Palos Republican Jumps Into 36th District Race
Bob Shelstrom, of Palos Park, will challenge incumbent State Rep. Kelly Burke in the 36th District.
Voters looking to cast a ballot for a Republican in the Illinois House 36th District in March's primary election were met with a blank space . That will change in November as a GOP candidate has stepped forward to challenge the incumbent Democrat.
Bob Shelstrom, an engineer from Palos Park, was nominated by the Republican committeemen from Palos and Worth townships to carry the GOP banner in the general. Shelstrom stepped forward after noticing no Republican candidates on the ballot when he went to vote.
Shelstrom is a frequent and vocal critic of the spending practices of Palos Consolidated School District 118, High School District 230 and the Palos Fire Protection District.
In a statement announcing his candidacy, Shelstrom pledged to serve no more than two terms if he is elected. He voiced opposition to the extension of the income tax increase, shifting pension liabilities to school district and municipalities and criticized the current Medicare system.
"Bob believes that the Medicaid program in Illinois should focus on the truly needy, and not be extended to those who have access to health insurance through employment or other means," the statement read.
The 36th District seat is currently held by Democrat Kelly Burke who was elected to her first term in 2010. She defeated her Republican challenger while garnering 71 percent of the vote.
The district includes portions of Palos Park, Palos Hills, Hickory Hills, Oak Lawn, Evergreen Park, Chicago Ridge and slivers of Chicago.
In This article
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Palos Community Consolidated School District 118 Administrative Center
8800 W 119th St, Palos Park, IL -
Amos Alonzo Stagg High School
8015 W 111th St, Palos Hills, IL -
Mike Sutko
1:10 am on Thursday, September 6, 2012
If more of our state elected officials served as Kelly Burke does, we'd soon have our house in order. Unfortunately, we don't and it's up to us to vote out the incompetent and unworthy office holders and replace them with candidates like Kelly.
Rock Bobster
1:34 pm on Monday, September 17, 2012
Right, Mike. Why don't you tell us about Ms Burke's plan about how she'll solve the pension crisis? The financial meltdown in our bond ratings? The way she intends to bring our business environment rating up from being the 48th worst in the nation? How does she plan to replace the 370,000 well paying Illinois jobs that have been lost due to Madigan's mismanagement and corruption?
Why hasn't she updated her website regarding these issues since 2010? Why has she refused to have any Townhall meetings to get input from her constituents?
Right, Mike. What this states needs is more career politician representatives like Kelly to ignore her district and kiss Mike Madigan's ring! It's time for a change in the 36th, Mike. Kelly had a chance to make a difference for the better, AND SHE BLEW IT!