Scott Kegarise will challenge Rep. Michelle Mussen in the November 3 general election.
Scott Kegarise will challenge Rep. Michelle Mussen in the November 3 general election.
Schaumburg Township elected official Scott Kegarise filed candidacy paperwork to challenge incumbent Democrat Rep. Michelle Mussman to represent the residents of the 56th District.
Kegarise, a Republican, entered the race after local officials encouraged him to run when no Republicans filed in the March 17 primary election.
Kegarise and Mussman will face off in the general election on November 3.
Joe Folisi, the Republican Committeeman for STRO.
“I am truly humbled by the tremendous grassroots support that our campaign has received in such a short period of time,” said Kegarise in a statement to the Schaumburg Township Republican Organization (STRO). “I believe our community is finally losing its patience with the Mussman/Madigan machine, and I intend to bring our message of job creation, property tax relief, and term limits to Springfield.”
To qualify after the primary election, Kegarise was required by Illinois law to collect at least 500 signatures from district voters for his nominating petition in a one-month period. That time frame coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic and the stay-at-home order issued by Gov. J.B. Pritzker, but Kegarise collected 1,350 signatures in three weeks.
“The community is energized, and enthusiasm for Scott Kegarise’s campaign is at fever pitch," said Joe Folisi, the Republican Committeeman for STRO, in a press release. "Kegarise and our network of volunteers collected more signatures in a shorter period of time than Mussman and her paid workers. We hope that Mike Madigan, Michelle Mussman, and the rest of the Chicago Democratic establishment take notice of this terrific grassroots accomplishment as a ‘wakeup call' that suburban residents aren’t going to tolerate their corruption and mismanagement any longer.”
Kegarise is a Vietnam veteran, a 40-year resident of Schaumburg, and a small business owner. He is currently the Highway Commissioner for Schaumburg Township and has previously served as Township Trustee, President of the Schaumburg Athletic Association, and President of the Schaumburg Jaycees. Kegarise and his wife Char have three sons and one grandson.
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