Your Vote 2012: A Guide to the Nov. 6 Election

Election Day is finally here. Look below for all of the information you'll need for local and state races. 

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• Election 2012: Find Your Bolingbrook Polling Place for Nov. 6
  

LOCAL RACES

One of Will County's most contentious races has been that of the battle between Plainfield Republican Dave Carlson and his former boss, Will County State's Attorney James Glasgow. Carlson has gone on the offensive, .

The Will County Board is sure to see some new faces after the election.

The District 3 race is absent of incumbents. Vying for the two spots are Republicans Victor D. Zach and Steve Engel and Democrats Beth Rice and Don Moran.

District 4 incumbent Jacqueline L. Traynere faces three newcomers in the race: Democrat Kenneth Harris and Republicans Kenneth R. Cygan and Felix George. 

Voters will vote for two of the four candidates on the ballot. 

Click here for profiles of Will County candidates. 

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GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Republicans are pushing hard to make House Speaker Mike Madigan and the Democratic majorities in the General Assembly an issue. Out in the far western suburbs, Republicans Kay Hatcher, Garrett Peck and Jim Oberweis look to make a strong showing in this traditionally conservative area. They'll take on Democrats Andrew Bernard, Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant and Corrine Pierog, respectively

41st Senate: Christine Radogno

Lemont Republican Radogno is running unopposed for the 41st district, which she has represented since 1997. She is also the minority leader for the Illinois Senate. 

43rd Senate: Sandy Johnson vs. Pat McGuire 

Former Will County Treasurer Pat McGuire was named state senator for the 43rd district in February, replacing Democrat A.J. Wilhelmi. Democrat McGuire faces newcomer Republican Sandy Johnson for the seat. 

49th Senate: Garrett Peck (R) vs. Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant (D)

Plainfield Republican Garrett Peck, a village trustee, was among the candidates who received endorsements from the Chicago Tribune. Peck is going up against Will County Regional Superintendent of Schools Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant.

In endorsing Peck, the Trib wrote that Bertino-Tarrant “is woefully short on specifics about how to address the state's most vexing problems,” while saying Peck “speaks with confidence about how he'd fix the state's pension and workers' compensation systems, about the limitations of the new campaign finance laws, about the Catch-22 of handing out tax breaks to prevent businesses from fleeing the state. He would like to abolish the do-nothing Health Facilities Planning Board. He would bring a common-sense business perspective to state government."

81st State House: Ron Sandack 

Sandack, former mayor of Downers Grove and the current state senator for the 21st district, is running unopposed. Sandack is a Republican. 

85th State House: Emily McCasey 

Democrat Emily McCasey is running unopposed for state representative of the 85th district. She has served in the Illinois House since 2009. 

98th State House: Bob Kalnicky (R) vs. Natalie Manley (D)

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. Their race has 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 

REFERENDUM

State Constitutional Amendment: Also on the ballot is an amendment to the state constitution that would require a three-fifths majority for any government body to change its pension system. Both conservative and liberal lobbying groups have lined up against this amendment, saying it's bad policy and doesn't address the problems with the state's pension burdens.

CONGRESS

Two congressional races in northern Illinois are must-watch contests. Democrat Tammy Duckworth's bid to unseat Rep. Joe Walsh, a Tea Party favorite, in the north suburbs has drawn a lot national attention and out-of-district financial support. And in the west suburbs, Rep. Judy Biggert is trying to stay in the House and fend off Bill Foster, a former one-term congressman trying to return to Congress, but the latest polling shows them in a dead heat.

11th District: Judy Biggert (R) vs. Bill Foster (D) 

Republican Judy Biggert is running neck and neck against Bill Foster in the newly drawn 11th District. Biggert, who currently represents the 3rd Congressional District, is seeking an eighth term. Former Congressman Foster represented the 14th District from 2008 to 2010. A recent poll showed Foster with a slight edge heading into election day. 

News

• Obama Endorses Foster for Congress
• CLTV Host Confronts Foster Over Endorsements
• Poll: Foster and Biggert Neck and Neck
• Giuliani Stumps for Judy Biggert