Bertino-Tarrant Takes 49th District

Republican Garrett Peck lost to Democrat Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant Tuesday night, winning a projected total of 37,439 votes to her 41,766 votes in Will and Kendall counties. Bertino-Tarrant won with 53 percent of the vote.

The race to represent the new 49th State Senate District saw veteran educator Bertino-Tarrant, a Democrat and the current Will County Regional Superintendent of Schools, take on Republican Peck, a Village of Plainfield trustee and small business owner.

It was a big night for local Democrats. Read — Election Results Are In: Democrats Hold on to Top Will County Posts

Bertino-Tarrant, of Shorewood, touted herself as a fourth-generation Will County resident and 18-year educator, adding that she swept floors and pumped gas at her family’s business, Bertino Auto Service in Joliet.

As an educator, Bertino-Tarrant said she understands the plight of local school districts as state funding continues to dwindle.

--------------------------

View vote totals by clicking on our election liveblog.

---------------------------- 

“Some think the only solution is to cut,” Bertino-Tarrant added. “We need to prioritize when making cuts.”

Peck, meanwhile, tried to link Bertino-Tarrant to Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan, saying her votes would be swayed by the influential Democrat.

Bertino-Tarrant insisted she is her own person, and would vote her conscience if elected.

Both candidates said they opposed Gov. Pat Quinn’s plan to shift the state’s unfunded teacher’s pension liability onto local school districts.

“Everyone has begun to recognize — finally — that Illinois has the worst-funded pension retirement system in the country and a comprehensive solution must be found,” Peck said. “But simply allowing state government to push its pension debt onto local property taxpayers is unacceptable. I cannot and will not support property tax increases.”

Vote totals will be official Tuesday, Nov. 27, when canvassing of votes is completed and after absentee ballots and provisional and grace period ballots are counted on Nov. 20, according to the Will County Clerk's Office.

READ MORE ABOUT THIS RACE:

• GOP Candidates Talk Taxes in Plainfield
• Peck Invites Bertino-Tarrant to Debate

---------------------

Election 2012: Incumbents Hold on to Will County Seats