Highland Park native and Chicago attorney Scott Drury became the first Democrat to seek the Illinois General Assembly seat held by retiring state Rep. Karen May (D-Highland Park) today (Oct. 25) when he said he would run for the nomination in the March 20 primary. 

Drury, a Highwood resident, who has been a Democratic candidate for Lake County state’s attorney since August, decided to seek May’s seat after a number of people suggested to seek a political career in the legislative rather than the executive branch of state government. 

“When Representative May announced she was not running for re-election, several members of the community encouraged me to run for the seat,” Drury said in a news release. “We need to ensure this district is represented by an independent voice.” 

Two Lake Forest Republicans are already running for the seat - business owner and resident Lauren Turelli and physician Mark Neerhof. Turelli, who lost to May in 2010 with 43 percent of the vote, originally planned to run for the Lake County Board until May announced her retirement. 

In the state’s attorney race, Drury’s departure leaves Libertyville resident and Lake Forest attorney Chris Kennedy, Assistant Lake County State’s Attorney Reginald Mathews of Waukegan and Mundelein attorney Karen Williams competing for the Democratic nomination. 

The Republican candidates are Assistant Lake County State’s Attorney Louise Hayes of Lake Bluff, Waukegan lawyer and Lake Barrington resident Bryan Winter along with Waukegan attorney Mike Nerheim of Gurnee.