Regional Industry & News

Turner, Lesko face off in race for Illinois’ 48th Senate District

As Election Day approaches, voters in Illinois’ 48th Senate District will choose between two candidates offering different visions for the region

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — Two candidates are vying to represent central Illinois in the State Senate, with affordability and government spending emerging as key issues in the race for the 48th District.

Incumbent Democratic State Sen. Doris Turner is seeking another term, facing a challenge from Republican Frank Lesko, the Sangamon County Recorder.

Both candidates bring experience in local government to the race, but have different approaches to addressing some of the biggest concerns facing Illinois residents.

For Turner, the election is an opportunity to build on projects already underway and continue bringing state resources to central Illinois. Lesko, meanwhile, is campaigning on reducing government spending and easing the financial burden on taxpayers.

Turner said her decision to seek another term comes from a desire to continue the work she has started, particularly when it comes to economic development, infrastructure and education.

“It has actually been the honor of my lifetime to represent the 48th district in the Illinois State Senate,” Turner said. “And we have accomplished many great things, but there’s so much more to do.”

Turner said she has helped secure nearly $68 million for the district over the last three years, supporting infrastructure improvements, education and capital projects. Among the initiatives she highlighted is a construction trades education project with Springfield School District 186, which she believes will introduce students to career opportunities while strengthening the local workforce.

Turner also pointed to efforts to revitalize Downtown Springfield as a priority she hopes to continue pursuing.

Lesko said his campaign focuses on a different priority: making Illinois more affordable.

“I’m running for the Illinois Senate because I want to save you money,” Lesko told WAND News.

Lesko argues that rising taxes, utility bills, and other expenses are making it increasingly difficult for families to remain in central Illinois. He believes his experience in local government offers a blueprint for reducing costs at the state level.

As Sangamon County Recorder, Lesko campaigned on a promise to eliminate his own elected position by merging the recorder’s office with the county clerk’s office.

“So I came up with a plan to hire me, and I’m going to fire myself Dec. 1 of this year,” Lesko said.

Lesko said employees have been cross-trained ahead of the consolidation, which he believes demonstrates that government can reduce duplication without eliminating services.

Both candidates acknowledge that rising costs are a major concern for Illinois residents, but differ in how they would address the issue.

Lesko believes reducing the number of local taxing bodies could help lower property taxes. He pointed to Illinois’ thousands of taxing districts, arguing that consolidating some government entities could eliminate unnecessary expenses.

“If we can start to merge some of those taxing bodies, we can bring property taxes down,” Lesko said.

Lesko said his experience as a businessman has shaped his approach to government budgeting, arguing that elected officials should operate within financial limits rather than repeatedly increasing taxes and fees.

Turner, meanwhile, said the state has already taken steps to address affordability, pointing to measures involving grocery taxes, gas taxes and back-to-school expenses. She also emphasized that property taxes are primarily determined at the local level, with a significant portion supporting public education.

Turner believes increasing state funding for schools can help ease the burden on local property taxpayers.

“What I have been working on is making sure that we are putting a significant amount of money into education throughout the state of Illinois, so that that will take some of that burden off of the property taxes,” Turner said.

She also highlighted property tax benefits for qualifying veterans as another way lawmakers have worked to provide relief.

As communities across central Illinois consider proposed data center developments, both candidates agree residents deserve a voice in the decision-making process. Turner believes decisions about whether to allow data centers should largely remain with local governments, particularly because many proposals involve zoning and land-use decisions.

However, she said the General Assembly also has a responsibility to establish protections for communities.

“I do think that the General Assembly needs to look at some type of guardrails that we can put on that to make sure that data centers are not creating situations where consumers are having to pay more for their energy,” Turner said.

She also raised concerns about water access and transparency, including the use of nondisclosure agreements that can prevent residents from learning details about proposed developments.

Lesko similarly believes community input should be prioritized before developments move forward. He said concerns about environmental impacts, safety and neighboring properties need to be addressed, while also recognizing the potential economic benefits.

“I’m not going to close the door on it because I know there’s a lot of revenue there, so it’s not something that we just want to say no to,” Lesko said.

However, Lesko believes the wishes of residents should carry significant weight in determining whether a project moves forward. He suggested community surveys could be one way to gather feedback on proposed developments.

Both candidates said protecting residents and ensuring transparency should be central to conversations about future projects.

Despite the partisan divide across the country, both Turner and Lesko said working across party lines is essential to representing the district.

Turner said her experience serving at the county, municipal and state levels has taught her the importance of building relationships with elected officials, regardless of political affiliation.

“Everybody knows that I am a fierce partisan when it comes to elections. But then when you move into governing, that’s totally different,” Turner said.

She pointed to her work with Republican State Rep. Mike Coffey and other Republican leaders on efforts to revitalize downtown Springfield as an example of bipartisan cooperation.

Lesko also emphasized the importance of collaboration, arguing that political disagreements should not prevent lawmakers from supporting proposals that benefit their constituents.

“We need to sit down and share a meal, not share anger,” Lesko said.

He believes more transparency and communication between lawmakers and the public could help rebuild trust in government. Lesko also said elected officials should focus on serving the entire district, rather than only those who supported their campaigns.

“If a person has a problem in the district, it would be my problem also,” Lesko said. “If you’ve got a problem, I’ve got a problem. Let’s get it fixed.”

Turner echoed that sentiment, saying she works to remain accessible to constituents and regularly engages with residents to better understand their concerns.

“My goal and what I wake up every single morning doing is working hard for all of the constituents of the 48th district,” Turner said.

As Election Day approaches, voters in Illinois’ 48th Senate District will choose between two candidates offering different visions for the region. Turner asks voters to support her continued efforts to secure state investments, expand educational opportunities and advance economic development projects. Lesko promises to bring a cost-cutting approach to Springfield, with an emphasis on reducing government spending, consolidating services and lowering taxes.