43rd District Election: Rachel Ventura vs Diane Harris

JOLIET, IL — Voters in the 43rd Senate District in Will County will be heading to their voting booth on Tuesday to determine whether to elect Will County Board member Rachel Ventura or downtown Joliet clothing store owner Diane Harris as their next state senator.

Most of the 43rd Senate District is in Will County. The largest communities include Joliet, Bolingbrook, Romeoville, Woodridge, Lockport and Crest Hill. Voters in Channahon, Ingalls Park, Preston Heights, Fairmont, Elwood and Rockdale also comprise the district.

"I'm running for State Senate in the Illinois 43rd District because working families need a strong voice pushing policies that help the middle and working class," Ventura proclaims on her website. "I get it, we are all in this together. However, our political system currently works for the wealthy few and not the majority. It doesn't have to be this way. I believe government should work for everyone.

"As your next Senator, I will fight for economic justice and help close the wealth gap. I will vote on policies that strengthen the middle class, create jobs, invest in our infrastructure, provide renewable energy, and eliminate emissions that harm our planet."

Back on June 28 in the Illinois General Primary, Ventura pulled off one of the biggest upsets in the entire Will County region. She defeated the Democratic Party's preferred candidate, recently appointed state senator Eric Mattson, a Joliet Fire Department captain.

On May 6, the Illinois Senate Democrats announced the appointment of Mattson as their newest member. His appointment took place after State Senator John Connor resigned on April 30 to care for one of his immediate family members, according to a news release.

Even though Mattson received political endorsements from Will County Executive Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant, Joliet City Councilwoman Bettye Gavin and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth, Mattson came up short in the Democratic State Senate 43rd District race against Will County Board member Rachel Ventura.

Ventura defeated Mattson by more than 1,500 votes.

According to her website, Ventura's campaign for Illinois Senate focuses on the following issues:

• Pro-Ethics No Strings Attached
• Pro Climate
• Pro Labor
• Pro Living Wage Jobs
• Pro Communities
• Pro Human Rights
• Pro Choice and Women's Rights
• Pro LGBTQIA
• Pro Criminal Justice Reform
• Pro Education Funding Reform
• Pro Public Broadband

Ventura has a long list of political endorsements posted on her campaign website. The list includes: Gun Violence Prevention Action Committee, Planned Parenthood Illinois Action, Personal PAC, Blue America PAC, Illinois Now, Sierra Club, Working Families Joliet, Equality IL, Vote Mama, Run For Something, Catch Fire, Congressman Marie Newman, Progressives of Kane County, Our Revolution Illinois and more.

To review the entire list, visit Ventura's website.

As for Ventura's opponent, Diane Harris came out ahead in her Republican primary back on June 28, defeating Michelle Lee in a close election.

According to her website, Harris indicates that she is a social and fiscal conservative, pro-life Baptist mother of three, and she has one dog.

"Born in a conservative Democrat family, taught to love thy neighbor as thyself and always work hard for what's to be achieved in life," Harris said.

Harris said she was educated in Will County’s public schools, later graduating from JJC and from University of Phoenix with a bachelor's of science in management. She noted that she has lived in the Historic Cathedral Area in Joliet for 21 years, and she attends Mt. Olive Baptist Church.

Harris said she was a member of IBEW #1460 and #15 until retiring after 32 years.

"I am now a small business owner in downtown Joliet and currently serve as Trustee for Joliet's Public Library, Vice Chairman of the Joliet Township Republicans, 23rd Precinct Committeeman and a member of many boards and organizations throughout Will County," her bio reads.
Harris has previously run for political office, including runs for Congress and state representative.

"I know that the government is supposed to be of the people by the people and for the people," her website reads. "But we still wait for that new birth of freedom. Our forefathers created laws base on a government for the people. We should not be, and our children's children should not be indebted to the government year after year.

"That's why it's crucial we elect a conservative like me, who supports tax cuts, reducing the burdens of the payers, election reform for fair elections, 2nd Amendment for the right to keep and bear arms, and spending cuts to reduce the deficit within government. Supporting a government for the people and one that serves the people is the American way."

Related Patch coverage: Mattson Concedes Defeat To Rachel Ventura In Senate Race