Breaking down the 16th Congressional race

On a map, about 20 miles separate the two major party candidates in the vast 16th Congressional District that blankets most of the northern Illinois.

But when it comes to political issues and experience, Republican incumbent Don Manzullo of Egan and his Democratic challenger, George Gaulrapp of Freeport, are worlds apart.

Manzullo has been re-elected nine times to represent the district that covers a swath from Cary to the Mississippi River. Although he made a personal pledge when first elected in 1992 to limit himself to six terms or 12 years in office, Manzullo says there is still more to accomplish and considers himself in the prime of his political career.

Gaulrapp, however, says Manzullo's reliance on campaign staff to record and take notes for him at political functions and events makes him less effective as a political leader. He said the longest he would serve is 12 years.

Terry Campbell is running under the Green Party banner, but has not participated in newspaper editorial board sessions, answered questionnaires or replied to phone calls.

Even after 18 years, support for Manzullo remains strong.

This campaign season, the incumbent Republican has raised almost 20 times as much as Gaulrapp, who is in his second term as mayor of Freeport, a town of about 25,000 people west of Rockford. Political supporters have given Manzullo's campaign more than $1 million, compared to Gaulrapp's $60,000.

Among the issues dividing the candidates is passage of national health care reform. Manzullo calls the reform frightening because, he argues, it would increase the cost of health care.

Meanwhile, Gaulrapp applauded the act's passage and the potential for providing affordable health care to 45 million Americans without it.

There's also a chasm separating the candidates on issues like trade and job creation. Manzullo defends his support of trade agreements and treaties that have opened the door to exporting goods to Mexico, including cars made in Belvidere.

Gaulrapp, however, argues such measures have shipped American manufacturing jobs overseas.