Hinsdale Leader Backs GOP Lawmaker Candidate

HINSDALE, IL – Hinsdale Village President Tom Cauley on Thursday endorsed state Rep. Nicole La Ha, a Homer Glen Republican, in the Nov. 5 election. He joined eight other municipal leaders.

The endorsements were announced in a news release by La Ha's campaign. She faces Burr Ridge Democrat Suzanne Akhras.

In December, local GOP officials appointed La Ha to fill the 82nd District House seat. The district includes Hinsdale, Darien, Burr Ridge, Western Springs, Lemont and Orland Park, among other towns.

The other leaders endorsing La Ha were Village President Melissa Neddermeyer of Willow Springs and mayors Joseph Marchese of Darien, Gary Grasso of Burr Ridge, Frank Trilla of Willowbrook, Krzysztof Wasowicz of Justice, Keith Pekau of Orland Park, Christina Neitzke-Troike of Homer Glen and John Egofske of Lemont.

Missing from the endorsement list was Village President Heidi Rudolph of Western Springs, part of which is in the 82nd District.

"Nicole understands the challenges we face and has worked tirelessly to address them," Darien Mayor Marchese said in the news release. "Whether it's striving to lower taxes, enhance public safety, or support our local schools, Nicole has consistently demonstrated her commitment to serving our community."

The campaign's news release said the endorsements demonstrate La Ha's "dedication and non-partisan approach" to serving the district.

Days before last Christmas, area Republican leaders picked La Ha to fill the seat left vacant by the resignation of Egofske, Lemont's mayor, who resigned after 10 months on the job.

Egofske himself was appointed after Republican Jim Durkin of Western Springs resigned after the November 2022 election. He was the House's GOP leader.

La Ha is a former Homer Glen trustee, the 2022 Mrs. America and the former Illinois State Senate secretary. She has Egofske's endorsement.