Mattson Concedes Defeat To Rachel Ventura In Senate Race

JOLIET, IL — Even though Joliet Fire Captain Eric Mattson received political endorsements from Will County Executive Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant, Joliet City Councilwoman Bettye Gavin and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth, Matson came up short in the Democratic State Senate 43rd District race against Will County Board member Rachel Ventura.

Ventura pulled ahead of Mattson by 1,504 votes, the recently appointed incumbent, according to unofficial vote totals during the June 28 General Primary election.

"I extend my congratulations to Rachel Ventura. Though this isn't the outcome we'd hoped for, I respect the voeters' decision," Mattson posted on Facebook. "As a career firefighter and public servant, I've spent my life serving my community and I will continue to do just that."

Around 9:20 p.m., Ventura posted on her Facebook page: "While we wait for results, I want to invite supporters and volunteers to join us at the downstairs bar at Vela's in Joliet. 226 E Cass St, Joliet IL 60432. All volunteers and supporters are welcome! It's looking good and I want to thank everyone who worked so hard for this win!"

On the Republican side, downtown Joliet clothing shop owner Diane Harris went against Michelle Lee in Tuesday's primary. Harris had a lead of 118 votes, according to the unofficial totals from the Will County Clerk's Office.

All precincts had reported their totals by 10 p.m., but more ballots are expected to be added in the coming days from mail-in votes.

Democratic primary totals with 100 percent of Will County's precincts reporting:

• Mattson: 5,117 votes
• Ventura: 6,621 votes

Republican primary totals with 100 percent of Will County precincts reporting:

• Harris: 4,667 votes
• Lee: 4,549 votes

The winners of both primaries will face each other in the November general election.

According to Mattson's website, most of the 43rd Senate District is in Will County. The largest communities include Joliet, Bolingbrook, Romeoville, Woodridge, Lockport and Crest Hill. Voters in Channahon, Ingalls Park, Preston Heights, Fairmont, Elwood and Rockdale also comprise the district.

"I'm running for State Senate in the Illinois 43rd District because working families need a strong voice pushing policies that help the middle and working class," Ventura proclaims on her website. "I get it, we are all in this together. However, our political system currently works for the wealthy few and not the majority. It doesn't have to be this way. I believe government should work for everyone.

"As your next Senator, I will fight for economic justice and help close the wealth gap. I will vote on policies that strengthen the middle class, create jobs, invest in our infrastructure, provide renewable energy, and eliminate emissions that harm our planet."

According to her website, Ventura's campaign for Illinois Senate focuses on the following issues:

• Pro-Ethics No Strings Attached
• Pro Climate
• Pro Labor
• Pro Living Wage Jobs
• Pro Communities
• Pro Human Rights
• Pro Choice and Women's Rights
• Pro LGBTQIA
• Pro Criminal Justice Reform
• Pro Education Funding Reform
• Pro Public Broadband

Ventura has a long list of political endorsements posted on her campaign website. The list includes: Gun Violence Prevention Action Committee, Planned Parenthood Illinois Action, Personal PAC, Blue America PAC, Illinois Now, Sierra Club, Working Families Joliet, Equality IL, Vote Mama, Run For Something, Catch Fire, Congressman Marie Newman, Progressives of Kane County, Our Revolution Illinois and more.

To review the entire list, visit Ventura's website.

"Elect a Progressive Democrat so we can have a government that works for everyone," Ventura proclaimed on her website. "Rachel stands for honesty, integrity, and hard work."

According to her campaign, Ventura was born in 1981 and raised in Joliet. She attended public school and went on to earn her bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Benedictine University in 2002. She moved to California where she began work as an actuary for health insurance companies.

"Here she saw firsthand how the American healthcare system had been warped to profit off the sick," her website informs voters. Ventura noted that she left the health care field and spent 10 years as a military spouse, traveling the country and world. At one point, Ventura lived in Georgia where she was a naturalist for Georgia State Parks, her bio noted.

"She was infuriated to learn that less than 4 percent of the original forest remains today, and so Rachel’s passion for preservation was born," Ventura announced.

