FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 29 2011

ITASCA, IL – State Senator Carole Pankau (R-Itasca) announced her intentions to seek election under the newly redrawn Legislative map at her Annual Golf Outing last week. Pankau, who has served in the Illinois State Senate since 2005, saw the base of her district remain intact, providing a distinct edge over any primary challengers.

Every ten years the Illinois General Assembly redraws House and Senate District’s after the US Census Bureau completes their official canvass. For the first time in a generation, the Illinois Democrats held a monopoly over the remap process, controlling both chambers of the General Assembly, as well as the Governor’s office.

“Obviously the Republicans in the State had very little input into these new districts, however I am pleased to see my current district remain mostly intact,” commented Pankau. “The overwhelming majority of Republican primary voters come out of Bloomingdale Township, and that area has been my base of support since I first ran for the Illinois House.”

Pankau began her career as a public servant serving on the Keeneyville School Board. After eight years on the School Board, Pankau was asked to run for the DuPage County Board, she served on the Board until 1992. After the 1992 redistricting, Pankau left the County Board to run for State Representative. Pankau was sworn in as a State Representative in 1993, where she served until 2005. In 2005 Pankau was sworn in as State Senator for the 23rd District.

In the Senate Pankau has made a name for herself by spearheading complicated Medicaid reform legislation, as well as serving as the Minority Spokesperson on the Senate’s Commerce Committee. This past year Pankau has made job creation her primary legislative focus.

“The Governor and his fellow Democrats are doing their absolute best to drive jobs and businesses out of our state. While this is a major problem, it is also an opportunity, as I focused on stopping these good paying jobs from leaving, and more importantly introducing legislation that will create more jobs for our families,” said Pankau. “Serving as the Spokesperson on the Commerce Committee has uniquely positioned me to push job creation legislation – something our state needs.”