)
District 4: Luis Gutierrez (D)
District 5: Rahm Emanuel (D)
District 6: Jill Morgenthaler (D)
Jill Morgenthaler will take to the House over 30 years of experience in the private sector, the military, and government including recent service as Illinois' Homeland Security Advisor. This varied set of experiences involving worldwide travel has taught her many lessons about the potential the U.S. has to be a leader in environmental issues including the development of clean and efficient energy sources. She supports legislation that caps carbon emissions and encourages smart energy solutions including tax incentives for improved electrical efficiency and an increase in CAFÉ standards. She also opposes drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and in other threatened wild lands. She has promised to actively support federal Wilderness designation for Ripple Hollow, Burke Branch, and Camp Hutchins in the Shawnee National Forest.
Visit Jill Morgenthaler's web site
District 7: Danny Davis (D)
District 8: Melissa Bean (D)
District 9: Jan Schakowsky (D)
Visit Jan Schakowsky's web site
District 10: Mark Kirk (R)
In the 10th Congressional district, incumbent Mark Kirk has demonstrated a fine voting record on environmental issues, earning ratings this past Congressional session of 90 from the League of Conservation Voters and 92 from the Illinois Environmental Council -- the best environmental voting record in the Illinois delegation and as one of only six Republicans nationwide who worked this consistently to protect the environment.
Representative Kirk has cast tough votes on the Club's highest priority bills on the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, energy conservation, renewable energy, and better CAFE standards, and supports our position on crucial upcoming global warming legislation such as carbon cap and trade.
He has been a true leader on Great Lakes issues, including the Great Lakes Regional Collaborative and the Great Lakes Compact. Representative Kirk also effectively led the complex effort to preserve as open space the scenic bluffs and ravines of the Fort Sheridan base.
District 11: Debbie Halvorson (D)
Debbie DeFrancesco Halvorson has served in the Illinois Senate since 1997. She holds a BA and a Master's Degree in Communications and Training from Governors State University.
She was appointed the Senate Majority Leader in 2005, and is the first woman to hold that role in Illinois.
Her environmental priority in Congress would be to address the challenge of global warming, by supporting higher gas mileage standards, stronger standards on greenhouse gas emissions, and investments in cleaner, alternative sources of energy. She supports the national Sierra Club priorities for energy policy, clean air and water, protecting the Artic National Wildlife Refuge from oil drilling, protection of wilderness areas, slowing population growth, and promoting environmentally responsible trade agreements.
Visit Debbie Halvorson's web site
District 14: Bill Foster (D)
District 15: Tim Johnson (R)
Tim Johnson proves that strong support for environmental protection can come from both sides of the aisle in Congress. He has been a consistent supporter of higher fuel efficiency standards for automobiles, of renewable energy, and has been a steadfast opponent of drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. We will need the support of Republicans like Johnson in 2009 to pass legislation needed to fight global warming and make major changes in our energy policy.
District 18: Colleen Callahan (D)
Colleen Callahan is endorsed by Sierra Club for her concerns for environmental protection.
Callahan is an advocate for moving toward a sustainable and cleaner energy base for the country, and taking action to protect air and water resources.
Callahan has clearly stated the need for a national long-term energy policy that will guide the nation to a clean and secure energy future. She will work to bring many green jobs, based on sustainable and cleaner energy sources including wind, solar, and other alternatives. She is a proponent of research and planning to bring cellulosic ethanol to the forefront, which will assist farmers and move to more crop fuel sources that require less costs and impacts in growing. Callahan has clearly stated the need to work internationally to address global climate change issues.
Visit Colleen Callahan's web site
District 2: William Delgado (D)
District 3: Mattie Hunter (D)
Lives: Chicago
Organizations: Vice Chairman of Health and Human Services
Housing and Community Affairs
State Government
Pensions and investments
Profession: Illinois State Senator, 2002-present
Director, Chicago Housing Authority
owner, M. Hunter Associates, 2001-present
Program Manager for City of Chicago's Department of Human Services
worked at Human Resources Development Institute, Inc. (1982-2000)
Managing Director at the Center for Health and Human Services, located in Johannesburg, South Africa (1994-1996)
She sponsored and helped pass SB 1028, recognizing the third Saturday in June of each year as “Juneteenth National Freedom Day.” Supported the ban on the distribution of mercury fever thermometers and mercury-added novelty products.
