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Turelli withdraws from 58th race
Lauren Turelli
Updated: July 15, 2012 2:48PM
Lake Forest’s Lauren Turelli announced Tuesday she is withdrawing from the race for state representative for the 58th District.
“It is with much regret that I end my campaign for state representative. It was a difficult decision to throw my hat in the ring three years ago and even more difficult to leave it behind,” the Republican candidate said.
Turelli cited family issues as the decision-making factor in her announcement.
“I’ve had great numbers and a lot of support. Things were just getting off the ground,” she said. “There’s just a lot going on in my family and related business that require my attention.”
Chairman of the Republican Party Robert Cook said Tuesday he was “a little bit surprised” by Turelli’s announcement, but understand “she needs to spend time with her family, and that’s important.”
Cook said a meeting between the Republican township chairmen from the 58th District -- which includes Lake Bluff, Lake Forest, Highland Park, Deerfield and runs into Cook County -- is set up this weekend to “come up with the best candidate we can find” to replace Turelli in the race against Democratic candidate Scott Drury for the seat held by Democrat Karen May.
‘Move quickly’
Voting on a replacement for Turelli will be Lake County township chairmen Ed Kelly, Libertyville; Eric Burgess, Vernon; Louis Atsaves, Moraine; Mark Shaw, West Deerfield; and Daniel Bryant, Shields; as well as the chairmen of the Cook County Township Republican Organizations from New Trier and Northfield townships.
“We want to move quickly so that whoever gets selected can get their campaign started, but we don’t want to move too quickly and make a mistake,” Cook said. “We definitely want to win this one.”
Dr. Mark Neerhof, a Lake Forest physician who ran against Turelli and lost in the Republican primary, is a potential candidate.
“He is definitely someone who will be very strongly considered,” Cook said.
Neerhof would not comment Tuesday on whether he will re-enter the race, but said, “I would like to take this opportunity to thank Lauren for her service to the Republican Party and I wish her and her family well.”
Though she is withdrawing from this race, Turelli is not necessarily withdrawing from politics altogether.
“I hope not,” she said when asked if this decision marks the end of politics for her.
“I don’t even consider it politics. It’s public service for me,” she said. “I think I owe it to the people of the district and I owe it to the people who have supported me to give it 110 percent, which I can’t give.”
While she has no say in which candidate is selected, Turelli said she hopes the Republican Party “chooses a like-minded person to replace me for the November election.”
Turelli ran against May in 2010 and lost. May announced she would not run again this fall.
