Read these comments before casting your vote for 17th District

And if you continue to think that Jen Gong-Gershowitz is going to be an independent voice for our 17th District, read comments from Greg Hinz:

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/.../is-tomorrows-primary...

Then there's the underreported North Shore contest for a state House seat that the speaker obviously wants to keep in friendly hands. Madigan and close Springfield allies have amazingly dumped more than $400,000 into the campaign of candidate Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz, with a big chunk arriving just in the past week, following earlier big contributions from the speaker's own political war chest.

The reason is obvious.

More than being a kingmaker, more than electing congressmen and aldermen and the like, Madigan likes being speaker.

And there are signs of trouble in a north suburban area that has begun to remember its independent roots, with Rep. Scott Drury of Highland Park regularly ripping Madigan in his race for attorney general, and Sen. (and former Rep.) Biss doing the same for governor.

Getting Gong-Gershowitz into office would be an insurance policy of sorts when the House reorganizes after November. Keep an eye out tomorrow to see if voters go along.