Partisan politics is one thing that is not in the campaign platform of an NIU graduate running for state representative of the newly-remapped 70th district.

“It’s important to have someone in office (who) is fiscally responsible and who listens to the concerns of the people,” said Mark Ludden, a 1991 College of Law graduate.

“There’s a lot of disenchantment with the administration downstate,” he said.

Ludden, 31, said he feels the district needs a representative without a personal agenda who can communicate with people.

“This district doesn’t need a partisan representative as much as it needs a person who is committed to taking the area’s concerns to Springfield,” he said.

Ludden said he realizes DeKalb is a highly conservative and Republican area, but said he thinks he has a chance because the people are ready for a change in Springfield.

“The numbers are against me,” Ludden said. “I believe this is going to be a shoe leather race with a nonstop pace. I’m not so interested with the odds as I am with the opportunity,” Ludden said.