District 6: John Cullerton (D)
Biography: Married with five children. Attended Loyola University where he received his B.A. and his J.D. from Loyola Law. Elected to the Illinois House of Representatives 1979 where he served until 1991 at which point he was elected to the Illinois State Senate. He is currently the Majority Caucus Whip, and a member of the Environmental Caucus.
Environmental Positions: Senator Cullerton has been a consistent advocate for the environment in the General Assembly. He has been:
- Sponsored a bill for protecting the Great Lakes, which will help prevent diversion of water outside of the basin.
- An advocate for renewable energy and energy efficiency
- Champion on protecting our state parks from damaging All Terrain Vehicles
Visit John Cullerton's web site
District 7: Heather Steans (D)
Biography: Married with three children, Steans received her Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in Urban Studies from Princeton University and earned a Masters degree in Public Policy from Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government where she serves on the Dean's Alumni Leadership Council. She managed the budgets of state agencies in Illinois and Wisconsin and helped develop the Chicago Public Schools' multi-year strategic plan that produced education reform.
Environmental Positions:
- Supports clean car initiatives, which would help curb global warming by regulating carbon dioxide from car exhausts
- Support initiatives to clean up coal-fired plants and incentives for development of alternative energy strategies
- Helped redevelop a Brownfield site with green buildings and local organic produce.
District 9: Jeffrey Schoenberg (D)
Biography: Senator Schoenberg, his wife, Lynne Sered, and their two children reside in northwest Evanston. He served in the Illinois House of Representatives from 1990 to 2002, until being elected to his current post as State Senator.
Environmental Leadership:
- Senate Sponsor of the Illinois Special Places Acquisition, Conservation and Enhancement (ISPACE) program, which urged open space land acquisition money as part of any capital budget.
- Co-sponsor of the ACES bill in the house (Affordable Clean Energy Standards), which set a Renewable Portfolio Standard and Energy Efficiency Standard.
Visit Jeffrey Schoenberg's web site
District 12: Martin Sandoval (D)
District 21: Dan Cronin (R)
Dan Cronin is an environmental leader in his caucus that the Sierra Club counts on. He cosponsored our key initiative, the Clean Cars Act this year, was a chief co-sponsor of our Renewable energy bill the year before. A long-time friend, he stuck his neck out to save the Illinois Endangered Species Act many years ago when it was under attack and was part of our fight to save isolated wetlands.
District 29: Susan Garrett (D)
Biography: Married with two children. She received her B.A. in Political Science from Lake Forest College and was elected in 1998, as a member of the house and was elected to the Illinois Senate in 2002. Some of Senator Garrett's main concerns are Global Warming, education, health care and ethics reform. Garrett is married with two children.
Environmental Positions:
- Sponsored the Green Governments Illinois Act, which was designed to be a clearing- house for green policies and a resource for other forms of local government.
- Supported efforts to curb global warming by co-sponsoring a bill for a renewable Portfolio Standard and Energy Efficiency.
- An advocate for environmental clean up. She sponsored legislation that required that polluters pay for the pollution they were releasing into our area waterways rather than being able to pollute for free. Her current efforts include trying to pass legislation relating to recycling of electronic waste.
Visit Susan Garrett's web site
District 30: Terry Link (D)
District 33: Dan Kotowski (D)
Senator Kotowski has voted the environmentalist vote 86% of the time, and shepherded legislation through the General Assembly mandating that state agencies reduce their energy consumption by 10 percent. He has also worked to pass a raft of Sierra Club backed legislation, notably co-sponsoring two of our key priorities: the Clean Car Act, which would mandate substantial reductions in carbon emissions from cars, and the Global Warming Response Act, which would place a cap on carbon emissions and mandate significant increases in energy efficiency.
District 39: Don Harmon (D)
Biography: Harmon is a lifelong resident of the 39th District where he lives today with his wife and children. He attended Knox College where he received his B.A., he later received his J.D. and M.B.A. from University of Chicago. He was elected to the Illinois State Senate in 2003 where he serves on Environment and Energy committee.
Environmental Positions: As a proponent of green infrastructure Senator Harmon is also an advocate for open spaces.
- Sponsored the Affordable Clean Energy Standards Act (ACES) which included a Renewable Portfolio Standard and Energy Efficiency standard.
