Politics & Government

Education Advocacy Group Endorses Ron Sandack, Jim Durkin

The group, Stand for Children, works to ensure kids graduate from high school with access to a college education.

The education advocacy group Stand for Children announced its first endorsements for state representatives and state senators Thursday.

The group endorsed State Sen. Ron Sandack for state representative of Illinois' 81st district and State Rep. Jim Durkin for re-election as state representative of the 82nd district. 

The newly created 81st district includes parts of Downers Grove, Darien, Lisle, Woodridge, Westmont and Naperville.

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The newly drawn 82nd District includes parts of Western Springs, Lemont, Darien, Burr Ridge, Willowbrook, Woodridge and Homer Glen. 

Stand for Children made its first endorsements after a process that began Dec. 5, when the group sent nominating petitions to candidates.

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"An internal selection committee formed a set of criteria to consider candidates, including efforts to support education reform initiatives, responses to questionnaire, and voting record on key education reform legislation for incumbents," according to the group's website

"In races where education was a contested issue, Stand invited each candidate to participate in interviews with members of the internal selection committee." 

The group called Sandack “an education champion who supports increasing quality public school options available to every child," according to a press release from Sandack's office. 

Sandack began serving as a village commissioner for Downers Grove in 2003 and was elected mayor in 2007. He currently serves as a state senator for the 21st district, having been appointed last fall to replace Dan Cronin, who was elected DuPage County Board Chairman. 

Also running for the 81st District Republican nomination is Debbie Boyle. Boyle currently serves as the vice president of the Community High School District 99 school board. 

The 81st district constitutes half of the previous 47th district. Petricia Bellock, who currently serves the 47th district, has decided not to run for the 81st, so there is no incumbent candidate.  

Durkin has represented the 82nd district since 2006 and served as state representative for the 44th district from 1995 to 2002. He is running against newcomer Laura Reigle, who made an unsuccessful run last year for a seat on the Lemont-Bromberek Combined School District 113A Board of Education. Both are Republicans. 

No one is running for the Democratic nomination in either district.

“I am very grateful to Stand for Children for their support and their recognition of my efforts on behalf of Illinois children,” said Sandack in the press release.

“I believe that every child is entitled to a quality education, regardless of their geography or family’s financial situation. As a result I will continue to support school reform opportunities which will afford a solid educational foundation for every child.”

Stand for Children's mission is to ensure that all children, regardless of their background, graduate from high school prepared for, and with access to, a college education, according to the release.

To make that happen, they educate and empower parents, advocate for effective policy, and elect education leaders.

“Education is the key that unlocks the door to success, but far too many children, through no fault of their own, aren’t getting the education they need to make it in life,” said Mary Anderson, executive director of Stand for Children Illinois in the release. 

“By electing education advocates committed to prioritizing children before adults in their education policy decisions, we can change the trajectory so all students can graduate from high school prepared for and with access to a college education.”

Illinois' primary is March 20. See our full voters guide here. 


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