Seven
vie for Lane EvansÕ spot
By Norm Winick
There are seven individuals who have so far indicated their
interest to replace Lane Evans on the November ballot and run against Andrea Zinga
for Congress in the 17th District. The process by which the Precinct
Committeemen will select the nominee is still being determined. Evans has not
yet officially withdrawn.
A series of forums are being held in the sprawling district for
the committeemen to meet the hopefuls. At Canton last Saturday, six of the
seven spoke at Spoon River College.
Former one-time Republican candidate for
Congress and retired oral surgeon Harold Bayne of Moline has switched parties
to run but was vacationing out of the country. He had a supporter distribute
his resume. There are some indications that he will soon withdraw from the
chase.
The populist
State Representative Mike Boland of
East Moline has served on the CitizensÕ Utility Board. The former teacher
touted his electability, having been elected to the legislature six times in a
swing district even after being targeted by the Republicans. ÒI have proven I
can win over independents and Republicans.Õ He also said that heÕs committed to
good constituent services. He promised to maintain the Galesburg and Decatur
offices and to equip an RV to be a mobile office. Boland also claimed credit
for passing legislation prohibited tax dollars from being spent on goods made
by prisoners or child labor in third-world countries.
The liberal
Phil Hare has served as Lane EvansÕ district director for 22
years. He, like his mentor, is an unabashed liberal. Hare was the only
candidate to concentrate on issues: ÒI am pro-labor; I am pro-choice; I am pro-stem
cell research; I am anti-war. We canÕt just attack Bush and say Andrea Zinga is
issueless; we must offer an alternative. Our party must get back to the issues
that matter to everyday people.Ó
He also promised to maintain Evans current staff and offices to
provide constituent services. ÒI know the people and this district.Ó
Hare also talked about his humble upbringing. ÒAt my older
sisterÕs wedding reception, the Sheriff came to serve eviction papers on my
folks. You donÕt forget those kinds of things. I will bring a tremendous
passion to the job.Ó
ÒI donÕt want to be ÔsirÕ or ÔCongressmanÕ or
ÔMr.Õ I want to be ÔPhil.ÕÓ
The teacher
Rob Mellon, from Quincy, is a Spanish and History teacher in a
small-town high school. HeÕs running as the outsider. ÒThere is an overall
dissatisfaction with the political process. Seventy percent of the people feel
this country is headed in the wrong direction.Ó
ÒPeople have concerns that this nominating
process isnÕt democratic or open enough. To overcome this, we need to nominate
a candidate who comes from outside the system — not from Washington or
Springfield.
The mayor
Rock Island Mayor Mark Schwiebert emphasized his electability. ÒI
have been elected five times as Mayor of Rock Island — the last four
times with over 80 percent of the vote. Local government is the laboratory of
democracy; IÕd like to take those lessons to a higher level.Ó
He also took credit for chairing a committee that helped save
5,000 jobs at the Rock Island Arsenal.
The one issue his seemed passionate about was
energy and ethanol. While all the candidates supported ethanol production,
Schwiebert went a little further: ÒEthanol gives us that perfect alignment of
the planets — jobs and energy independence. This area should be the fuel
center of America.Ó
The bean counter
Amy Stockwell is the Macon County
Auditor who says she Òis always up for a challenge.Ó She credits herself with
turning around the financial condition in Macon County and says she is Òa Main Street
capitalist, not a Wall Street capitalist.Ó
She says the federal government is broke and Òwe must get our financial
house in order. This budget does not reflect our priorities.Ó
The farmer
State Senator John Sullivan defeated a long-time Republican
incumbent in a Republican district. ÒIn 2002 I won with 52 percent of the vote;
in 2004, in a targeted race that cost both candidates $1.7 million, I received
over 62 percent of the vote.Ó
While his electability is his greatest claim, his residence near Rushville in
Schuyler County is controversial. ÒI live seven or eight miles outside the
district but my entire life has been spent in the 17th district. I am the most
centrally-located of all the candidates.Ó
Sullivan is the most conservative of the group
but says that heÕs no fanatic. ÒI listen to all ideas and appreciate the
diversity.Ó
04/27/06