Durkin Seat Hopefuls Kept Secret For Now

BURR RIDGE, IL – Two Republicans have applied for the state House seat left vacant by Rep. Jim Durkin, R-Western Springs, a party leader confirmed Thursday.

But the leader declined to release the names.

In a message to Patch, DuPage County Republican Party Chairman Jim Zay said the selection committee plans to meet Thursday night about the candidates for 82nd District state representative.

He said the names would not be released until after that meeting, saying the committee would need to talk to all its members about it.

Both Burr Ridge Mayor Gary Grasso and Willow Springs Village President Melissa Neddermeyer have confirmed to Patch that they did not apply.

Democrats and Republicans have no legal requirement to disclose the names of candidates who apply for legislative posts left vacant by party members. In fact, the parties have been known to keep the information under wraps.

The 82nd District includes all or parts of Western Springs, La Grange, Hinsdale and Burr Ridge, among other towns. Durkin, who resigned last month, was the House Republican leader.

In Illinois, a state representative's district consists of about 105,000 people.

Republicans plan to hold a public meeting involving interviews of "select" candidates, according to a party news release.

The meeting is set for 10 a.m. Saturday at the House Republican Organization office at 16W281 83rd St., Suite D, in Burr Ridge.

Interested Republicans must have lived in the district for the last two years.

For more information, call 217-553-7743 or email jaymesiemer@gmail.com.