News Local/State

Democrat Dennis Malak Making 2nd Try For 110th Dist. Illinois House Seat

 
110th Illinois House candidate Dennis Malak.

Dennis Malak (D-Charleston) is running for state representative in Illinois' 110th District, against Republican Reggis Phillips. Jim Meadows / Illinois Public Media

Dennis Malak is making his second bid for an Illinois House seat. The Charleston Democrat ran before in 2010, losing to Chapin Rose, who has since moved over to the Illinois Senate.

This time, Malak is running against first-term Republican Reggie Phillips, also of Charleston. Malak works as technical director for the Doudna Fine Arts Center at Eastern Illinois University. In an interview with Illinois Public Media's Jim Meadows, he says he wants an end to the state budget crisis, and believes that a solution requires changes in both state spending and state revenue. 

Malak says he'll work with anyone who shares his committment to a budget agreement, and won't base his judgements on what makes House Speaker Michael Madigan happy. He says he largely disagrees with Gov. Bruce Rauner's Turnaround Agenda, but that he supports his calls for redistricting reform and criminal justice reform.