Dupage Policy Journal

That a Chicago-based news affiliate had to fact check a negative campaign ad by Democrat Terra Costa Howard in her bid to take the 48th District House seat says something about her, the incumbent in that race said during a recent interview.

"The fact that the CBS 2 evening news has to do a fact check on my opponent's TV ads should be concerning to all residents of the 48th district," State House Republican Conference Leader Rep. Peter Breen (R-Lombard) told DuPage Policy Journal. "CBS 2 called these ads 'startling' and rated them 'False.'"

Attack ads are nothing new, but they deflect attention from genuine issues in a campaign, Breen said.

Democrat Terra Costa Howard, running for the 48th District State House.

"This method of using lies as campaign tactics is disingenuous and does not focus on the real issues," he said. "Campaigns should be about policy discussion and not lies and manipulative advertising. I am focused on running a campaign based on transparency, facts and listening to residents of the 48th District."

DuPage Policy Journal reached out to Costa Howard's campaign for comment but did not receive a response.

Earlier this week, CBS 2 released an analysis of Costa Howard's campaign ad, in which she accused Breen of supporting "a politician accused of repeatedly preying on young girls."

"That’s false; the result of lousy reasoning," CBS 2 political reporter Derrick Blakley said in the CBS analysis. "The Howard campaign said Breen has received $16,000 in previous campaigns from Richard Uiehlein, a conservative mega-donor."

The analysis identified Uiehlein as a financial backer of Alabama U.S. Senate candidate Judge Roy Moore, who is accused of sexually assaulting teenage girls.

"But, come on," the analysis said. "Taking money from Uihlein doesn't make Breen a supporter of Moore."

Blakley also labeled as false another claim in Costa Howard's ad that "Breen stands with the NRA to let dangerous criminals have guns."

"Breen voted to ban bump stocks, a 72-hour waiting period before buying guns, allowing removal of guns from dangerous owners, and requiring state licenses for gun dealers, all of which the NRA opposed and Gov. Bruce Rauner vetoed," Blakley wrote in his analysis. 

"Breen’s past votes on gun control legislation earned him 93 percent approval for the NRA, but for the November election, he’s been endorsed by two gun control groups; Moms Demand Action and G-PAC, a gun control group led by gunshot survivor and former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords."

Costa Howard's ad is not the first time she has attacked Breen, as the campaign heads into its final weeks. Last month, Costa Howard attacked Breen over his pro-life views.

In August, the Illinois State Board of Elections admonished Friends to Elect Terra Costa Howard and Personal PAC for repeatedly violating campaign disclosure laws.

Breen has represented the 48th District since winning election in 2014, when he took more than 90 percent of the vote over write-in challenger Marian Tomlinson of Glen Ellyn. 

He ran unopposed for another term during the Republican primary in March.

The 48th District is in DuPage County and includes all or parts of Lombard, Glen Ellyn and Lisle.