Lake County Gazette

Ken Idstein fails to see the logic of giving lawmakers in Springfield access to more resources when they haven’t demonstrated an ability to make the best use of what they have. 

Running against Rep. Sam Yingling (D-Grayslake) in the 62nd District, Idstein recently labeld state lawmakers as “not a good steward of taxpayer dollars” in a Daily Herald interview where he was quizzed about his position on a J.B. Pritzker-proposed graduated income tax.

“Families are being asked to send more and more money to Springfield, to cut their home budgets for the same and worse services,” he added. “I do not support any effort to attempt to take more money from working families.”

Incumbent Democrat Rep. Sam Yingling

Idstein has also made rising property taxes a major component of his platform.

“High property taxes are the biggest issue facing the families in my district,” he added. “Lake County pays some of the highest property taxes in the nation, and all we ever hear from politicians are empty promises and that they are ‘working on it.’ At the same time, politicians like Mike Madigan and those who support him game the system so they can make millions off property tax appeals.”

Calling himself a “citizen legislator,” Idstein is on the record in asserting his candidacy is about providing an “independent check on politicians.” His fiscally responsible platform includes a pledge not to take a state pension.

As for Yingling, Idstein says it’s telling when you consider who is among the growing number of people rejecting his vision for the state.

 “It makes you wonder when my opponent’s own family members are upset with his lack of integrity,” he recently posted on Facebook. “In case you are counting, there are four of my opponent's own family members who support Idstein.”

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