On Sunday, Jan. 17, 2010 the League of Women Voters of Lake County and the Daily Herald will host a Candidate Forum for the five Republican and Democratic candidates running for the 59th State Representative position. Carol Sente (Vernon Hills), the Democratic incumbent, and her opponent Elliott Hartstein (Buffalo Grove) will attend. Dan Sugrue (Green Oaks), Mohan Manian (Green Oaks), and Cynthia Hebda (Vernon Hills), Republican candidates, will participate.

The forum will be held at the Laschen Community Center Board Room, 294 Evergreen Dr., Vernon Hills. Doors will open at 1:30 and the program will begin at 2:00pm.

Audience members also will have the opportunity to meet candidates for Appellate Court Judge and 19th Circuit Court Judge, 4th subdistrict. After a short description of the judicial election process by the Honorable Margaret Mullen, the judicial candidates will have a chance to present their qualifications. However, they will not participate in a formal question period.

 The Appellate Court candidates attending are Ann Jorgensen (Wheaton) and Mary Schostok (Libertyville). Both are Republicans. The Appellate Court covers Northern Illinois except for Cook County.

 The Circuit Court candidates attending are all Democrats. They are Mark Levitt (Deerfield), Christopher Kennedy (Libertyville), Jeremy Schwartz (Highland Park), and Dwayne Douglas (Highland Park). The 19th Judicial Circuit Court, Subdistrict 4, covers the southeast corner of Lake County.

 With the recent retirement of Kathy Ryg, as State Representative, this race is generating a lot of interest throughout the district. The 59th State Representative district includes part of Lake Forest, Lincolnshire, Green Oaks, Mettawa, Vernon Hills, and part of Buffalo Grove.

The public is invited to attend and learn about these interesting and competitive races.