illinoisreview

IR Focus: Aaron Schock, GOP candidate for 18th CD

Four years ago, a 22 year old Peoria-area Republican challenged a die hard liberal for her State House seat in an overwhelmingly Democratic district. He was energetic, winsome and very conservative in his political views; and he won the hard-fought and expensive battle for Ricca Sloan's House seat in 2004 embarking on a career representing his diverse district at the State Capitol. He was re-elected in 2006. 

Last year the 18th congressional district's longtime, powerful Congressman Ray LaHood decided it was time to retire along with his friend and colleague former House Speaker Denny Hastert (R-11CD). Schock, knowing well chances like this one often come along only once in a lifetime, took on the challenge to succeed LaHood. Tuesday, he won a three-way primary with 78% of the vote. Turning 27 in May, Schock is very likely to be one of the nation's youngest ever U.S. Congressmen if he's elected in November.

During his first state House election, IR had a chance to interview Schock. His then-unpolished, honest and fresh approach to making a difference in the world was inspiring and surprising to even me. We haven't had a chance to get Aaron on record yet since Tuesday, and we hope to do so in the days to come, but we were re-reading this 2004 interview, and thought, "This is the core of Aaron Schock. Let's show it to Illinois."

IR Focus: Tony Graff, GOP candidate for 50th House District

As one of three men and one woman competing for the 50th House District's GOP nomination to succeed State Rep. Pat Lindner, it’s sometimes difficult to draw a distinction among the candidates. Tony Graff says his voter base is his family, his friends and the people he’s met throughout the community while serving in area law enforcement. 

A retired police chief and experienced city administrator, Graff, 53, says he’s very proud of being involved public service for years.  Recently starting a commercial real estate development firm opened his eyes to the challenges small businessmen in Illinois face every year.  It was one of the reasons he jumped into the 50th GOP race this year.

“I’m interested in helping people and getting involved in the community,” Graff said, “When Rep. Lindner retired, it seemed a good time to re-enter public service.”

And what would he do if he were elected to represent the Kane County-centered district?

IR Focus: Tim Baldermann, GOP candidate in 11th CD

NEW LENOX -- When asked why he’s running in Illinois’ 11th CD Republican primary to fill the seat Congressman Jerry Weller’s is vacating, New Lenox mayor Tim Baldermann answered, “I believe in duty and answering the call when you’re needed.” 

Baldermann’s answer was expected from a guy whose last twenty years he's spent in law enforcement, on a local school board and as of eight months ago, as mayor of New Lenox, a town located in one of America’s fastest-growing communities. 

When the Will County GOP asked him to run for Congress, Baldermann, 41, says he saw it as another chance to serve and bring along an array of life experiences that he believes have prepared him to serve in Congress.

As a law enforcement officer and now police chief in southwest suburban Chicago Ridge, Baldermann's had first hand experience implementing federal Homeland Security regulations and working within federal immigration parameters.  His current jurisdiction was a center of controversy in the days immediately following 9-11, as angry protests erupted outside one of the Chicago area’s largest mosques, located in Chicago Ridge.

Sauerberg's position on abortion

Over the past few weeks, several Illinois Review commenters have questioned U.S. Senate candidate Steve Sauerberg's views on abortion. His website does not address abortion and he chose not to reply to Illinois Family Institute's nor Illinois Federation for Right to Life's federal candidate surveys.  IFRL endorsed little-known GOP primary candidate Mike Psak, based on his survey responses. 

Psak is running a small volunteer grassroots campaign with little funding.  Odds are heavily in favor of Steve Sauerberg to be the GOP's nominee to run against Dick Durbin in the November election. Dick Durbin has evolved into a pro-abort radical that many would like to see upended as South Dakota did their former U.S. Senator Tom Daschle in years past. Prolifers want a reason to support and get excited about this 2008 Durbin challenge. 

So in the context of a multi-issue interview -- which we'll cover in full later this week -- IR asked Sauerberg the question for you.

