Conservative Republican Runs For Mark Batinick's Seat

SHOREWOOD, IL — One month after announcing plans to run against Meg Cappel in next year's State Senate 49th District race, Tom McCullagh has switched gears.

McCullagh notified Joliet Patch's editor on Wednesday that he now plans to run for the seat held by State Rep. Mark Batinick of Plainfield. An officeholder since 2014, Batinick announced that he will not seek re-election next year.

“I want to thank Mark Batinick for his almost eight years as a state rep providing great conservative leadership in the greater Plainfield area," McCullagh remarked. "When looking at places to live, the Plainfield-Shorewood area stood out because Mark Batinick was the state rep. After hearing of his intent to not run again, I decided to run to fill the seat in the ‘22 cycle. I know I have a lot to live up to, but I intend to represent the people of the 97th district to the best of my ability.”

The 97th District includes parts of Plainfield, Montgomery, Naperville, Oswego, Bolingbrook, Joliet and Shorewood. Batinick assumed office on Jan. 14, 2015 and currently serves as floor leader for the Republican Caucus.

After learning of Batinick's plans to retire, McCullagh had this to say: "I stand firmly behind advocating the removal of CRT and early age sex ed from our children's curriculum, as well as being a strong advocate for parental rights and involvement with their children's education. Mark is leaving big shoes to fill, but I am up to the task."

As a local small business owner, McCullagh said he invests heavily in the community. He is on the executive board of K9s for Veterans, Forgotten Warriors Memorial and is a member of The Lions Club.

"When Tom is elected to the Illinois State Legislature, he will work for tax and fee relief, restoring fiscal sanity to Illinois, restoring and protecting freedoms such as the Second Amendment, and sifting out corruption. Tom McCullagh stands with families, businesses and the state of Illinois," McCullagh's campaign announced Wednesday.

"Tom spent the majority of his life in the restaurant industry starting as a cook for his family restaurant, and quickly becoming a shift leader, manager, general manager then owner," his campaign literature states. McCullagh started his own business in early 2015 in the home repair and general contracting field where he operates his business across multiple states.