I emailed a few members of the IL Center Right Coalition, a conservative, statewide group that was founded in 2003, and I asked for their opinions about Senger. I’m the ICRC vice-chairman and former chairma. Jon Zahm, the ICRC executive director and former chairman, said, “I prefer Balkema because Senger has some pro tax votes and Balkema is more conservative overall. He spoke at our meeting as well.” Jon was referring to a meeting that the ICRC held on Dec. 7, in Oakbrook Terrace. Senger was invited, but she didn’t respond to the email.
So I take it that the Executive director of the Center Right Coalition didn’t say that Senger is a social liberal. If casting a few “pro tax votes” after serving a few years in the IL state house is the worst thing they can say about her, her voting record must be pretty good.
Do you know who has never cast a “pro tax” vote? Any candidate who has never served in a state legislature, or compiled any type of record on which to judge him or her.
That being said, while Balkema certainly has been able to avoid compromise votes and the like by serving in the Grundy County Board instead of the IL House of Representatives, I suspect that Jon Zahm is correct in his assessment that Balkema is more conservative than Senger. But in that district, being more identifiably conservative and hailing from the boondocks outside the district aren’t exactly helpful traits if one wants to win the general election.