- Co-sponsor of the Illinois Special Places Acquisition, Conservation and Enhancement (ISPACE) program, which urged open space land acquisition money as part of any capital budget.
- Fighting to curb global warming by working to set a state wide cap on green house gases.
District 41: Christine Radogno (R)
District 42: Linda Holmes (D)
Linda Holmes is a Sierra Club member and current State Senator from the 42nd District, which includes Aurora, Plainfield, and parts of Joliet. First elected in 2006, her first bill to become law was the Illinois Cool Cities Act, which provides state assistance to Illinois communities trying to reduce greenhouse gas emissions at the local level. She has also been a leader in trying to protect the budget of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, which plays a critical role in protecting Illinois wildlife and open space, but has suffered from staff and budget cuts.
Illinois House of Representatives
District 1: Susan Mendoza (D)
District 4: Cynthia Soto (D)
District 7: Karen Yarbrough (D)
Experience: House of Representatives 2001 to present. Yarbrough holds a B.A. in Business Administration form Chicago State University and a M.A. in Inner City Studies from Northeastern Illinois University. Representative Yarbrough is also on the committee for Renewable Energy.
Environmental Positions:
- Co-sponsor of the Illinois Special Places Acquisition, Conservation and Enhancement (ISPACE) program, which urged open space land acquisition money as part of any capital budget.
- Co-sponsored the ACES bill in the house (Affordable Clean Energy Standards), which set a Renewable Portfolio Standard and Energy Efficiency Standard.
Visit Karen Yarbrough's web site
District 9: Art Tuner (D)
District 11: John Fritchey (D)
Experience: Representative Fritchey received his B.A in Economics from the University of Michigan and his J.D. from Northwestern University. Fritchey also serves on Subcommittee; Mineral and Surface Rights Issues (Sub-Chairperson); Mineral Rights committee.
Biography: Born March 2, 1964, upon receiving his law degree from Northwestern he became an Illinois Assistant Attorney General. Than at the age of 32 Fritchey ran for State Representative and has been an advocate for his constituents ever since. Fritchey is also an adjunct lecturer at Northwestern. Representative Fritchey is married and has one child.
Environmental Positions:
- Sponsored the Illinois Right to know Bill, which gives the public an opportunity to find out which toxic chemicals they are exposed to, which can help to protect them from potential hazards.
- Co-sponsor of the Illinois Special Places Acquisition, Conservation and Enhancement (ISPACE) program, which urged open space land acquisition money as part of any capital budget.
- Co-sponsor of the Great Lakes Compact, which will help prevent diversion of water outside of the basin.
Visit John Fritchey's web site
District 12: Sara Feigenholtz (D)
Biography: First elected to the House of Representatives in 1995. She received her B.A. in Political Science, Speech and Performing Arts from Northeastern Illinois University. Before becoming a State Representative, Feigenholtz was the Chief of Staff for Senator Cullerton for 12 years.
Environmental Positions:
- Co-sponsor of the Great Lakes Compact, which will help prevent diversion of water outside of the basin.
- Co-sponsor of the Illinois Special Places Acquisition, Conservation and Enhancement (ISPACE) program, which urged open space land acquisition money as part of any capital budget.
- Co-sponsored the ACES bill in the house (Affordable Clean Energy Standards), which set a Renewable Portfolio Standard and Energy Efficiency Standard.
Visit Sara Feigenholtoz's web site
District 13: Greg Harris (D)
Biography: Before becoming a Representative, Harris was the Chief of staff for Mary Ann Smith for 14 years. Representative Harris is a proud man committed to fighting AIDS and HIV, among other issues, Harris, is an advocate for education, healthcare and affordable housing.
Environmental Leadership:
- Co-sponsored the Illinois Cool Cities Act, which provides technical assistance to cities that commit to reduce their greenhouse gases to 1990 levels by 2012.
- Co-sponsor of the Illinois Special Places Acquisition, Conservation and Enhancement (ISPACE) program, which urged open space land acquisition money as part of any capital budget.
- Co-sponsor of the Great Lakes Compact, which will help prevent diversion of water outside of the basin.
District 14: Harry Osterman (D)
Biography: Elected to the House in 2000. Before becoming a Representative, Osterman attended Illinois State University and Loyola University. Representatives priorities are improving our schools, defending public safety, protecting social services and preserving our parks and beaches. Osterman is married and has two children.
