North Cook News

Republican House candidate Marilyn Smolenski recently took time from her busy schedule in the 55th District to lend her support to a different campaign.

“I have a friend who is battling breast cancer and I wanted to be there to support her, cheer her on and contribute to her team,” Smolenski told North Cook News of her recent appearance at the 2018 Making Strides Against Breast Cancer of Park Ridge awareness campaign. “My mom also had to have sections of her breast removed and now takes regular mammograms. I felt really compelled.”

At one point, Smolenski also had a suspicious spot removed from her breast via a biopsy. Across the country, October is officially recognized as Breast Cancer Awareness Month (BCAM).

Rep. Marty Moylan (D-Des Plaines)

“Education is the key and prevention is extremely important,” Smolenski said. “You want to make sure people are going in for regular checkups, especially if there is an added risk factor involved. Lots of breast cancers, if they are caught early, are easier to treat.”

Meanwhile, on the political campaign front, Smolenski plans to spend the final weeks of election season letting voters know how she plans to bring change to Springfield.

“We’re trying to educate voters on issues like the progressive tax and how a vote for my opponent Rep. Marty Moylan (D-Des Plaines) is really a vote for Mike Madigan and keeping him in power,” she said. “My opponent supports everything Madigan stands for.”

At a time when home values continue to tumble, property taxes reign as the most critical issue for voters, Smolenski said.

“Every day, people tell me they’re planning on moving out of Illinois because they can no longer afford to live here,” she said. “Many tell me they’re now paying more in taxes than they are for a mortgage. People feel like the only way they can maintain their lifestyle is by leaving Illinois. Some of them already have specific plans.”

More people will leave the state if Democratic gubernatorial candidate J.B. Pritzker beats Gov. Bruce Rauner in November's election, Smolenski said.

“Democrats are already floating the progressive tax idea and people are frustrated by the thought of people making as little as $17,000 facing another tax,” she said.

Smolenski believes that things have gotten to the point where voters can’t expect Moylan to stand up for them on any front.

“My opponent calls the progressive tax a millionaire’s tax, but he won’t talk about where rates might start on taxing,” she said. “He’s not fighting on our behalf and people are starting to see that.”

The 55th District includes parts of Chicago, Des Plaines, Park Ridge and Rolling Meadows.