Lake County Gazette

Fremont Township Republicans backed Dan McConchie to fill retiring State Senator Dan Duffy’s 26th District Senate Seat.

It’s five precinct committee chair- men called McConchie the “only choice” in a three-way race against Martin McLaughlin and Casey Urlacher.

McLaughlin drew criticism for his prior financial support of Chicago Machine Democrats Dan Hynes and Maria Pappas.

“In regards to his voting record, we can find evidence that Martin McLaughlin has pulled a Republican primary ballot only one time -- in 2014, despite regularly voting in general elections,” they wrote in a letter to members published by Illinois Review.

The Fremont Township GOP said Urlacher promised to attend their session but never showed up. They also criticized his lack of a voting record and his hiring of a Cook County Democratic Party official to runs his race for Mettawa mayor.

“Casey Urlacher has never voted in a primary and only once in a general election. He has given only one publicly-reported political con- tribution to a partisan race prior to his announcing his run for Senate. It was to a Democrat,” the latter said. “He only began donating to Republicans after announcing his run for this office.”

McConchie, an Ela Township Republican Committeeman, was praised for his knowledge of key issues, like Illinois’ pension crisis.

“Dan McConchie was clear and articulate, demonstrating a strong understanding of the issues facing our state and a history of commitment to Republican values,” the letter said.