Releases to the Media,  Voting Information,  Meet the Candidates,

Letters of Endorsement,  Calendar of Events,  District Maps

Releases to the Media

[FEB. 13, 2002]  BLOOMINGTON — Four former McLean County Republican Party chairmen are among the most recent GOP leaders to support Bill Brady’s candidacy for the 44th District Senate seat.

In endorsing Brady for the Senate, past chairmen Roger Joslin (1966-76), Tom Jacob (1976-80), Joe Warner (1990-99) and Bill Shepherd (1999-2000) cited Brady’s experience, constituent service and leadership during his four terms in the Illinois House of Representatives.

"I’m honored by their support," Brady said. "I think it speaks to what we were able to accomplish while serving central Illinois as a state representative and demonstrates their confidence that we’ll be productive in representing the people of the 44th district."

These recommendations follow January endorsements by GOP County Chairmen J.C. Pearce (Christian), Irv Smith (Sangamon) and Jerry Stocks (Macon).

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Additional endorsements of Brady’s campaign by 44th District leaders and citizens can be found at www.citizensforbillbrady.com.

Brady served as the state representative from 1993-2001. As a legislator, Brady worked to successfully reform workers compensation and tort law. He championed insurance and financial reform legislation that later was used as a national model, and created and passed efforts to guarantee health insurance and reform the judicial review process.

[News release for Bill Brady]

[FEB. 13, 2002]  Mike Stokke, Republican state central committeeman for the 15th Congressional District, has endorsed Rus Kinzinger, Republican candidate for Illinois Senate in the 44"' District. The endorsement was made Sunday afternoon, Jan. 27, at a press conference outside the Home Sweet Home Mission in Bloomington, where Kinzinger has served as chief executive for the past 12 years.

"Rus Kinzinger is a man of compassion, intellect and integrity," Stokke said. "He has lived a life of service. As chief executive of the Mission, Rus has dealt with the many facets of the state and federal and local governments and understands their interrelationships: from health care to education to employment to business interests. Having grown up on a farm in Iroquois County in which he continues to hold an interest, Rus is well prepared to represent both the agricultural and urban issues facing the citizens of the 44th District."

In accepting the endorsement, Rus Kinzinger said: "I appreciate the confidence that Mike Stokke has shown in me and my campaign. This is the second endorsement in less than a week — Rep. Jonathan Wright (R-Hartsburg) publicly endorsed my candidacy on Thursday, Jan. 24. I am also encouraged by the progress that my campaign has made in reaching citizens throughout the 40th District to let them know that my candidacy is about them. I will be responsive to all interests in the District, not just the privileged few."

[News release for Rus Kinzinger]

[FEB. 13, 2002]  Jon Mummert, candidate for state representative in the 94^th Illinois Legislative District, earned the endorsement of the Illinois AFL-CIO.

"I am honored by this endorsement," Mummert said. "The issues of the AFL-CIO reflect the concerns of the working women and men in our district. Their concerns reflect the core values of my campaign."

The Illinois AFL-CIO represents 1,500 local unions and more than a million working women and men in Illinois. They typically endorse candidates who pledge to work hard for the rights of working people.

Among other issues, Mummert said that he is concerned with workplace safety rules, worker compensation programs, opposing privatization of prisons and the extension of unemployment benefits. "Based on my opponent’s anti-labor record, my opponent and I significantly disagree on these issues."

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Mummert, a lifelong resident of Western Illinois, lives on his farm near Astoria and has worked as a carpenter for over 20 years.

The Illinois 94^th District includes all of Henderson, Mason, McDonough and Warren counties, most of Hancock County, west and south Fulton County, and three townships in Mercer County.

[News release for Jon Mummert]

[FEB. 13, 2002]  Jon Mummert announced at a luncheon on Friday, Jan. 4, in Havana that he will run for the Democratic Party nomination for Illinois state representative of the 94^th District.

"From my days as a child on my parents’ farm to my days on my own farm — as a teacher, a carpenter and a family man — I have learned what it means to be a working person," Mummert said. "You can rest assured that when you help send me to Springfield, these experiences and values will continue to guide my actions."

At the luncheon, Mummert, a lifelong resident of western Illinois, expressed some of his hopes and goals. He mentioned area issues including equity in school funding, highway construction, prescription drug benefits for all seniors and expanding the farm market.

Jon and his wife, Cindy, have three children and five grandchildren.

At age 20 Mummert bought a farm, near his hometown of Astoria, which he has expanded to 600 acres over the past 35 years.

Mummert worked his way through Spoon River College and Western Illinois University as a coal miner and earned a business degree from WIU. He taught at Porta High School for two years and was chair of the business department during his second year.

While maintaining his farm, Mummert has worked for 26 years as a carpenter. As a trustee of his carpenters union pension fund, he helped build a small pension fund into a large one, significantly increasing benefits for retired carpenters.

