Dan Ugaste for State Representative
A Voice of Reason in a Time of Extremism
The Illinois Farm Bureau ACTIVATOR Friends of Agriculture is awarded to candidates who understand the important role agriculture plays in Illinois. The agriculture industry makes up over 20% of Illinois’ economy, and is our largest sector.
I am honored to receive this award, and I look forward to continuing to find ways to improve and grow Illinois’ economy with my friends in agriculture!
Republican incumbent Dan Ugaste of Geneva has a good counterpoint to the argument by many Democrats that Michael Madigan should step down as House Speaker and state Democratic Party chairman only if he is convicted of allegations stemming from the ongoing ComEd bribery scandal. “This is not a court of law,” Ugaste says. “This is about good, ethical leadership in government at a time when it is desperately needed.”
Ugaste is endorsed over Democrat Martha Paschke of Geneva.
As Marine Storms Madigan’s Bluff – Ugaste Demands Transparency From Paschke
GENEVA, ILLINOIS – More than four days ago, former U.S. Marine and current Democrat Illinois State Representative Stephanie Kifowit (D-84) announced her candidacy to become the new Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives, setting up the first challenge from a Democrat to Speaker Madigan in recent memory. Since the beginning of her candidacy, State Representative Dan Ugaste has called on Democrat Martha Paschke to state whether she will vote for Michael Madigan to be Speaker for another term if Paschke is elected, and whether she will vote for his rules which provide him with complete control over all matters in the Capitol. Paschke has repeatedly refused to tell the people of the 65th District what she will do.
“Stephanie Kifowit is doing exactly what we would expect of a Marine, she is directly attacking the well-fortified stronghold of the Speaker who has clung to power far too long. The only question now is whether fellow Democrats will join her fight to finally get rid of Mike Madigan,” said Ugaste. “And the only question now for the people of the 65th District is whether Paschke will vote for the Speaker to retain power and keep Illinois drowning in the morass of the status quo or help the State move forward. The people of the district know that I will never vote for Mike Madigan to be Speaker. They have a right to know what Paschke will do. She needs to be transparent. No longer can she, hide behind the often used statement, ‘Let’s see who is going to run’.”
And since Paschke has refused to answer this question from Ugaste at every forum and joint interview they have attended together, Ugaste is calling on the press to confront Paschke and not let her off the hook as to her vote for the Speaker.
Madigan is on track to funnel $2 million to the political fund of Ugaste’s Democrat opponent Martha Paschke in an effort to pack the Illinois House Democratic Caucus with enough votes to cover the increasing defections from Democrats like Stephanie Kifowit. “Madigan cannot be re-elected Speaker of the House without Martha Paschke’s support. Why else would Madigan steer $2,000,000 to a first time candidate with zero experience in government,” said Ugaste.
“Paschke needs to answer if she intends on voting for Michael J. Madigan to be Speaker of the House. Transparency on this issue is of the utmost importance. The people have a right to know,” said Ugaste. “And if she refuses to answer or evades the question, the people will have their answer. Her continued silence will speak volumes. As Illinois Republicans have said all summer, ‘Silence is corruption’.”
Dan Ugaste, R-St.Charles, is looking to win his second term as the state representative from District 65 against Democratic opponent Martha Paschke, D-Geneva.
Ugaste is a conservative who continues to fight to lower our property taxes and has fought against a graduated income tax.
“I have submitted multiple bills proposing tax relief, government consolidation and cost-saving measures to no avail,” he wrote in an election questionnaire. “I have also worked with other legislators on ethics reform. I intend to keep trying to fix our problems.”
Paschke, meanwhile, has been involved in the community but has not previously held a political office.
The district includes portions of Huntley, Hampshire, Pingree Grove, Elgin, South Elgin, St. Charles, Geneva and Batavia.
Ugaste hasn’t been afraid to go outside of party lines, splitting with Republicans on bail reform, coal ash pollution and school funding bills.
When fellow Republican Jim Oberweis’ campaign finance action were called into question this spring, Ugaste was one of six Republican state representatives to call him out on the matter.
We endorse Dan Ugaste.
https://www.nwherald.com/2020/09/24/endorsement-illinois-state-rep-dist-66-dan-ugaste/admp2hi/
The 65th House District in the Illinois General Assembly has been reliably Republican for decades, but it’s getting competitive.
Before attorney Dan Ugaste of Geneva was elected in 2018, Steve Andersson held the seat. Before him, it was Tim Schmitz — for eight terms. Ugaste sneaked past Democrat Richard Johnson two years ago in Ugaste’s second campaign for the 65th, and we expect he’ll face a tough challenge this time around from Martha Paschke, also of Geneva, a patient intake coordinator for a psychiatric practice.
Like most Republicans, Ugaste has been frustrated by being part of the super minority, and his views hew closely to Republican planks. He favors restricting legislators from lobbying or from becoming lobbyists for at least two years after they leave the General Assembly. He favors putting new state hires into a defined contribution system, like a 401(k) to slow the pension crisis.
Ugaste understands how Springfield works and brings a levelheaded approach to the job.
Paschke is naturally concerned about the state of health care in Illinois, but she also takes a hard-nosed approach to punishing politicians who abuse the public trust: favoring stripping pensions from those convicted of crimes; fining those who break the rules and creating rules that would limit lobbying.
She has been very involved in her community — with the Geneva Library Foundation and as a founding member of the Kane and Kendall County Moms Demand Action, among other things.
Paschke has energy and passion and we think she has a lot to offer, but we would recommend she learn the ropes by seeking a local office first.
Ugaste is endorsed.
The 65th House District includes all or parts of Batavia, Elgin, Geneva, Hampshire, South Elgin, St. Charles and Pingree Grove.
Source: https://www.dailyherald.com/discuss/20200916/endorsement-ugaste-for-illinois-house-dist-65
