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News
Hatcher makes re-election bid official : News : Oswego Ledger-Sentinel : Hometown Newspaper for Oswego and Montgomery, IllinoisHatcher makes re-election bid official
| GOP incumbent touts collaboration, need to create 'pro-business'
| by Tony Scott
| 10/8/2009
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State Rep. Kay Hatcher, R-Yorkville, announced Tuesday evening that she is officially running for re-election.
Hatcher was elected last November to the position vacated by former state Rep. Patricia Reid Lindner, a Kane County Rebublican who retired from office at the end of her term.
Hatcher is facing two potential challengers in the February Republican Party primary: former Kendall County Republican Party Chairman Keith Wheeler and Geneva resident Bob McQuillan.
During an address announcing her re-election bid to supporters and the press at a Sugar Grove restaurant, Hatcher acknowledged the diversity of the 50th State Legislative District, which she represents.
"I have worked to learn more about the diverse needs of our many constituencies," she said. "Meetings are constantly being held in both legislative offices and throughout the district with every conceivable group; schools, businesses and manufacturers, seniors, libraries, veterans, police, firemen, not for profits, people of faith, and people who have lost faith. The list is endless."
Hatcher noted that her first vote as a state representative was to impeach former Gov. Rod Blagojevich, which she called "a very pivotal moment in our state's journey back to ethical leadership."
Hatcher said House Republicans supported Gov. Pat Quinn's veto of the reform bill sent to his desk this summer. She called the bill "watered down."
"Through it all, House Republicans held strong for more stringent standards, and in the end, even Governor Quinn admitted that the puny legislation needed to go back to the drawing board," she said. "The next legislation will be stronger, and include input from both parties."
Hatcher counted her successes while in the General Assembly.
"A landmark Freedom of Information Act was passed to enable more public access to public information," she said. "The Illinois Transparency and Accountability Portal will open up the state's books. Information on every contract, every connection, every link in the state will become accessible. A capital bill was passed to put people back to work and rebuild our crumbling infrastructure. A budget was crafted that funded state and human essentials without a tax increase. Hard working, no-nonsense commissions were created to tackle pension, Medicaid, job creation and transparency issues."
She added, "We are going to turn this state around, and I have the skills and experience to be a part of that renaissance."
Hatcher pointed out that she was named Legislator of the Year by the Metro Counties Council of Governments.
"The criteria of that award was based neither on how I voted or what I said, but the process I used to bring people to the table," she said. "Inclusive government is the best government. Collaboration is better than confrontation."
Prior to the announcement, Hatcher said the focus of her campaign will be ethics and transparency, job creation and economic development, and "state financial solutions that treat people with dignity."
Asked if the 2010 election will be a repeat of the 1994 election, when Republicans gained seats throughout the country, Hatcher said the party's success depends on the caliber of candidates.
"Everywhere I go, folks are enraged at the image of Illinois that our impeached governor portrayed to the entire world," she said. "Yes, I think that will help Republicans. How much will depend on the caliber of candidates."
Hatcher said she wants the state to create a "pro-business climate" as part of a solution to solve its financial difficulties.
"This state has spent more than it has taken in for many years," she said. "That has to stop. It will be a combination of many solutions, from both sides of the aisle, that will change the way this state does business. It won't happen overnight. Create a pro-business climate and the ripple effect will make the entire state healthier."
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