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Mummert said, "I believe in helping those who came before me and protecting the futures of all western Illinoisans."

Mummert is an active leader in his community. He currently serves as president of the Astoria Library Board and was a director for the Farmers State Bank of Astoria from 1980-2000.

Mummert recently resigned his presidency of the Astoria Fire Protection District. "I resigned to commit more time to run for state representative, but I vow that I will work hard to make sure that all firefighters have the right equipment to protect us and themselves," he said.

Besides his volunteer work in his community, Mummert is also an active member of the Astoria Christian Church, serving on the board of elders and deacons for the last four years, the final three as the board’s co-chair.

Mason County officeholders and area supporters were in attendance when Mummert announced his candidacy.

"I am grateful for this opportunity to announce to my candidacy," he said. "I believe my work and life experience will help me run a successful campaign and become an effective legislator."

[News release for Jon Mummert]

[FEB. 13, 2002]  Rus Kinzinger, a Bloomington Republican running for Illinois’ 44^th Senate District, announced his support for the extension of the enterprise zone from Lincoln to Elkhart to assist Corn Belt Energy Corporation in its plan to build a $140 million coal-fired plant just east of Elkhart.

Kinzinger said, "It is clear that the construction of this plant will benefit consumers in our growing district, of which Bloomington-Normal is the largest city. Corn Belt Electric, based in Bloomington, employs 84 people. This plant, the first generating plant for Corn Belt, will clearly benefit the 44^th District in providing energy for our future needs. When fully operational, it will be capable of producing 82 megawatts of electricity per hour."

Corn Belt will be a 51 percent owner of the plant, which was planned in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Energy.

The proposed coal plant would also benefit our state in several ways, Kinzinger said:

1.  Use of Illinois coal and payment of approximately $2,500 in monthly coal taxes.

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2.  Creation of an average of 100 construction jobs over the 2.3-year construction period and an estimated $16.3 million in construction-related revenue.

3.  Payment of approximately $325,000 in property taxes.

4.  Once operational, the plant should employ 25 full-time workers. Turris Coal near Elkhart will need to expand its work force by about 20 in order to produce the estimated 380,000 tons of coal needed annually.

"I support Corn Belt Energy Corporation as it grows its business and works to meet future energy needs of our community and region," Kinzinger said. "I commend the city of Lincoln for voting to extend the enterprise zone to assist Corn Belt in constructing the coal plant in Elkhart."

[Kinzinger for Senate press release]

Voting Information

[JAN. 15, 2002]  Citizens who are not registered to vote and cannot leave their home, hospital, nursing home or other institution because of a permanent physical disability can arrange for voter registration by contacting a deputy registrar or the county clerk’s office.

Voter registration will close on Feb. 19 for the March 19 general primary election.

If you are physically able, you may register to vote by going to the county clerk’s office, Room 20 in the Logan County Courthouse, 601 Broadway in Lincoln. Hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. You will need to show two forms of identification, one with your current address on it.

For people with physical disabilities and the elderly, election judges will be available at the polling place on election day to assist voters when a friend or relative is unable to help. Handicapped-voter booths will be available for your convenience. Physically impaired or elderly persons may be eligible to vote absentee. Please contact the Logan County clerk’s office for information.

For any information concerning voter registration or voting for the elderly or disabled, please call the Logan County clerk’s office at (217) 732-4148.

[Sally J. Litterly, Logan County clerk]

[JAN. 3, 2002]  Are you registered to vote?

The March 19 primary is rapidly approaching. The close of registration is Feb. 19. If you have moved, or if you have married and changed your name, it is necessary that you change your voter registration with our office in order to cast your vote in the election.

If you have questions about your voting eligibility, please contact our office at (217) 732-4148.

[Sally J. Litterly, Logan County clerk]

Meet the Candidates

The material in this section is posted unedited, in its entirety, as received. To submit material, please send an e-mail message, complete with your name, address and telephone number to ldneditor@lincolndailynews.com.

Local teacher announces her candidacy for regional superintendent of schools

By Jean Anderson, candidate

[OCT. 31, 2001]  My name is Jean Anderson and I am announcing my intent to be a Republican candidate for the office of Regional Superintendent of Schools for Logan, Mason, and Menard counties.

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Letters of Endorsement

The Lincoln Daily News publishes letters to the editor as they are received.
 The letters are not edited in content and do not necessarily reflect 
the views of Lincoln Daily News.

Lincoln Daily News requests that writers responding to controversial issues address the issue and refrain from personal attacks. Thank you!

Calendar of Events

February 2002

through Friday, Feb. 15
WHO: Eligible citizens
WHAT: Voter registration
WHERE: County clerk's office, Room 20, Logan County Courthouse, 601 Broadway
WHEN: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm Monday through Friday

March 2002

Tuesday, March 19
SPONSOR: Sponsor
WHO: Registered voters
WHAT: General primary election
WHERE: Designated polling places

District Maps

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