Would-be replacements weigh in

Chris Lauzen and Jim Oberweis didn't tune in to watch U.S. Rep. Dennis Hastert give his farewell speech in Congress on Thursday afternoon.

The GOP front-runners were too busy working on their campaigns to succeed him in the hotly contested 14th Congressional District race. What remains to be seen is whether one of them will earn his endorsement.

"I would be delighted to win Denny Hastert's endorsement as would any of the candidates," said Sugar Grove dairy magnate Oberweis. "But at this time, I'm focused on winning the (Republican) nomination."

Lauzen said he doesn't expect Hastert to back someone before the primary election.

"I assume that Denny will let the people decide and he'll support whichever Republican wins the primary," said Lauzen, a state senator who represents Aurora.

Geneva Mayor Kevin Burns watched Hastert's announcement on TV and said he believes the Plano lawmaker's comments bode well for his campaign.

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"When you read the text of Congressman Hastert's comments, he speaks very passionately and poignantly about teamwork and bringing folks together," Burns said. "I think it's worth noting that my campaign has been about exactly that."

The fourth GOP candidate, Michael Dilger of Evanston, could not be reached for comment.

Reactions to Hastert's announcement were mixed among the four Democrats vying for his seat.

John Laesch, the Newark carpenter and Navy veteran who ran unsuccessfully against Hastert a year ago, said he expects the congressman's actual departure to be "pushed off as long as possible" to trigger a special election and gain a "strategic advantage" for the GOP.

"Dennis Hastert's going to do what's good for the Republican Party first and what's good for the state of Illinois last," Laesch said, adding that funding a special election would be a waste of tax dollars.

Laesch, however, said he would run in a special election if one is forced. "The opportunity now is greater that we can at least put one pro-middle-class (representative) in Washington and take one more millionaire out," he said.

Geneva scientist Bill Foster thanked Hastert for his public service and said he would run in a special election if one is scheduled.

"The election to replace Speaker Hastert offers the voters of our district the rare opportunity to have their voices heard in a national referendum on the continuation of the policies of President Bush and a Republican Party that refuses to change course," the former Fermilab physicist said in a prepared statement.

St. Charles attorney Jotham Stein said he's happy to see the congressman go.

"To me, it's wonderful that he's leaving," Stein said. "It will end a divisive era of political partisanship in this country."

As for his own campaign, "If there's a special election, we'll run in it," he said. "But we're not going to change our focus on the primary because Hastert said he's going to resign sometime between now and Dec. 31. It does no good to win the special election if you don't win the Feb. 5 primary."

Geneva resident Joe Serra said he "absolutely would run" in a special election.