We moved from liberal Rogers Park to DuPage County. I can’t prove it but I think there is something in the water that makes you a Republican. One day I heard a voice in my car yell, “Tell ‘em, Rush!” It was me. I don’t even remember when I started listening to him but one day it clicked: I understood clearly the difference between the two parties.

Fast forward to WLS announcing, The Next 89 Talk Star contest, the winner gets a two-hour show. I was both excited and terrified about entering. I don’t have a college degree and I am far from polished but I was confident that I am worthy. WLS changed my life.

To enter I had to submit a short bio and a 100-second audio monologue. I went to the Lisle Library to record the tape because my house is like the dayroom in 12 Monkeys, really crazy. I was a little stressed as I waited for Monday, Aug. 6 to come. The rules said that was the day the top 10 finalists would be notified. That evening when I didn’t get a call, I conceded in blog. So what, I didn’t get a call. This was my first attempt and if I really wanted to be a radio host this would be a speed bump. I was eager to go public with a failure; anyone can post stories of when things turn out great but I felt a need to be honest about my secret dream to be on the radio.

The next day I was volunteering at the junior high registration for the booster club. My phone rang and there was a 312 number on the caller ID. A nice young woman said she was calling from WLS. She asked if I had ever been paid to be on the radio, I said no. Next she asked if I had ever paid to be on the radio, I said no. She told me I was one of the top 10 finalists. After I thanked her many times I called my husband. He congratulated me and told me I had won him $10, good news but who bet against me? I was grinning non-stop for hours.

See directions below about how to vote for me. Voting closes Friday.

The next step is to make it to the semi-finals by getting the most votes on the WLS contest page. All 10 finalists have a picture and a bio posted. I chose a picture from my son’s wedding; all other photos are of me in a Lion sweatshirt at a game. The voting ends Friday.

I am thrilled to be in the finals and having my picture on the same page as Mark Levin is beyond my wildest dream but I really want to win and just like when I decided to run a marathon last year, I need the support of my townies.

Lisle is small-town living, the best kept secret in DuPage County. Everybody has been so supportive, even the friends who think of me as the crazy Republican on Facebook. Every since I got off I-88 in 1994, I knew I was home.

To vote for me, go to The Next 89WLS Talk Star, and click on the photo of Stephanie Trussell. (That's me!). Listen to my reasons for voting for me, then click on the circle next to my name. Voting closes Friday. Thanks, Lisle