Bradley launches write-in campaign  to give voters a choice over Radogno

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Updated: February 20, 2012 8:38AM

Duane Bradley of Lemont is staging a write-in campaign after he was removed from the ballot Jan. 9 to challenge Illinois Senate Republican Leader Christine Radogno in the March 20 primary for the 41st Illinois Senate District.

Bradley, a retired financial manager, said he has filed the necessary paperwork to run as a write-in candidate in Cook, DuPage and Will counties. The new 41st District, drawn by Democrats following the 2010 Census, comprises parts of the three counties and include portions of Burr Ridge, Indian Head Park, La Grange and Western Springs.

“As it turned out, I was short on signatures when I submitted the nominating petitions,” Bradley said. “I expected something to happen. I’m not really disappointed, though I would prefer to be on the ballot.”

Bradley said his mother died in November, and he was able to gather only 300 of the 1,000 required signatures, but he decided to file anyway.

“My mother was into politics, and I’m sure she would have wanted me to file, so I just went ahead and did it,” he said. He decided Jan. 12 to stage a write-in effort.

Bradley ran unsuccessfully in April in a spirited 10-way race for one of four seats on the Lemont-Bromberek Combined School District 113A Board.

In addition to education reform at the state level, Bradley said he would like to see a substantial drop in state spending, greater government efficiencies and more favorable conditions for business.

“Our state is in trouble and I want to see the income tax increase repealed and bring business back to Illinois,” he said. “Business has been fleeing Illinois, and with more businesses here, that would keep the employment up a bit more.”

Bradley said Radogno “has been in for 13 years, and the state has been getting worse as far as the financial situation. It’s time for a change.”

Radogno responded her voting record shows she has strongly opposed new taxes and has led the Republican caucus against allowing further borrowing for state government.

“I have sponsored many pieces of legislation for responsible budgeting and sponsored reforming for state government in general,” she said. “I have a strong record for fiscal conservatism.”

Illinois faces a number of challenges, Radogno acknowledged and pointed to her caucus leadership on measures promoting fiscal responsibility and job creation.

“The main impediment is not other Republicans, but the Democratic Party, which has spent more money than the state has coming in,” she said.

Bradley said voters of the 41st District deserve a choice.

“Nobody else is running, so that’s why I decided to put my name in the hat and give people a choice,” he said. “Otherwise, there’s voter apathy.”

Bradley said he would bring new ideas and a fresh perspective to office.

“I wouldn’t go in with any political baggage, owing a debt to anyone,” he said. “I could vote yes or no freely.”

When asked what sets Bradley apart from Radogno, he said, “I would be voting differently on several of the issues she voted for, like all this wasteful spending.

“I also favor term limits. You get stale if you serve forever and ever,” he said. “I would limit myself to two terms at most and not make it a lifetime career.”

Radogno defends her years in office since 1997.

“My own record shows I am hardly stagnant as the first woman elected as caucus leader; that’s a relatively recent development,” she said. “My work in the Senate is not yet complete. I’m looking forward to returning with the support of the people in the 41st District.

“I’m very excited about the new district,” she said. “Geographically, it’s a bit smaller. A substantial part of it is the same, and I’m relatively well known in the newer parts of the district.”

Bradley said he’s developing strategies to reach voters in three counties.

“I’m working on getting the word out now. I’m thinking about setting up a website and doing the normal campaign-type of activities, getting my name out there,” he said.

“I decided I could still run as a write-in to give people a choice. I have the courage to go a different route,” Bradley said. “Hopefully, people will want to go a different route, and this will get people back in the voters’ booth.”

Radogno said Bradley “is taking two bites off the apple.”

“He’s been tossed off the ballot for not having an adequate number of signatures and now he wants to go this route. I’m not that concerned about it,” she said of Bradley’s write-in effort. “It gives me the opportunity to talk about my record.”