January 23, 2025
Election | Northwest Herald
Election

Endorsement: Illinois State Rep. Dist. 66: Suzanne Ness

Suzanne Ness (right) talks with Valley Hi administrator Tom Annarella during a Sept. 26, 2019, presentation to the public health and community services committee at the McHenry County Administrative Building in Woodstock. (Matthew Apgar)

Elections often are a referendum on the incumbent.

In Illinois’ District 66 race between incumbent Allen Skillicorn, R-East Dundee, and Suzanne Ness, D-Crystal Lake, that is absolutely true.

Skillicorn has not been a good representative of the area, from advocating for herd immunity of COVID-19 to his ethical issue related to recording votes on 23 bills when he wasn’t present during a June 1 legislative session. Instead, Skillicorn was in Harvard marching at the Milk Days parade while exploring a run in the 14th Congressional District.

It’s time for a change from Skillicorn, who we endorsed in 2016 but did not endorse in his primary this year against Carolyn Schofield.

While some parts of Skillicorn’s agenda make sense, including tackling the corruption of Michael Madigan and the state’s pension woes, he has been incredibly ineffective on getting anything done on those measures.

It’s time for new leadership in District 66, which runs from Crystal Lake and Lakewood in the north through Lake in the Hills, Huntley and Algonquin into Kane County, where it also includes Gilberts, Sleepy Hollow and West Dundee.

We endorse Suzanne Ness.