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Lesko, Turner square off in a debate Sunday and on the ballot Nov. 3

Lesko, Turner square off in a debate Sunday and on the ballot Nov. 3

(l-r) Senate challenger and Sangamon County Recorder Frank Lesko, a Republican, and State Sen. Doris Turner (D-Springfield) debate at First Presbyterian Church, Springfield IL, Sept. 27, 2026 Photo: Saga Communications/Dave Dahl


SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – While political candidates generally love to talk about themselves, Sangamon County Recorder Frank Lesko (pictured, left) says there’s one thing he’ll never tell: who will receive his vote for governor.

“I am a citizen,” said Lesko, “and I firmly believe that you are entitled to your vote. And that vote is one privacy that you have when you go into the voting booth.” Incumbent State Sen. Doris Turner (D-Springfield) noted “it’s very telling that the Republican candidate for state Senate will not say that he is for the Republican (Darren Bailey) running for governor.” Turner is an enthusiastic supporter of Democrat incumbent Gov. JB Pritzker.

When the two debated Sunday for the Committee for Springfield, Illinois at First Presbyterian Church of Springfield, the issue of property taxes was an obvious topic. “Property taxes are basically local,” said Turner, “but one of the things that we do affect in the state Senate is that most of our communities use their property taxes to pay for education, and we are doing things in the state Senate to try to alleviate that burden.” Lesko countered, “I believe that we can lower property taxes. We have 9,000 – or right about there – taxing bodies in Illinois, and I think that’s one of the big problems, and we want to make sure we don’t hurt schools at all, but we need to take some tough steps and bring our property taxes down.”

The 48th Senate district includes parts of Springfield and Decatur. Election Day is Nov. 3.

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