Oswego Resident Announces Bid for 49th Senate Seat

Amanda Mancke, an Oswego Republican, said Wednesday she would be running for the 49th Illinois Senate seat.

Mancke most recently lost her bid to become a village trustee in Oswego,  to incumbent Trustee Terry Michels.

The Yorkville High School Spanish teacher said if elected, she would adhere to strong conservative fiscal ideals and advocate living within the state's means.

"Our state is spending too much money," she said. "We have serious fiscal issues. I know I can be part of the situation."

Mancke said she is particularly interested in education policy.

"Our education system must produce students who are better prepared to compete in our global economy. Together we can (find) new ways of finding and retaining good teachers and enact proven early intervention strategies," she said.

Aside from teaching, Mancke is also active in the Optimist Club of Oswegoland, the Kendall County Young Republicans, Oswego Youth Tackle Football Executive Board and the Village of Oswego Building and Zoning Committee. 

She and her family have lived in Oswego for eight years.

The district, created under a new state redistricting map, includes portions of Joliet, Romeoville, Bolingbrook, Plainfield, Shorewood, Crest Hill and Oswego.

Mancke joins Shorewood village trustee , Plainfield village trustee , Oswego village trustee  and Will County District 5 Board Member  as candidates for the Republican nomination.