Jeanne Ives to Host District Office Open House

State Rep. Jeanne Ives plans open house with Sen. Michael Connelly

Newly inaugurated State Representative Jeanne Ives (R—District 42) last week announced the opening of the district office she shares with Senator Michael Connelly (R—District 21) in Wheaton. Connelly and Ives will host an open house at their office at 1725 S. Naperville Rd. 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 26. “I look forward to meeting as many of my constituents as possible in person,” Ives said in a statement. “I am humbled by and grateful for their belief in my ability to advocate for them in the General Assembly. As I step into my first term, I want those I represent to know that from the beginning, my promise has been to advocate for them - the tax-payers, families, businesses and organizations I represent – at every decision point." The …

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Local Lawmakers React to Legislative Scholarship Ban

Sen. Ron Sandack and Senate Minority Leader Christine Radogno are among the Illinois legislators who applauded Gov. Pat Quinn for signing off to abolish the controversial General Assembly Scholarship program.

Local lawmakers applauded Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn on Wednesday for signing off on legislation to abolish the state's scandal-ridden legislative scholarship program. The adoption of House Bill 3810 ends 100 years of legislators being able to award deserving or undeserving college students with annual scholarships to state universities, the Chicago Sun-Times reports. The controversial program came under fire in recent years after legislators began misusing it, awarding scholarships to children of legislative employees and campaign donors instead of students in need of financial aid. Sen. Annazette Collins is the latest lawmaker to come under scrutiny for potential abuses of the program, according to Chicago Tribune. “There is no place for …

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Rep. Michael Connelly Named to 360 Youth Services Board

The Lisle resident and state legislator will serve a three-year term.

Connelly, Sandack Talk Pension, General Assembly Scholarship at Chamber Event

The legislators made a presentation to the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce on Monday.

Rep. Michael Connelly and Sen. Ron Sandack met with Naperville Chamber members on Monday; the legislators discussed pension reform, Medicaid, and the possible elimination of the General Assembly Scholarship, according to a report from the Naperville Sun. Read the full story.

@Lisle Online

Connelly Mulling Senate Seat

The State Representative will bid for the 21st District seat being vacated by John Millner.

Less than a year into his latest term as 48th District Representative, Michael Connelly has announced his intent to run for Senate. The Lisle resident threw in his hat after incumbent Sen. John Millner announced he would not be seeking an additional term, according to the Daily Herald.   According to the article, Milner is endorsing Connelly for the position. Read the full story on the Daily Herald website.     Connelly is sponsoring a health and safety fair at Kennedy Junior High School later this month.

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Local Legislators Discontinue Participation In Scholarship Program

Rep. Michael Connelly and Sen. Ron Sandack have decided not to hand out Illinois General Assembly Legislative Scholarships for the 2011-2012 academic year.

In the wake of a state tax increase, two local legislators have decided not to participate in a scholarship program that strips Illinios colleges of millions of dollars each year. Sen. Ron Sandack (R-Downers Grove) announced in a press release that he would discontinue his participation in the General Assembly Scholarship program, which allows legislators to send students within their districts to public Illinois universities tuition-free. “The intent of the legislative scholarship is valid, but I do not believe that offering them at this time is financially prudent for our state,” Sandack said. The Naperville Sun reported that Rep. Michael Connelly (R-Lisle) made a similar decision. A legislator may choose a sole recipient for a four-year…

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Lisle State Soccer Champs Bask in the Spotlight

Lions were guests of honor in Springfield in the most recent celebration of their state title.

The Illinois State Soccer Tournament may have been won almost three weeks ago, but the State Champion Lisle Lions are still celebrating.   The team traveled to Springfield Nov. 17, as guests of State Rep. Michael Connelly (R-Naperville), to be honored by the General Assembly. The day started early as the players, donning their championship medals, boarded a bus bound for Springfield.  There they were welcomed into the Capital and taken into the Illinois House of Representatives. Connelly not only congratulated the team, but talked about the importance of their achievement. He also gave them a history lesson about the building that welcomed such greats as Abraham Lincoln. The afternoon, which culminated in a formal recognition by Connelly …

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Connelly Takes Victory In 48th District Representative Race

Incumbent Republican Michael Connelly wins against Democrat Barbara Green.

UPDATE: Nov. 3, 1 p.m. Incumbent Republican Michael Connelly has received more than two thirds of the votes cast in the race for the Illinois House in the 48th Representative District. Connelly, who visited Lisle Senior High School earlier yesterday, could not be reached for comment. In a questionnaire with the Chicago Tribune, Connelly said his first priority was stimulating job growth in the private sector. Green said she wanted to thank everyone who voted yesterday. "It's our right as Americans, and people should go out," she said. Green does not have any definite future plans to run for office, though she stated, "It depends on if anybody asks me."

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District 203 Students Take a Bow Before a Packed House

District 203 school board meeting draws a big crowd in celebration of academic achievements.

Standing-room only crowds are not unusual at music venues, but they are less common at school board meetings. The Sept. 20 School District 203 board meeting drew a capacity crowd for a good reason, as the district celebrated many of its students. Students were honored for academic achievements, including those who are semifinalists for National Merit Scholarships and those who earned a perfect score on the ACT test. Some students were honored for both achievements. Principals from Naperville Central and Naperville North high schools and District Superintendent Mark Mitrovich presented certificates of achievement to the students. Each school had 22 students named semifinalists for National Merit Scholarships, which will award 8,200 merit …

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