Deuter, Reboletti Vie For District 45 House Seat

ELMHURST, IL – Elmhurst and surrounding areas have traditionally been Republican turf in the state House.

However, in 2022, Democrat Jenn Ladisch Douglass broke the mold in District 45 when she prevailed over Republican Deanne Mazzochi, who has served since 2018.

Surprising political observers, Ladisch Douglass decided against running for a second term.

In Tuesday's election, Democrat Marti Deuter and Republican Dennis Reboletti are running. District 45 includes parts of Elmhurst, Hinsdale, Clarendon Hills, Western Springs and Westmont, among other towns.

Both parties see District 45 as a battleground.

As of a couple of weeks ago, Deuter, an Elmhurst alderwoman, had raised $1.1 million so far in the race, mostly from Democratic organizations.

Meanwhile, Reboletti had pulled in $325,000, largely from GOP groups.

Democrats are out raising Republicans in many battleground races around Illinois.

Republican candidates used to rely on megadonors such as former Gov. Bruce Rauner and billionaire hedge fund manager Ken Griffin. In recent years, though, both have moved to Florida and stopped opening their wallets for campaigns.

Reboletti, Addison Township's supervisor, is no stranger to high-dollar races. In 2022, his campaign raised $480,000 in the race against District 23 state Sen. Suzy Glowiak Hilton, a Western Springs Democrat.

By contrast, Glowiak Hilton pulled in nearly $3.4 million, according to Board of Elections records. She prevailed with 54 percent of the vote.

In the latest race, much of the local candidates' money has been spent on mailers.

In her literature, Deuter has pointed to Reboletti's pro-life record on abortion before he left the state House in 2015. But she neglects to note that he has since shifted to a pro-choice position.

Meanwhile, state Republican mailers criticize Deuter for her votes on city issues, particularly fiscal matters. But Reboletti's allies on the City Council voted similarly.

Reboletti, a practicing attorney, has been the township's supervisor since 2017. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in political science from Eastern Illinois University and a law degree from Valparaiso University of Law.

In his political career, Reboletti has also been an Elmhurst alderman and an Addison Township trustee.

For her part, Deuter works for Bridge Communities, a nonprofit based in Glen Ellyn that provides housing and supportive services for families experiencing homelessness.

She has an undergraduate degree in social work from Ohio University and a master's degree from the University of Chicago's School of Social Service Administration

In a Patch questionnaire, both candidates were asked about what they felt was the most pressing issue facing the state.

Deuter said she knows that after knocking on thousands of doors, the economy and the high cost of living are top concerns for voters. She said the state should build on its strengths such as a highly educated workforce, a global transportation hub, world-class universities and national laboratories.

"There is currently a shortage of workers in skilled trade positions, including welders, carpenters, and electricians," Deuter said. "The state needs to invest in the training programs that can connect young people and transitioning workers to these high-wage jobs."

Reboletti said the most pressing issues are the high cost of living and the economy. He said he would make the state live within its means, stop wasteful spending, cut red tape and oppose the progressive income tax.

As for the SAFE-T Act, which did away with cash bail, the two candidates had different takes on its effects.

"This act has failed to keep our communities safe," Reboletti said. "It has turned the jail into a revolving door. Read the Patch and see all the repeat offenders committing new crimes. Once released, it is almost impossible to get these offenders back to court. There was nothing wrong with the previous system."

Deuter said the state should continue to evaluate the law. At the same time, she said the DuPage County state's attorney and judges did an "amazing" job in carrying out the law.

"We haven’t seen more crime, and we haven’t seen an increase in failures to appear in court," Deuter said.

In Illinois, state legislators often leave their positions before their terms are up, often to gain higher office.

While other states hold special elections in such cases, Illinois lets bosses from the departing member's party choose a replacement. With the incumbent in place, potential election competitors are at a disadvantage.

As a result, Patch asked each candidate whether they would resign before their term expires for reasons other than family or health. Both said they would not.