Republican Margaret "Peggy" Brothman of Hoffman Estates over incumbent Fred Crespo of Hoffman Estates. Brothman, a school board member in Schaumburg Township Elementary District 54, is a go-getter with a commitment to fiscal responsibility. Crespo has talent, but even in his first term, he's allowed himself to become compromised by powers that be.

Peggy Brothman
44th Legislative District
Illinois General Assembly

Peggy Brothman’s life and accomplishments demonstrate that she is a remarkable woman; one whom has the fortitude to care for a disabled husband and an autistic child, whom exercises the vigilance necessary to reign in spending as an elected official, and whom is committed to, as she says, “bringing common sense back” to Illinois government. Brothman has earned our respect and we believe that she has earned your vote, so we are pleased to endorse her to represent the 44th Legislative District in Springfield. One thing that Brothman has not earned, however, are the abusive, despicable mail pieces that have been distributed in the name of her opponent, Representative Fred Crespo, and paid for by Illinois’ Democratic Party.

It is a common tactic to find the worst possible picture of one’s opponent and use that picture in one’s campaign literature. It is not at all common to distort a picture of one’s opponent, to alter her features and yellow her teeth, as Crespo mailers portray Brothman. That is the kind of childish and disgusting behavior that reeks of a campaign strategist whom has already been convicted for election fraud: one Victor Santana. And if it’s not indeed Santana behind these mailers, Crespo should be ashamed to have his name associated with them. But he’s not apparently, since he has yet to denounce any of his party’s tactics and smears in this race.

Democrats are desperately trying to distort Brothman’s record, as well as her appearance. Crespo hit pieces twist Brothman’s Pro-Life stance into an accusation that she wants to throw would-be mothers in jail. They claim that Brothman is against veterans, fought residential property tax appeals and is against healthcare coverage for autism. None of these accusations are true.

Brothman’s actual record reveals a fiscally conservative woman who can be counted on to protect taxpayer dollars. In her seven years sitting on the board in District 54, residential property tax appeals were never challenged by the district. Not once. The district did challenge industrial property tax appeals, and was successful on many occasions, a move that saved homeowners money, not cost them. Fred Crespo’s refusal to admit – or perhaps it’s an inability to understand – how property taxes work, after two years in Springfield, is shocking. But, when someone is toeing the party line by voting with Rod Blagojevich over 95 percent of the time, one doesn’t have put in a lot of time studying the issues.

Brothman’s primary goal in Springfield is to impose a sense of financial responsibility on the big spenders who have driven Illinois budget, and its economy, into the ground. She understands the simple principle that one can not continue to spend more than one has revenue. This basic law of economics appears to elude Crespo. While he was flooding the press during the last two years with his latest spending initiatives, Brothman was diligently holding the line in District 54. The district has never had a tax increase in the seven years during which she has been on the board, and property tax rates have dropped in that time as well.

That’s a remarkable record, and Brothman is a remarkable lady. We need more like her in Springfield, and we hope that you will join us in supporting her in an election that is vitally important to all of the people of Illinois.