Boyle Opens Campaign With Kickoff at Gattos

Debbie Boyle said she opted to run for the Illinois House in order to be an advocate for issues that are important to the people of the 81st House District.

Boyle, who announced her candidacy for the Republican primary last month, kicked off her campaign with a fundraiser at Wednesday night. Speaking to a crowd of about 50 supporters, Boyle, a native of Downers Grove, said it’s no secret the state has serious fiscal problems that need to be addressed with fiscally responsible measures.

“This culture of corruption (in Illinois) is unacceptable,” she said.

Boyle said she wants to run for the House to serve as a bridge between the community and the state. Winning a seat in the legislature means she can be an advocate for the issues concerning the community. As a nurse and the vice president of the District 99 School Board of Education, Boyle said she is well versed in health and educational legislation and concerns.

“I understand the issues facing our parents and our children,” Boyle said.

Boyle said her campaign strategy will be mostly grassroots focusing on a door-to-door get-out-the-vote effort.

“That’s where it’s at. It’s about the people,” Boyle said.

In the March primary Boyle will face fellow Dowers Grove Republican , who currently holds a seat in the Illinois Senate. House District 81 is a newly drawn district which includes parts of Downers Grove, Darien, Lisle, Woodridge, Westmont and Naperville.

Boyle was joined by Darlene Ruscitti, regional superintendent of education in DuPage County, who also serves as chairperson of the Bloomingdale Township Republicans. Ruscitti said Boyle is the kind of representative the people want in Springfield. Touting Boyle’s experience with educational issues, Ruscitti said she would be an advocate for the needs of the community and the importance of education in rebuilding the economy in Illinois.

“It’s about our people and listening to their voices in the neighborhoods. She gets it,” Ruscitti said.

District 99 Board President Bill White, who introduced Ruscitti to the crowd, said during his tenure on the school board he has been impressed with Boyle’s passion, intelligence and willingness to listen to all sides of a question.

Other attendees included DuPage County Board member Brian Krajewski, who also serves as chairman of the Downers Grove Republican Township Organization and DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin.

In addition to a grasp of health and educational issues, Boyle said she wanted her campaign to serve to unite the Republicans in the district.

Alluding to differences between Krajewski and Sandack that can be traced back to a heated campaign for Downers Grove Mayor in 2007 and how that led to a political schism of Republicans in Downers Grove, Boyle said she wanted to bring the party together behind her candidacy. Boyle said she’s walked through some of the precincts in the district and found that many of the voters no longer trust or respect the Republican message because the candidates often betray their principles, such as support of capital punishment or opposition to illegal immigration, in order to remain in Springfield.

She said she wanted to unite the local party and carry a united Republican message to Springfield. Only a united party organization can push winning legislation through the General Assembly, she said

“We need to be a grassroots party that is unified from top to bottom,” Boyle said.

Boyle said other issues important to the residents of the district include high taxes and pension reform.

“This is going to be a challenge. I’ve never run for anything this big before,” Boyle said. “I’m not a politician; I’m just Debbie from Downers Grove.”