Hastert wants Oberweis in his job

Both are conservative Republicans in their 60s. Both worked for their families' businesses while growing up in the Fox Valley at a time when it was mostly rural. Both have promised never to forget where they came from.

"We have a lot of commonalties," former U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert said as he passed the political torch to congressional hopeful Jim Oberweis in their shared hometown of Aurora Thursday, endorsing the dairy magnate for his 14th Congressional District seat.

Oberweis is a man of integrity with "the right conservative philosophy that fits our district," Hastert said.

"Having built successful businesses, I think Jim has proven that he knows how to lead, how to bring people together, how to work toward a common goal," Hastert said. "I think that if we send him to Washington, he will get things done."

Hastert's endorsement was not unexpected, but it does signify a renewed relationship between the veteran politician and Oberweis. Hastert distanced himself from the Sugar Grove businessmen after his controversial 2004 campaign commercial featuring Oberweis flying a helicopter over Soldier Field to show the impact of illegal immigration.

That, Hastert said in a response to a reporter's question, was a "different campaign, different time, different tone." Oberweis then was seeking the GOP nomination for U.S. Senate; he lost.

Now the two "agree exactly" that securing the border is an integral part of stopping illegal immigration, Hastert said.

The pair also agree that the north-south Prairie Parkway needs to be built through Kane and Kendall counties to serve the growing population and business community. Oberweis opponent Chris Lauzen, a state senator from Aurora, staunchly opposes the project.

For Lauzen, Hastert's endorsement of Oberweis "crystallizes what this campaign is all about: big money and big insider establishment clout vs. the rest of us in the grass roots."

The announcement came as no surprise to Lauzen, who sent an open letter to Hastert earlier this week urging him not to make an endorsement and instead let the voters decide for themselves.

Oberweis "has said in his own words several times, 'I will do everything within my power to protect the legacy of Denny Hastert,' " Lauzen said. "You just wonder, gosh, do you mean the deficits? Do you mean the earmarks like the Prairie Parkway? … I know you don't mean Mark Foley. So what are you talking about?"

The Foley scandal earlier this year tarnished Hastert's reputation when a congressional ethics committee called Hastert "willfully ignorant" of the consequences of exposing underage pages to the former Florida congressman's lewd advances.

Also running in the GOP primary election is Michael Dilger, an Evanston resident who has yet to speak publicly about his campaign. Geneva Mayor Kevin Burns dropped out of the race after Hastert's endorsement of Oberweis.

Democratic primary candidates are Bill Foster, John Laesch, Jotham Stein and Joe Serra.