On The Record With ... Suzi Schmidt

Suzi Schmidt is getting ready to leave for college. Or at least it seems that way.

As Schmidt prepares to be sworn in as the next senator of Illinois’ 31st District, the former chair of the Lake County Board has been busy securing  all the items that are essential to any college freshman.

Finding a roommate and buying dishes, silverware, pots and pans and a bed are all things Schmidt has been doing before she moves in to a new home – at least for six months of the year – at the state capital.

Prior to her election to the state Senate, Schmidt spent 22 years on the Lake County Board, including 10 years as chairman. Leaving the board was difficult, Schmidt said, but she hopes to continue serving the county in her new role as senator.

Schmidt recently went on the record with Lake County Journal reporter Colin Selbo to discuss leaving the county board and her new job in Springfield.

Selbo: When do you head to Springfield?
Schmidt: I get sworn in [Jan.] 12, and then we're in session for two days.

Selbo: Do you have a place to stay down there?
Schmidt: I do. And I have a roommate. It's like going to college. You got to find a place to stay ... . Some people stay in hotels. I didn't want to do that. I wanted a place to go home and kick my feet up and take a bath at night. Sue Rezin is my new roommate. She's from Morris. She was elected as a state representative ... then her state senator resigned two weeks ago, and now she [was appointed] the new senator. She's already sworn in. She got sworn in before me, and I got elected. ... [We're living] right next door to JoAnn Osmond and Sandy Cole. We're all in the same area.

Selbo: It had to be difficult stepping down from the role of chairman of the county board.
Schmidt: Yeah, it wasn't even from that role. It was just the thought of leaving the county board. I'm happy to be a board member. I didn't have to be the chairman. But I look at this as just an extension of that. And I'm hoping that I can help the county in this way. I will be a strong advocate for local governments. ... Those are the governments that I'm the closest to. It is hard because it's been my life for 22 years.

Selbo: What were your emotions on election night when you realized you had won the campaign?
Schmidt: What have I done! [Laughs.] Well, I will tell you, I love to campaign. And you really have to come down from the campaign ... I [campaigned] every day when I had time. Door-knocking or going to events ... it was like a detox coming down from that portion of it. And then, of course, the reality of changing your lifestyle [sets in]. Like I said, I thought, 'Wow, this is like going to college.' I'm a freshman. I'm going to be learning new things. I don't know where my classes are yet. I don't even know what my committees are yet. ... I knew [the change] would be coming if I won. But you try not to think about it because you don't want to start working on those issues until you win.

Selbo: Can you share anything from the concession call you got from Michael Bond?
Schmidt: All he said was, 'Congratulations, you won the Senate seat.' And I just said, 'Thank you. I may need to talk to you about a few things, and that was it. ... I do know some of the issues he was working on.

Selbo: I would imagine it will be difficult going from a leadership position with the county to, like you said, a freshman position in the senate. How do you plan to adapt to that change?
Schmidt: Well, I've had the experience of being in the minority before. So, I'm not worried about being in the minority or being a freshman because I have a lot of experience in government. But I don't have any delusions of grandeur at all. I know I'll have to work through the process. I'm hoping that with my experience and my skill of working both sides of the aisle – and knowing the Democratic leadership in Lake County – I'm hoping we can really work together for what's good for the county. I'm not a real strong partisan person. That's why the county works so well, to tell you the truth. I know it's going to much more partisan down there [in Springfield].

Selbo: Is there a possibility we will see an increase in bipartisan efforts in Springfield during the next two years?
Schmidt: On my side, yes. ... I will do what's good for this county. ... I know I had a lot of Democratic support. So, that's my constituents. I don't care what party they were. ... I hope that we will be able to tackle especially this financial issue. That is really a bipartisan issue. It is really going to take both parties to dig us out of this. And I have definite feelings about what you need to do. At the county [level], I always said, 'You don't spend money you don't have. You don't do programs you don't have funding for.' I'm hoping that everybody on both sides of the aisle has gotten that message that the public is ready for [legislators] not to fight over issues.

Selbo: Once these financial issues are really addressed, can the public expect a cut in programs they enjoy, or for taxes to go up, or a combination of both? Are people going to have to sacrifice in order to see these issues addressed?
Schmidt: I will not support a tax increase. I think there is plenty of room for streamlining. ... I'm a big supporter of performance standards and measures ... if it doesn't work, you get rid of it. There's a lot of duplication, I'm convinced, of programs. Government can't be everything to everyone. People have to start accepting some responsibilities for themselves. Just like we have to cut at home, government is going to have to cut.

Selbo: You served in county government for 22 years. Can we expect another 22 years in the state Senate?
Schmidt: [Laughs] I don't think so. ... I don't know how long I'll be there. We'll see what the public thinks. But I don't anticipate [being in government] into my 80s, that's for sure.

Schmidt lowdown

Who she is: Senator-elect for the 31st District and former Chairman of the Lake County Board
Age: 59
Family: Husband, Bob
Hobby: Gardening
Favorite musical acts: Led Zeppelin and Leon Russell
Favorite sports team: Lake County Fielders