Elections

Natalie Manley Defeats Bob Kalnicky for 98th State Representative Seat

Both Manley and Kalnicky were newcomers to the state house race in the newly created 98th district.

By Melissa Sersland
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November 6, 2012

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Bob Kalnicky, Natalie Manley

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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.

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Related Topics: 98th District, Bob Kalnicky, Natalie Manley, and State Representative

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Bill Turner

1:41 am on Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Kalnicky chose to run a desperate campaign full of negativity and a lack of ideas. In an irony not lost on many tonight, while he falsely accused Manely of beating her daughter, ultimately it was Manley that beat the bald right off Kalnicky's egg shaped head. If it were a boxing match they would have called the fight. Let it be known, Manley is the muhammad ali of this district.....Ima show you, how great I am.

All you chumps are gonna bow when I whoop him, all of you, I know you got him, I know youve got him picked, but the mans in trouble, Ima show you how great I am!!

Jackie Traynere

7:02 am on Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Spot on, regarding negative campaigning, particularly on personal family issues, never a way to victory. So for all his nastiness I forgive the name calling description of him above LOL.

Bob Jamesly

12:21 pm on Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Not a personal, family issue when it hits the Patch or Herald news. Public then. Battling Natalie did it all to herself and with some help the charges were dropped. Typically the facts are distorted by you lefties. We see it all the time. Like the bogus claims made by the WWJ. But you remain our favorite socialist

Barbara Palmer

7:57 am on Wednesday, November 7, 2012

The robo calls attacking Natalie were beyond offensive, I could never vote for someone who would be that nasty.

Wanna Bet

9:01 am on Wednesday, November 7, 2012

False accusations don't get people arrested for domestic violence. Manley has her political connections to thank for the disappearing charges. One bit of justice is that the mugshot and news articles will be immortalized in cyberspace. Nice Muhammad Ali analogy, by the way, considering the legal issues Manley has faced... You are truly a class act.

Only time will tell if she is an effective politician or a democratic puppet.

Adam

9:28 am on Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Agreed

Manny

9:04 am on Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Congratulations Ms. Manley my family and I very happy for your (and Bill Foster’s) victory.

Little doubt Mr. Kalnicky received endorsements from Republican Bolingbrook Mayor Claar and the primarily Republican Chicago Tribune (not certain of the party affiliation of the Plainfield and Romeoville mayors). Mr. Kalnicky’s nasty campaign, the expenditure of $40M for a library in these economic (and Internet availability) times, and the $66K reimbursement for Valley View Superintendent Mitchem (although not directly supported by Mr. Kalnicky) made it very easy for us to vote straight Democrat.

It would be wise for other Republicans who are in office or are thinking of running for office to learn from Mr. Kalnicky’s loss.