Environmental Leadership:
- Sponsor of the Illinois Special Places Acquisition, Conservation and Enhancement (ISPACE) program, which urged open space land acquisition money as part of any capital budget.
- Co-sponsored the ACES bill in the house (Affordable Clean Energy Standards), which set a Renewable Portfolio Standard and Energy Efficiency Standard.
- Sponsored the Great Lakes Compact, which will help prevent diversion of water outside of the Great Lakes basin.
District 16: Lou Lang (D)
District 17: Beth Coulson (R)
Lives: Glenview
Profession: House of Representatives (1996-Present)
Professor and Chair of the Department of Physical Therapy, Chicago Medical School (1981-2002)
Organizations: Optimist Club, Rotary Club, Sierra Club
Coulson represents the 17th District, which includes Glenview, Northfield, and parts of Winnetka, Northbrook, Wilmette, Morton Grove, Evanston, and Skokie. As a Republican facing a strong challenge in what is expected to be a Democratic year, Coulson will need our help to keep building bi-partisan support among 17th District residents for a clean energy, open space agenda.
District 18: Julie Hamos (D)
Experience: Elected to the House of Representatives in 1999 she is a member of the Environment & Energy committee, and the National Caucus of Environmental Legislators. She received her law degree from Washington University and served as the Legislative Director for AFSCME.
Environmental Leadership:
- Sponsored legislation to deal with transit funding.
- Co-sponsor of the ACES bill in the house (Affordable Clean Energy Standards), which set a Renewable Portfolio Standard and Energy Efficiency Standard.
- Co-sponsor of the Illinois Clean Car Act, which would help curb global warming by regulating carbon dioxide from car exhausts.
District 25: Barbara Flynn Currie (D)
The long time representative of the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago, Barbara Flynn Currie is a reliable vote for the environment. As the majority leader in the House for the Democrats she brings important leadership in Sierra Club's efforts to promote pro-environmental legislation.
Visit Barbara Flynn Currie's web site
District 26: Will Burns (D)
Biogrpahy: Married with one child, Burns received his B.A. degree in 1995 and an M.A. in 1998 from the University of Chicago. He has served as a Senior Advisor and Deputy Chief of Staff to Senate President Emil Jones, Jr., and as an aide to Senator Barack Obama.
Environmental Positions: Will Burns is one of the exciting new champions we hope will bring new energy to Springfield in 2009. His resume includes work with then-State Senator Barack Obama in his district office, and with the Urban League on environmental justice and regional planning issues. His agenda for the General Assembly includes new legislation to better protect minority communities from the disproportionate pollution impacts they suffer, and new requirements for green buildings.
On the urgency and importance of state action to combat climate change, Burns says: “Global warming is already occurring and without significant action to reduce carbon emissions within the next decade, scientists predict that the consequences could be severe and potentially irreversible. Even though this is a worldwide problem, we can take action at the state level to help reduce the problem and I plan to do that in the Illinois General Assembly.”
District 27: Monique Davis (D)
District 29:
David Miller (D)
State Representative David Miller works hard in Springfield to represent your interest in a clean and healthy environment.
Sierra Club is proud to endorse David Miller because he’s not afraid to stand up to lobbyists for big polluters and do the right thing for our environment and for our health.
District 34: Connie Howard (D)
Visit Constance Howard's web site
District 38: Al Riley (D)
District 39: Maria Antonia Barrios (D)
District 41: Bob Biggins (R)
Bob Biggins has been a long time friend of the Sierra Club. He frequently calls officials of the Sierra Club and asks them for their opinions concerning environmental legislation pending in the Illinois General Assembly.
Over the years, Bob Biggins has made himself available to officials of the Sierra Club to hear their concerns and considered the legislation that the Sierra Club has supported in the Illinois General Assembly. This close relationship that Bob Biggins has developed with officials of the Sierra Club is reflected in the fact that the Illinois Chapter of the Sierra Club has consistently endorsed Bob Biggins for election as a state representative to the Illinois General Assembly for past six consecutive elections: 2006, 2004, 2002, 2000, 1998, and 1996. With the election of 2008, this Sierra Club endorsement will represent the seventh consecutive Sierra Club endorsement for State Representative Bob Biggins.