IR Focus: Terry Hunt, GOP candidate for 50th HD

AURORA -- With State Rep. Pat Lindner announcing her retirement earlier this year, the 50th House district will now have a chance to be represented by someone who reflects the district's more conservative views, Big Rock horse farmer and GOP candidate Terry Hunt told Illinois Review last week.

Hunt and three others – Batavia’s Dave Richmond, Yorkville's Kay Hatcher and Tony Graff – are vying to be the GOP's nominee February 5th. Whoever wins the primary will have a very good chance of retaining the Republican-leaning district seat in November.

And although Lindner’s not the opponent in Hunt’s first bid for office, he is very open about how starkly different his policy views are from incumbent Lindner’s. . .

IR Focus: Dave Richmond, GOP candidate in 50th State Rep

ELBURN -- In a four-way GOP primary to fill retiring State Rep. Patricia Lindner's vacancy next January,  it’s not easy for a candidate to differentiate himself and to break out from the pack. 

But Elburn lawyer Dave Richmond believes his six years working as local district director of U.S. Rep. Denny Hastert’s constituent relations will set him apart from others running in the 50th District primary.

Top notch constituent services will be a top priority to Richmond.  He’s especially proud of the work he did in Hastert's office uniting families while cutting through red tape to expedite legal immigration and international adoption cases as well as acquire passports. 

“Constituent services were my bread and butter,” Richmond said.  “No one running in the 50th has more knowledge about how to take care of those kinds of problems than I have.  From day one of being elected,  I would be ready to go, with no learning curve.”

IR Focus: Jimmy Lee, GOP candidate in 11th CD

UTICA -- When U.S. Rep. Jerry Weller announced this past fall that he had decided not to seek re-election in 2008, Republicans in the 11th CD scrambled to find a successor. Just before the December petition filing deadline passed, three GOP candidates emerged: Utica resident Jimmy Lee, New Lenox Mayor Tim Baldermann and Terry Heenan, also of New Lenox.

The 11th CD race has almost been totally ignored by the district's mainstream media until just this week, when a call for debates among primary candidates was sent out by a new name and face on Illinois' political landscape: LaSalle County's Jimmy Lee.

Meet the candidates: 48th District's Michael Connelly

LISLE -- DuPage County Board member Michael Connelly will be filing petition signatures this week to enter the race for the GOP’s candidate for state representative in the 48th District. 

This past summer, incumbent State Rep Jim Meyers announced he would retire rather than run for re-election in 2008.   Meyers’ announcement opened the way for a primary contest likely to rival general election importance in other counties.

Connelly, a former Lisle village trustee, says he is proud of the District 5 he was elected to represent on the DuPage County Board in 2006.   District 5, reaching from Lisle westward to Naperville, is twice the size of the 48th district he would represent in the State House.

“This is a district of achievers,” Connelly said.  “They are used to working hard and seeing results.  That’s what they want from their legislators.  They’re tired of mediocre government.”

Thank You URF, Part I

by Eric M. Wallace, PhD

The following excerpt is taken from the book entitled Integrity of Faith: A Testimony of Perseverance and Hope. Integrity of Faith is my life story outlined along the lines of a statement I made when I resigned from the office of Chaplain with the National Black Republican Association which said, “I serve because of my relationship with my Savior. I am a Christian first, a father second, a minister and scholar third, and a Black man fourth, and then a Republican. Heaven help me if I ever get these out of order."

That quote found its way into the Washington Times newspaper in 2005. It became the inspiration for the outline of my book. The excerpt below is from the chapter called "The Republican." It looks at my 2006 run for State Senate and gives thanks to those who had the courage to fight along side me in the South Suburbs.

SPOTLIGHT on Bolingbrook's Terri Ann Wintermute, GOP candidate for 42nd Senate District

by Fran Eaton

It’s fairly unusual for the Chicago Sun Times, Teamsters, Illinois Education Association, Illinois Federation for Right to Life and the Illinois State Rifle Association to agree on anything, but each have endorsed Will County Commissioner Terri Ann Wintermute to fill the 42nd District vacancy State Senator Ed Petka is leaving behind.