Will County Gazette

Mickey Straub is accusing Rep. Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs) of manufacturing news about him and using fake groups and robocalls to spread the untruths. 

“This is what desperate politicians do when they can no longer stand on their own record,” Straub, who recently launched his 2018 Republican primary campaign against Durkin in the 82nd District, said in a press release. “I’ve never had a meeting with (House Speaker Michael) Madigan, not even a phone call. Durkin is just trying to distract voters from his own poor performance.” 

Straub, who is mayor of Burr Ridge, also pointed to the way he says Durkin proposed the 32 percent income tax hike that was ultimately enacted as part of the state’s new record-setting $36.1 billion state budget. 

Village of Burr Ridge Mayor Mickey Straub

He also blasted Durkin over his bailout of Chicago Public Schools and his decisions to provide health care benefits to immigrants in the country illegally, oppose concealed carry laws and to "impose transgender birth certificates."

“Jim Durkin has taken thousands of dollars from Chicago Democrats like Ed Burke and other Madigan cronies,” Straub said in the release. “Don’t be distracted by Durkin’s lies, look at his record of partnership with Madigan for the last 20 years. I’m running because there are too many career politicians like Madigan and Durkin.”