Democratic flier raps 66th District hopeful Harris for sex offender votes

The campaign between Rep. Mark Walker and David Harris is heating up with a flier the Democratic Party of Illinois recently sent to residents of the 66th Illinois House district, suggesting Harris is soft on sex predators.

Harris, a Republican, called the 8-by-10-inch glossy card a negative attack and a distortion of his voting record.

The front of the card shows a large silhouette of a man's head leaning on his hand. Superimposed on it is the message: "David Harris should hang his head in shame for his inexcusable voting record on child pornography, child sex abuse and not extending jail sentences for sexual predators."

The reverse lists three bills from 1986, 1989 and 1990 that Harris voted "no" or "present" on.

Walker said the card is fair, and not a personal attack.

"We started early with this to clearly establish that he has a record as a state representative and is not an outsider coming in with new ideas," Walker said.

Harris was a state legislator from 1983 to 1992, the year he lost in the Republican primary to Carolyn Krause.

Walker said he signed off on the Democratic ad and actually suggested changes that made it "lighter" than it was.

Harris confirmed that he voted "no" and "present" on the bills in question but said the Democratic description of the bills is inaccurate. He issued a news release criticizing Walker for the ad.

Here are the particulars from the flier, from Harris who noted it is difficult to remember all the details almost 25 years later and from legislative documents.

• House Bill 779, 1989: The flier says the bill extended sentences for adults convicted of sexual assault against children younger than 13.

Harris, who voted "no," said the bill had several other components. One that drew complaints from legislators would have made shooting a gun from a vehicle a felony. Lawmakers said it was wrong to hunt pheasants from cars or trucks, but it should not be a felony.

The bill did not pass the House, and as many people voted against it as for it.

• House Bill 3707, 1990: The flier said the bill gave children who were victims of sex crimes more time to report their abuse.

Harris said this referred to people abused when they were under 13 years old, and it would have extended time for prosecution until victims were 30, up from 25. Harris voted "no." The measures passed 98 to 9 and ultimately became law.

• Senate Bill 2293, 1986: The flier said the bill required photo processing businesses to report to the police if they received pornographic pictures of children and imposed hard-hitting punishments for the exploitation of children.

Harris said the $1,000 penalty for film processors who neglected to report suspicion of child pornography to authorities was confusing, and he voted "present." The measure was approved in the House 97 to 7, and it ultimately became law.

Harris said he considers sex offenders "lower than pond scum."

"I have always been tough on crime and even tougher on sex offenders, and a true look at my record proves that," he said in the news release.

Harris then pointed out laws he supported in the 1985-86 General Assembly.

Senate Bill 2292 created the Habitual Child Sex Offender Registration Act, which he said was one of the earliest sex offender registries in Illinois. SB 2294 expanded the definition of child abduction to include the attempt to unlawfully lure a child under the age of 16 into a motor vehicle.

Harris said support for his 2010 candidacy from Family-PAC, Illinois Family Action, Illinois Federation for Right to Life and Eagle Forum shows he is pro-family.

He also issued support for Jessica's Law, a national movement that includes mandatory sentences of 25 years to life for people convicted of molesting children under 12. That part of the law has not been implemented in Illinois.

"Anyone at all familiar with the legislative process knows there are thousands of votes that are taken during the course of a legislative session. You can probably pick out some that may look bad individually, but as a whole the votes make sense," Harris said.

"The piece is offensive because it's distorting, inaccurate and totally negative."

Harris said he does not intend to campaign negatively.

Steve Brown, spokesman for Michael Madigan, chairman of the state central committee of the Democratic Party of Illinois, said the flier had to be dramatic to be noticed in voters' crowded mailboxes.

He disagreed the flier could be characterized as negative campaigning.

"Negative campaigning is making something up. This is reporting on a voting record on pretty serious issues," said Brown.