Jack Darin the chief lobbyist for the Sierra Club's Illinois Chapter and its Director has said concerning his lobby experiences with State Representative Bob Biggins, "Bob Biggins is a reliable vote and friend on environmental issues. We wish more legislators put a clean environment ahead of party politics like Bob Biggins does."
District 42: Sandra Pihos (R)
Sandra Pihos is one of the more reliable votes for the environment in Springfield. Last year she cosponsored the Sierra Club’s Clean Cars bill, Energy Efficient Building Codes Act and Mercury Added Products ban. Her Illinois Environmental Council rating was 70 percent in 2007. In 2004 she was the only legislator from DuPage County to get a 100 percent environmental rating from the Illinois Environmental Council and one of only 17 representatives out of 118 to vote against both bad ATV bills that would have allowed all-terrain vehicles to wreak havoc in our state parks.
In past years Pihos has cosponsored our bill to save isolated wetlands. She said she was most proud of the work she did lobbying her colleagues for that bill. “I worked along side (Rep.) Karen May on that bill and really learned what lobbying is all about,” she said.
Pihos voted for our bill banning mercury switches and limiting diesel truck idling in 2006.
Pihos summed up her attitude: “Unlike many issues where there really are two sides, when it comes to the environment, there really is a right and wrong way.”
District 43: Keith Farnham (D)
As owner of a union paint business, Keith Farnham fought to ban toxics from paint and other finishing coats. His top priorities would be preservation of wetlands and acquisition of natural areas and major focus would be on clean air and water standards and more uses of alternative energy sources such as solar power, and wind power. He also will co-sponsor the Illinois Clean Car Act, which would require cars sold in Illinois to meet the cleaner standard.
He is running against incumbent Ruth Munson (R), who is not a clean car supporter.
District 46: Gary Nowak (D)
Gary Nowak is a banker and businessman who believes a healthy planet is necessary to a healthy economy. He will be a strong advocate for clean air, clean water, climate protection and open space. He is especially enthusiastic about renewable energy, energy conservation and public transportation. He can be relied on to vote the interests of his constituents rather than special interests.
District 51: Amanda Howland (D)
As an Illinois State Rep, Ms. Howland will fight for renewable energy, energy conservation, clean cars and mass transit as ways to halt global climate change. She'll work to protect our remaining natural areas and endangered wildlife. And Amanda rejects urban sprawl and the kind of overbuilding that could easily ruin the natural character of Lake County.
Specifically, Howland will support legislation (HB3424) that will require cleaner cars in Illinois, and limit statewide carbon emissions. She supports additional state wetlands legislation and increased funding for state land acquisition (ISPACE).
Amanda Howland as our new state representative will bring a new focus to environmental issues. If you live in the 51st District, please vote for Amanda in the November!
Visit Amanda Howland's web site
District 56:Paul Froehlich (D)
Paul has been a Sierra Club endorsee for years, having voted the environmental position 90% in 2008. Many know Paul because he switched his party from Republican to Democrat last year, but that makes no difference for us: we were with him then because of his environmental leadership, and so we’re with him now.
District 57: Elaine Nekritz (D)
visit Elaine Nekritz's web site
District 58:
Karen May (D)
Karen is a leader on environmental issues in the state house. She is chairperson of the House Environmental Health Committee, co-chair of the bipartisan, bicameral Environmental Caucus of the General Assembly, and Illinois chair of the National Caucus of Environmental Legislators. She is a persistent champion of mercury pollution reduction and wetlands protection. Representative May is the recipient of the Nature Conservancy's Acorn Award for her work in restoring funding for natural areas in the state and of the Illinois Environmental Council's Environmental Leadership Award.
House District 58 includes all or part of Bannockburn, Deerfield, Glencoe, Highland Park, Highwood, Lake Bluff, Lake Forest, Northbrook, and Riverwoods.
District 59: Kathy Ryg (D)
Lives: Vernon Hills with husband, has four children
Organizations: Environmental Health, Northeastern Illinois YWCA, Housing and Urban Development, Chair of Paratransit Subcommittee
Profession: Village Clerk, Vernon Hills (1989-1996)
Chief Deputy Recorder of Deeds, Lake County (1999-2002)
Deputy Recorder of Deeds, Lake County (1996-1999)
Village Trustee, Vernon Hills (1999-2002)
Illinois House of Representatives (2003-present)
Education: BA, Family Services, Northern Illinois University
MA, Education, Roosevelt University
Supports: wetland protection, mercury reduction, energy efficiency, renewable energy, location efficiency
Kathy spearheaded a new initiative to save energy in Illinois that will help consumers reduce their energy bills, and has the added benefit of reducing pollution. Co-sponsor of HB4455 that sets the minimum efficiency standards for furnaces, laptop power supplies, and several other appliances
District 62: Sandy Cole (R)
Sandy Cole is enthusiastically endorsed for the Illinois House of Representatives 62nd District.
