Lake County Gazette

Republican House hopeful Ken Idstein is willing to put his money where his mouth is when it comes to saving Illinois.

Running against Rep. Sam Yingling (D-Grayslake) in the 62nd District, Idstein plans to refuse a taxpayer-funded pension if he is elected.

 “I am running for state representative to serve you and eliminate out-of-control spending by our state legislature, consolidate duplicative units of government and find new solutions to fund schools in order to reduce our growing property taxes,” Idstein said in a press release. “I am not looking for a pension or a paycheck for a part-time job.”

Rep. Sam Yingling (D-Grayslake)

It’s all part of his commitment to being a “citizen legislator,” Idstein said.

"I am going to Springfield to serve you then return to my mortgage career,” Idstein said. “Politicians are quick to offer empty promises, my actions speak for themselves.”

Idstein finds it ironic that a growing number of families are being priced out of their homes at the same time part-time politicians are benefiting from one of the “most lavish pension schemes in the nation,” he said.

Idstein branded Yingling a career politician who has allowed himself to become a puppet for longtime House Speaker Mike Madigan.

“Yingling has been down there for years and all along property taxes keep going up,” he said. "By any objective measure, Yingling has failed. Our property taxes are higher, families are fleeing, and corruption is rampant. The only people Yingling has delivered for are himself and Mike Madigan. Madigan gives him millions and then Yingling gets a pension and a paycheck and Madigan gets his unquestioning loyalty.”

The 62nd House District includes parts of Avon, Fremont, Grant, Lake Villa, Warren and Wauconda.