Area GOP Mayor Fills Durkin Seat

BURR RIDGE, IL – Area Republican leaders have chosen Lemont Mayor John Egofske as the new state representative for the 82nd District, according to the party.

Egofske, Lemont's mayor since 2017, was selected during a public meeting that lasted less than a half hour Saturday morning.

It was the result of a secretive process in which the party kept the names of the two applicants under wraps until the meeting.

Egofske replaces state Rep. Jim Durkin, R-Western Springs, who resigned last month after winning re-election.

Upon his departure, Durkin expressed unhappiness with the party's direction, particularly the influence of former President Donald Trump.

It is unclear whether Egofske plans to step down as mayor.

The other applicant was Nicole LaHa Zwiercan. According to her social media pages, she is the 2022 Mrs. America and the Illinois State Senate secretary.

Traditionally, the Democratic and Republican parties are secretive about their selection processes. No law requires otherwise.

In half the states, special elections are required when legislative seats become vacant.

The 82nd District includes all or parts of Western Springs, La Grange, Lemont, Hinsdale and Burr Ridge, among other towns.

The district's population is more than 100,000.