By Cole Lauterbach/Illinois Radio Network
DOWNERS GROVE – A prominent Republican state lawmaker is stepping down.
Downers Grove state Rep. Ron Sandack announced his immediate resignation on Sunday. The abrupt resignation comes after Sandack had been battling a malicious social media campaign.
“After some cyber security issues arose, I began to re-evaluate my continued public service,” Sandack said in a statement released by a House Republican spokeswoman. “I have always recognized there is no greater privilege than being a father and husband. My duties in Springfield have meant missing a lot of events in the lives of my children. I am no longer willing to miss important family events.”
Sandack told Capitol Fax’s Rich Miller last week that he has been battling multiple fake clone profiles of him on Facebook and Twitter since approximately July 4 and has filed a police report.
“I’ve fought political battles, but I don’t want to fight a cyber battle with people I don’t know,” Sandack said.
Sandack has deleted the majority of his social media accounts, on which he actively spoke about politics as well as sports. Sandack is an avid fan of the Chicago White Sox.
Impersonating someone is a Class A misdemeanor in Illinois with a possible year in prison. Impersonating a public employee is a Class 4 felony carrying a sentence of up to six years in prison, but the law is not clear on elected officials.
Sandack was nearing the end of his second term representing Illinois’ 81st State House District where he was the Republican floor leader. The leader is often the first one to question bills. Before his tenure as a representative, Sandack was a state senator and the mayor of Downers Grove. Area Republican leaders will choose his replacement.
