Lauzen best choice in 14th District

In the Feb. 5 primary, I feel it is vital we elect the right candidate to Congress from the 14 District. Let me tell you why that candidate is state Sen. Chris Lauzen.

I have served as Kane County Republican Chairman and as your Republican State Central Committeeman for the past 10 years. In that time, Mr. Oberweis has run unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate twice and once for governor. When he ran second to Jack Ryan as our 2004 Senate nominee, and then after Ryan withdrew, I fought to have Mr. Oberweis be Ryan's replacement against Barack Obama, but my efforts were in vain because the GOP power brokers here in Illinois and in Washington rejected Jim Oberweis and chose Alan Keyes. Yes, they preferred outsider Alan Keyes to Jim Oberweis as our Senate candidate.

I relate this history to ask a simple question. Why do many of those same insiders now want Jim Oberweis to be our Congressman over Chris Lauzen, a man with a proven 14-year record in the State Senate? I'm against the undue influence of money, clout and backroom deals in politics, and we need to reject this attempt to manipulate our election. If the insiders believed Mr. Oberweis was the wrong choice for the U.S. Senate or governor, I hate to think what might have changed their opinion this time.

Clearly, in hindsight, Keyes was a bad move for our party and for Illinois, but in 2008 Chris Lauzen is the clear choice over Jim Oberweis in experience, ability and legislative temperament.

Please join me and vote for Chris Lauzen for Congress on Feb. 5 . He s a candidate we can all be proud to call our Congressman.

Dennis Wiggins

Aurora