Lake County Gazette

Republican state House hopeful Ken Idstein was left to pick up the pieces after losing to state Rep. Sam Yingling (D-Grayslake) in the 62nd District.

Idstein, a Grayslake mortgage professional who never had held public office, finished with 9,143 votes and 44 percent, while Yingling, who outspent his opponent by more than a 12-1 margin, had 11,528 votes and 56 percent, according to the Daily Herald.

Idstein made property tax reform and a flat-rate income tax components of his platform.

Much of Yingling’s campaign war chest came courtesy of longtime House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago). Idstein had warned voters during his campaign about the alliance of his opponent with Democratic leadership.

“What exactly is Madigan buying with all that money?" Idstein told the Lake County Gazette. “It looks to me like all we get are the highest property taxes in the nation and a politician in Yingling who is beholden to Madigan.”

In stressing that he planned not to take a state pension if elected, Idstein added that the alliance between the House speaker and his rival would cost taxpayers.

“The Madigan/Yingling partnership has done enough damage to our home values and community,” he said. “It’s time for us to save our homes by taking away power from Madigan and yes-men like Yingling.”

Since Tuesday's election, the 62-year-old Idstein has been mum about his plans, though he has indicated a leadership team of Madigan and Democratic Gov.-elect J.B. Pritzker concerns him.

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

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