House District 62 includes all or portions of Gurnee, Old Mill Creek, Third Lake, Grayslake, Hainesville, Round Lake Beach, Round Lake Park, Round Lake Heights, Lindenhurst, and Lake Villa and many unincorporated communities in northern Lake County.
District 71: Mike Boland (D)
"It is an honor to be recognized and endorsed by groups that are so important to improving air, soil and water quality in Illinois," Representative Boland said. "I am humbled and truly appreciative of the support of Illinois League of Conservation Voters and the Sierra Club. Environmental groups are playing a crucial role in creating a cleaner planet for our children and grandchildren to inherit."
Boland has sponsored a bill requiring state buildings to use energy efficient light bulbs that last longer and save taxpayer-dollars, while fighting global warming and climate change.
District 78: Deborah Graham (D)
Experience: Representative Graham received her B.A in Business Administration from Robert Morris College. Graham is also the chairperson of the Committee on Renewable Energy.
Biography: Born in Chicago, Graham, has been involved in community affairs since childhood. She received her B.A in Business Administration from Robert Morris College. And is the chairperson of the Renewable Energy Committee.
Environmental Positions:
- Sponsored the ACES bill in the house (Affordable Clean Energy Standards), which set a Renewable Portfolio Standard and Energy Efficiency Standard.
- Supports efforts to restrict and limit the uses of mercury, a neurotoxin. She has supported a variety of bills that would help to remove mercury from the environment.
- Created the first renewable energy committee and sponsored and co-sponsored a variety of other environmental bills.
Visit Deborah Graham's web site
District 80: George Scully (D)
District 83: Linda Chapa La Via (D)
Visit Linda Chapa La Via's web site
District 85: Emily McAsey (D)
Emily McAsey is running against incumbent Brent Hassert in the 85th District. McAsey’s support for clean cars, for greenhouse gas emissions reductions, and cleaner water stand are a breath of fresh air. Hassert, on the other hand, generally votes with polluters and other special interests who oppose environmental protection measures.
Sprawl and its consequences are also a major issue for this district. According to McAsey: “I live in Will County where we are experiencing tremendous growth. I would like to work with the Sierra Club to make sure that that growth is done in an environmentally friendly manner while at the same time preserving as much of our open spaces as possible for future generations of Will County residents.”
McAsey is just the kind of new energy we need in Springfield!
District 92: Jehan Gordon (D)
Jehan Gordon respects environmental concerns and wants to help protect our air and water. She is passionate about environmental justice issues, having seen the effects of pollution in the Peoria area. Jehan is interested in better mass transit and supports bicycling trails. She is eager to be part of a new Illinois legislature to get to work on education, health and environmental issues.
Jehan has served as an AmeriCorp VISTA (Volunteer in Service to America) worker at Illinois Central College (ICC). She worked with a variety of faith-based and community-based organizations where she developed relationships and identified funding opportunities for programs benefiting local residents.
Her work included out-reach to youth, and she currently directs the Illinois Central College student retention program and developed and directs their Emerging Leaders initiative. This program inspires college students to pursue their goals by connecting them with mentors in various professional fields.
She is graduate of U.S. Senator Barack Obama's Campaign and Leadership Training program. Jehan grew up in Peoria and has a degree from the U. of I. in speech and communications. She proudly notes that she commuted by bus for some time, and she was instrumental in a local recycling effort.
District 95: Mike Fortner (R)
“Michael Fortner has been an incredibly strong voice in Springfield for the environment,” said Jack Darin, Illinois Sierra Club director. “In just one term, his science background and willingness to speak up has made him very influential and a great plus for the Sierra Club’s issues.”
