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State Rep

Monday, November 1, 2010

82nd District Challenger Says Budget Comes Down to Wants and Needs

Candidate Q&A: Matt Mostowik, the Darien man challenging in the 82nd District, says he'll draw a firm line between what the state can cut back on and what it can't do without.

Longtime Darien resident Matt Mostowik entered the race for the 82nd District seat in the Illinois House with an agenda of change. He talks to Patch about his history on the District 61 School Board, improving the state's morale, and the fragile balance between meeting voter's wants and needs. He's challenging incumbent State Rep. Jim Durkin. Darien Patch: What kind of change do you think is in store for Illinois with this election?  Matt Mostowik: I think there are some very difficult decisions that are going to have to be made that previous elected officials have avoided. They've avoided them because they don't want to upset the electorate. They want to keep their job. But how can someone keep their job when they're not doing their job? …

State Rep. Jim Durkin Talks Unfinished Business in Springfield

Candidate Q&A: State Rep. Jim Durkin, the 82nd District incumbent, says the General Assembly should focus entirely on state agency budgets in the next session.

Jim Durkin is no stranger to Springfield. He's represented the 82nd District in the Illinois House since 2006, and before that represented the 44th District from 1995 to 2002. Durkin also served as the ranking Republican on the committee that impeached former Gov. Rod Blagojevich. He's facing Matt Mostowik on the Nov. 2 ballot.  Patch chatted recently with Durkin on how to balance to budget, where the cuts need to be made and how the House can regain its citizens' confidence. Patch: What unfinished business do you have in Springfield? Jim Durkin: The issues you see here in the district are not unlike the issues you see in the state. What are we going to do about debt? Are we ever going to balance the budget? How are we going to do it? To …

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