Natalie Manley Defeats Bob Kalnicky for 98th State Representative Seat

Democrat Natalie Manley will become state representative of the newly created 98th district. 

Manley defeated Republican Bob Kalnicky for the seat, receiving 23,314 votes. Kalnicky received 15,015 votes. The 98th district includes Bolingbrook and Romeoville. 

READ MORE: 

• Election 2012: Incumbents Hold on to Will County Seats

Bob Kalnicky of Bolingbrook serves on the Fountaindale Public Library board and is the executive director of the Community Service Council of Northern Will County.

Natalie Manley is a Joliet accountant and co-host of WJOL's "Lynne, Mary and Natalie" show. 

Kalnicky was endorsed for the position by the Chicago Tribune, the mayors of Bolingbrook, Plainfield and Romeoville, the Illinois Chamber of Commerce and the National Federation of Independent Business, among others. 

Both Kalnicky and Manley received thousands of dollars of support from their respective political parties. Manley said that despite the amount of money she has received from Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan, she would not owe Madigan in her political career. She would represent the people of the 98th district, not Mike Madigan, Manley told a group at Grand Haven in Romeoville this fall. 

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Their race had taken a nasty turn, with Kalnicky issuing an ad (complete with a photo of handcuffs) attacking Manley for a May 2012 domestic battery arrest — despite the fact that the case was dropped in August and, ultimately, no charges were filed. Some voters said they found the ad offensive, and Joliet Mayor Thomas Giarrante issued a statement chastising Kalnicky.

News 

• Chicago Tribune Endorses Bob Kalnicky for State Representative
• Joliet Mayor Blasts Kalnicky for Fictitious Police Account of Manley Arrest
• Letter to the Editor: Shame on Bob Kalnicky
• Illinois Chamber of Commerce Endorses Bob KalnickyValley View School Board Members Back Kalnicky for State Rep
• Natalie Manley had Special Prosecutor in Domestic Battery Case