The Nov. 2 local elections affecting Evanston did not present close races for any candidate.
State Representative of the 18th District Robyn Gabel, who was appointed in April to serve the remainder of Julie Hamos’s term, was elected with almost 100% of the vote against write-in challenger Steve Funk. She told the RoundTable her priorities are jobs, sustainability, health-care and education.
“The only way we’re going to get our state back on track is jobs. … Illinois’ strengths are in innovation and technology. I also think we can look at the green economy; we won’t be Silicon Valley but we can be Green Valley.” She also said she would work on implementing national health-care reform in Illinois and on making education-funding fair. “We also have to set goals,” she said to make sure that students graduate with the preparation to go to college or join the workforce.
Daniel Biss won State representative of the 17th District with 54% of the vote. He said he will remain focused on the budget. “I don’t think there is anything you can put before the budget crisis,” he told the RoundTable. “I hope that all 177 people entering the General Assembly in January will feel that way; it has to be everybody’s focus.”
In other local elections, U.S. Representative of the 9th District Janice D. Schakowsky easily won with 66% of the vote. Cook County Board of Commissioner of the 13th District Larry Suffredin won with 67% of the vote.