A 22-year-old Republican is looking to get his name on the ballot for the seat held by Rep. Carol Sente (D-Vernon Hills) in District 59.
Marko Sukovic of Lincolnshire said in a release he is gathering petitions in an effort to run and prevent young Illinois residents from losing hope and leaving the state.
“The statistics are troubling, and they show that Illinois is hemorrhaging," Sukovic said in the release. "Springfield has adopted a culture of complacency in the status quo, and that is not working for my peers or for families
across the 59th District.”
“The hard working people of this great state aren’t looking for handouts; what they’re looking for is opportunity," he said in the release
Sukovic has long been an active voice for young people to become more engaged in the political process and has noted the loss of many young citizens.
“Illinois has put up insurmountable barriers, and as a result, you see people moving to states that have built a more conducive business environment and offer a higher quality of life," he said in the release. "While Springfield politicians have rigged the game, making it impossible to pass important reforms, Illinoisans are voting with their feet.”
A second generation American, Sukovic’s grandparents emigrated from the former Yugoslavia, expecting a better life for them and their families, the release said.
Sukovic himself worked as a public relations consultant during his time in college and has experience with small and large businesses as well as nonprofit organizations, the release said. He also got involved in politics by working for U.S. Rep. Robert Dold (R-IL) as a political director. Sukovic also played a role in starting Turning Point USA, a nonprofit group that helps college and university students vote. The organization is also known for its work to promote free markets and fiscal conservatism.
District 59 includes Mundelein, Vernon Hills and Wheeling.
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