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Health & Fitness

Thillens Announces Candidacy for State Representative

(Park Ridge, IL) October 20th, 2013

 A crowd of over one hundred energized supporters filled the upstairs of the iconic Pickwick Theater to watch Republican Mel Thillens declare his candidacy for State Representative of the 55th District.   The 55th District covers most of Park Ridge, Des Plaines and Elk Grove Village.

 

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Thillens, a lifelong resident of Park Ridge, is married to Stephanie and they have four children.  After starting out selling popcorn at Thillens Stadium at age ten, Mel worked his way up and now leads the third-generation family owned company. 

 

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Currently, Thillens is a Park Board Commissioner and is the Chairman of the Taste of Park Ridge.  Thillens led the effort to save the Youth Campus for the community, which voters easily approved in a referendum in April of 2013. He has volunteered in Indian Princesses and can be seen around the district coaching football or even hanging Christmas Tree lights. 

 

Earlier in 2013, Mel Thillens was named a “Park Ridge Community Star” by Park Ridge Chamber of Commerce.  http://parkridge.patch.com/groups/editors-picks/p/park-ridge-community-star-mel-thillens

In declaring his candidacy for State Representative, Thillens said this is one more opportunity to “raise his hand” and help the community.

 

State Senator Darin Lahood (D-37) introduced Mel Thillens to the crowd.  During his announcement, the audience cheered as Thillens said “Like you, I’ve had enough.  Enough of these politicians in Springfield blowing the budget, enough of Madigan’s stranglehold on our economy.”  He also said “Moylan and Madigan will continue to spend the money they don’t have, while each man, woman and child in Cook County is on the hook for $84,000 in local government debt.  It’s time we told Moylan and Madigan that we respect our children too much to hand them a bill for $84,000.”   

 

The crowd featured many members of the community as well as several dignitaries such as State Senator Darin Lahood (R-37), Tom Cross (outgoing Minority Leader), Jim Durkin (next Republican House Leader), State Senator Matt Murphy  (R-27), WLS 890am Radio Host and former candidate for Governor, Dan Proft, former State Senate candidate Jim O’Donnell, former State Representative candidate Susan Sweeney, Maine Township GOP Committeeman candidate Carol Teschky and GOP Elk Grove Committeeman candidate Scott Lietzow. 

 The other candidate for Maine Township GOP Committeeman, Charlene Foss-Eggemann, was on a charity trip to Africa but is already acting on her commitment to support Republican candidates by gathering petition signatures for Thillens. 

 

 For more information, please visit www.vote4mel.com

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