North Cook News

Everything he knows about former Illinois lawmaker Jeanne Ives tells Cook County Board of Review Commissioner Dan Patlak that she is built for Washington and the U.S. Congress.

“The main thing is I know she is a person of integrity, and when she says that she believes in something, she will fight for it,” Patlak told the North Cook News in endorsing Ives in her run against U.S. Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-Naperville) in the 14th Congressional District.

Patlak said many of the issues Ives is running on, like prioritizing spending, getting illegal immigration under control and protecting the right to life, are the issues he, too, finds to be among the most critical.

“That's the kind of person we need in Washington, not someone who just puts their finger in the air and tries to find out which way the wind is blowing, but someone that’s going to be a leader and stands on principle,” he said.

Ives, who previously served six years as state representative in the 42nd District and narrowly lost out to then-Gov. Bruce Rauner in the Republican primary in 2018, recently delivered a speech before the Palatine Township GOP about the 2020 elections in which she told listeners “your policy agenda doesn’t move forward unless you select the right politician.”

Over 60 members from the Palatine Township group were on hand for the presentation, and Patlak said he's convinced the vast majority of them walked away as sold on Ives as he has always been.

“I think the people at that organization are totally on board with Jeanne’s policy priorities, and they're on board with her campaign,” he said. "From the reaction of the people there, she’s going to get that support.”

Ives is set to face former Lt. Gov. Evelyn Sanguinetti in the Republican primary.