Michael Fortner began as a citizen activist fighting to hold Kerr McKee Corporation responsible for contaminating the rivers and groundwater of West Chicago and surrounding communities with thorium. He provided crucial leadership as he progressed from citizen to West Chicago alderman to West Chicago mayor in getting the multi-group thorium cleanup agreement with Kerr McGee. This clean up will be one of the most extensive river cleanups in the nation.
A Northern Illinois University faculty member and PhD. in physics, Fortner is aware of the need to address environmental concerns. As West Chicago mayor, he worked to get a modern filtration plant built. He pushed to make the West Chicago Prairie an Illinois Nature Preserve and finalized the DuPage transportation plan.
His membership on the House Energy and Environment Committee and the Transportation Committee bespeak his environmental priorities and position him to be the powerful help to the Sierra Club that he is. Last year no one fought harder for mass transit than Fortner.
Michael Fortner has been a good vote and fighter for most of our issues, including Clean Cars, the Global Warming Solutions Act, renewable energy, mass transit, open space, IDNR funding and energy efficient building codes. He sees a clean, safe, healthy environment with lots of open space as a big part of quality of life.
District 96: Darlene Senger (R)
Senger resides in Naperville with her husband and two children, and has served as a Naperville City Councilwoman for 5 years. Senger received her B.S. in Finance from Purdue University and her MBA in Finance from DePaul University.
Environmental Positions:
- Supports use of green infrastructure such as wetlands and open space for storm water management.
- Supports efforts to protect water quality
- Voted for the City of Naperville to proceed with an emissions inventory so they could develop a plan to reduce their global warming footprint.
Visit Darlene Senger's web site
District 96: Diane McGuire (D)
Dianne McGuire is a retired teacher from Naperville Unit 203.
McGuire’s environmentalism comes directly out of her teaching. “The rise of asthma has been devastating,” she said. “My students are missing school, their parents are missing work to take care of them and the economy is bearing hidden costs of healthcare and lost productivity because of pollutants in our environment.”
McGuire will be a strong voice for the Clean Car bill, renewable energy, climate protection, and wetlands and open space preservation.
Visit Diane McGuire's web site
District 103: Naomi Jakobsson (D)
Visit Naomi Jakobsson's web site
District 114: Wyvetter Younge (D)
District 1: Peter Grant (D)
As a 22-year resident of Antioch, Peter Grant knows the people in District 1 and he understands the culture of the lakes region. We feel he can do a good job of representing this community, not as a professional politician, but as a family man who has seen the need for change. Change in the way we do business here in Lake County. By empowering the community to literally change the face of politics in northern Lake County.
Peter believes we can make Lake County a greener county through public policy starting with stringent energy-saving measures adopted by all county-wide agencies. We can save the county plenty of money by implementing simple energy saving strategies and setting an example for the residents of the county to follow.
Peter feels that the health of our lakes is becoming more and more an issue as more development comes to the 1st District. He strongly supports protecting the health of our lakes for the sake of the businesses that depend on the recreation that the lakes provide. He also accepts the responsibility that we have to care for our lakes as part of our heritage in Antioch and all of District 1.
District 8:
Bob Sabonjian (D)
We have repeatedly and proudly endorsed Bob Sabonjian since his initial County Board run in 1998. Over the years, Bob has consistently stood up for the environment, often taking tough stands when others lacked the courage.
This year is no different, and we were pleased when Bob voiced concern and reserved support for the plan to site the Olympics in our Forest Preserves. Bob has earned our endorsement once again, and we ask Waukegan voters to give him your vote.
District 11:
Pat Carey (D)
Pat Carey is a 25 year resident of Grayslake and is running for Lake County Board District 11. District 11 includes Grayslake and Wildwood. Formerly Mayor of Grayslake, Pat now has responsibility for economic development with the Village of Arlington Heights. Pat is also a member of the Sierra Club and the Liberty Prairie Conservancy.
Pat started her career in government as a citizen leader in the battle to save Picket Fence Farms from development. Today this property is the 1,225 acre Rollins Savanna, one of the jewels of the Lake County Forest Preserve. She will bring a strong focus to the environment, moving to create a position in the County to coordinate all environmental initiatives, including moving the County’s fleet of cars to hybrids, implementing LEED certified development & building practices, and establishing Lake County as a “Cool County”.
As a new member of the Lake County Board, Pat will bring a commitment to the environment in everything she does. Please vote for Pat Carey in November if you live within Lake County Board District 11.
District 16: Bob Powers (R)
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