Ventura also lived in Washington state, and she later moved back to her hometown of Joliet as a single mother of twin daughters and taking a job with Legendary Games. In 2018, Ventura ran for the Will County Board.

"As an elected county board member, Rachel helped to secure long-term clean water for the 800 families living in Fairmont," her campaign noted. "Due to her hard work and perseverance, Will County became the second county in Illinois to adopt the Greenest Region Compact. She continues to advocate for affordable housing, recovery homes, housing for the homeless, an end to systemic racism, and the creation of opportunities for jobs with livable wages."

On May 6, the Illinois Senate Democrats announced the appointment of Eric Mattson as its newest member. His appointment took place after State Senator John Connor resigned on April 30 to care for one of his immediate family members, according to a news release.

"The Joliet Democrat looks to draw inspiration from the work of previous Senators John Connor and Pat McGuire. Mattson has a strong record of standing up for the working class and is proudly committed to his public service work," the Illinois Senate Democrats announced in May.

According to the Illinois Democrats, Mattson is also a Joliet native and he worked his way up the ranks to become a Joliet Fire Captain and he continues to serve in this role.

"Following continued success in organized labor, Mattson was elected to become and currently serves as the president of the Joliet Fire Officers Local 2369. Mattson is a firm believer in collective bargaining rights and continues to advocate for health care access for working families across Illinois," the May 6 news release proclaimed. "His commitment to public service is further shown through his previous service on the Board for Will County Habitat for Humanity and the Salvation Army."

On June 14, the Illinois Senate Democratic Caucus announced that Mattson had a key role in enacting a new law to help increase the state’s workforce to meet the growing demand of seeking mental and behavioral health assistance.

According to the news release, Mattson served as a cosponsor on Senate Bill 3617, which focused on expanding the workforce by streamlining licensure requirements and supporting diversity in the mental health field. The Democratic Caucus noted that Senate Bill 3617 accelerates the process for out-of-state clinicians applying for licensure in Illinois, as well as streamlines requirements for social workers, professional counselors, and clinical psychologists with licenses that have been inactive for five years or more.

“Our mental health is essential to leading a happy life,” Mattson said in the announcement. “This new law helps the state increase the number of mental health professionals in our state to ensure residents receive the care they need.”

On the Republican side, Diane Harris is running against Michelle Lee.

According to her website, Harris indicates that she is a social and fiscal conservative, pro-life Baptist mother of three and she has one dog.

"Born in a conservative Democrat family, taught to love thy neighbor as thyself and always work hard for what's to be achieved in life," Harris proclaims.

Harris said she was educated in Will County’s public schools later graduating from JJC and from University of Phoenix with a bachelor's of science in management. She noted that she has lived in the Historic Cathedral Area in Joliet for 21 years and she attends Mt. Olive Baptist Church.

Harris said was a member of IBEW #1460 and #15 until retiring after 32 years.

"I am now a small business owner in downtown Joliet and currently serve as Trustee for Joliet's Public Library, Vice Chairman of the Joliet Township Republicans, 23rd Precinct Committeeman and a member of many boards and organizations throughout Will County," her bio reads.

Harris has previously run for political office, including runs for Congress and state representative.

"I know that the government is supposed to be of the people by the people and for the people," her website reads. "But we still wait for that new birth of freedom. Our forefathers created laws base on a government for the people. We should not be, and our children's children should not be indebted to the government year after year. That's why it's crucial we elect a conservative like me, who supports tax cuts, reducing the burdens of the payers, election reform for fair elections, 2nd Amendment for the right to keep and bear arms, and spending cuts to reduce the deficit within government. Supporting a government for the people and one that serves the people is the American way."

As for Harris' opponent, Michelle Lee's campaign Facebook page has not been updated with any news or announcements since March 7. Also, Lee's political campaign website link: "leefor43statesenate.com" has expired.

Joliet Patch found a second website for Lee that is active, but it has no information about issues and current events. "My name is Michelle Lee and I'm running for District 43 Illinois State Senate. Together we will bring back integrity to Illinois," the website states.