Hastert left his mark throughout Fox Valley
You don't need to look far to see U.S. Rep. Dennis Hastert's fingerprints. They're all over Kane County and the rest of the 14th Congressional District, his supporters said at his retirement announcement Friday.
"He's going to be really missed because of all the money he's been able to bring back to the district," said Sean Michels, Sugar Grove village president
The Plano Republican brought in $70.4 million in federal funds for the Stearns Road bridge corridor under construction in St. Charles Township. He stood beside Kane County leaders in October to break ground for the $150 million project, set to open to traffic in 2010.
A week later he christened the Sullivan Road bridge on the Aurora-North Aurora border. He helped secure $9.6 million in federal funds for that project. Hastert snagged $3.4 million in federal funds for the new Metra parking deck being built in downtown Geneva.
A year ago Hastert announced he had obtained a $1.4 million grant for the county's water management planning efforts.
Two years ago Hastert secured $207 million in federal funds for his Prairie Parkway, a 37-mile highway that would connect the Reagan Memorial Tollway near Kaneville to Interstate 80 near Morris. But that project is a long way from a groundbreaking.
In 1998 he helped secure federal funding for the Metra service extension to La Fox and Elburn, which was unveiled in early 2006.
"He has been a tireless champion for the Fox Valley, and his presence will be missed," Aurora Mayor Tom Weisner said in a statement.
Echoed Kane County Auditor Bill Keck: "He's been a very positive influence in Kane County."
Illinois House Republican leader Tom Cross of Oswego called Friday "a sad day for the Fox Valley."
No secrets to weight loss: Not all the talk at Hastert's announcement was political. In a question-and-answer question with reporters, a TV journalist asked the once-hefty Hastert about his recent weight loss. He said he lost 87 pounds. In response to a follow-up question seeking his "secret" to weight loss, the former high school teacher/wrestling coach smiled.
"I eat about a third of what I ate before," he said before putting the kibosh on questions about his figure.
Democrats speak: At least two of the three Democrats vying to replace Hastert used the announcement to take potshots at him.
John Laesch, the Newark carpenter and U.S. Navy veteran who lost to Hastert last year, said in a statement: "America needs to step away from the divisive politics of George Bush and the former speaker."
Others echoed Laesch's sentiment.
Added St. Charles attorney Jotham Stein in a prepared statement: "The former speaker blindly supported President Bush's agenda, a divisive agenda which has hurt our nation. Hastert and the Republican Congress refused to hold the president accountable for many things, including the war in Iraq."