Profile based on candidate's questionnaire. This is not an endorsement.
GRANT PARK - Mark Ekhoff is one of two Republican candidates vying to represent one of the most diverse House districts in Illinois. The 34th district's northern border is at Chicago's southside 73rd Street, and its southernmost border is in rural Kankakee County.
Ekhoff is one of 18 Republican candidates the newly-revived Chicago GOP introduced to the press shortly after petitions signatures were filed last fall. And so is Ekhoff's GOP primary opponent, Fatimah Macklin.
The 34th House district's unusual boundaries - drawn by Chicago Democrats determined to keep the majority - causes the district to lean Democrat. Chicago's southside heavily-populated black community dominates the voter bloc from Kankakee County's conservative, rural area included in the 34th.
The winner of the GOP primary will face in November the winner of the March 18th Democratic primary - a contest between incumbent State Rep. Elgie Sims, Jr. and Chicago police officer Richard Wooten.
Illinois State Board of Elections does not yet show financial filings for the Ekhoff campaign, but does show that Mark and his wife gave $200 to the Kankakee Republican organization last year.
Ekhoff is CEO of Trim Creek Energy, a Grant Park-based company that develops alternative energy sources. He is developing the Grant Park Windfarm project, which is in its first year of measuring the area's wind speeds. He also serves as president of the Kankakee County chapter of Habitat for Humanity.
Ekhoff responded to Illinois Review's 2014 candidate survey saying that he opposes making the 2011 income tax hike permanent, and supports making Illinois a right-to-work state. Ekhoff says he favors school choice, vouchers and homeschooling freedom.
Ekhoff says he opposes the Freedom of Choice Act being pushed by abortion advocates in Illinois, and he believes abortion clinics should pass minimual health code standards.
Find more about Mark Ekhoff on his Facebook page HERE, and see his Illinois Review candidate survey answers HERE.
Illinois Review does not endorse this, or any, candidate. These bios are of the candidates that responded to our 2014 candidate survey by February 28th, 2014.
