Councilwoman Jeanne Ives Announces Run for State Seat

Wheaton Councilwoman At-Large Jeanne Ives officially announced Monday that she will run in the Republican primary for State Representative for the 42nd District. 

In an emailed statement she wrote, "For the last 20 years, I have lived, worked and raised my family in the area included in the new 42nd District, which contains portions of the communities of Carol Stream, Lisle, Naperville, Warrenville, West Chicago, and Wheaton. I currently serve on the Wheaton City Council.

"My top priority will be expanding economic opportunity. I grew up in South Dakota with five siblings. Twenty years ago four of us moved to Illinois for jobs. My brothers live in Chicago, Lisle and Galesburg. Our children, however, face a very different situation after finishing school in Illinois. Like many of our neighbors, they will find it far more difficult to find good jobs in Illinois than we did. In working as a tax consultant helping individuals and small businesses, I have seen firsthand the results of a decade of complete control of Illinois government by the Democrats. Taxes are too high, spending too much, and government too intrusive. This state needs fundamental change. We can and we must improve our business climate to make Illinois once again a destination for jobs.

"At the local level I have worked to reduce taxes on homeowners and businesses and make government entities accountable and transparent. I can do more good in Springfield. Decisions at the state level affect all of us in more ways than just taxes and spending. I share our community’s fiscally and socially conservative values. Having invested many years in raising my children in the western suburbs, I am willing to use my time and abilities to secure all our children’s future in Illinois. I want my kids to be proud to call Illinois their home state.

"I graduated from West Point with a B.S. in Economics, and served as an Army officer, including overseas during the first Gulf War. My last assignment was as an ROTC instructor at Wheaton College. I am the mother of five children. My oldest son is studying engineering at the University of Illinois. I have two sons at Wheaton-Warrenville South High School, and a son and daughter at St. Michael School in Wheaton. I have been married to my husband Paul for 23 years and he fully supports my decision to run for this office. I am actively involved in Republican politics and have been elected 4 times as a precinct committeewoman." 

Earlier this year city leaders from around the state, including Wheaton, fought to protect the municipal share of state income taxes, which are factored into city budgets. Some state leaders considered withholding those taxes set aside for the municipalities to use for state needs. Mayors and city managers from across DuPage County and the rest of Illinois are concerned state leaders will continue to eye the municipal share during tight budget years. 

District 42 was reshaped in the decennial redistricting process. The district is currently represented by Rep. Sandy Pihos, a Glen Ellyn Republican, but she was drawn out of the district. Rep. Michael Connelly, a Naperville Republican, who represents the 48th District, was drawn into the 42nd, but he is planning to run for the Illinois Senate.

In the March primary Ives so far will face Laura Pollastrini of Carol Stream who announced her intent earlier this week.

Ives, a Milton Republican Township Precinct Committee Woman, who campaigned for city council as an advocate for government transparency, said she will develop “concise policy statements on important topics” for voters to review.