Elgin Mayor Schock backs Farnham in 43rd District race
Elgin Mayor Ed Schock has thrown his support behind 43rd District State Rep. Keith Farnham, a Democrat who on Nov. 2 will try to fend off a challenge from former state Rep. Ruth Munson.
In a letter mailed out to several hundred Elgin households this month, Schock heartily endorses the Democrat Farnham over Munson, a Republican with whom Schock once served on the Elgin City Council.
The letter lists Schock's Elgin household address, does not mention that he is mayor, and is not on city letterhead. It also does not attack Munson in any way.
Schock said this week that he is pretty nonpartisan and has supported candidacies of both Democrats and Republicans in the past.
"My only criteria is whether they've done good things for the city of Elgin," Schock said. "(Farnham) has stuck his neck out. To me, it's not whether you have an R or a D next to your name. It's who can help the city of Elgin at this time."
Schock cited Farnham's efforts to get Gov. Quinn to include some $13 million in the state's capital bill for the Riverside Drive Promenade project in downtown Elgin and a change in the law to bring $22 million more to the cash-strapped Elgin Area School District U46.
The capital funding has not been released yet and Farnham has vowed to work to override Quinn's veto of the U-46 bill.
"He's never said no to us. When somebody performs, you have to reward that with support," Schock said. "Keith is the right person at this time to do things for Elgin."
Farnham said he approached Schock several months ago to seek an endorsement. "He said, 'We need you to keep fighting for us,'" Farnham said.
Farnham, a political newcomer who beat Munson by 322 votes in November 2008, said he did not ask for any endorsements in that election.
Munson, who was initially appointed to the seat in December 2002 and re-elected in 2004 and 2006, said: "Mayor Schock has the right to endorse who he wants to endorse."
Schock said he has not endorsed any other candidates in the November election.
The 43rd House District includes parts of Elgin, South Elgin, East Dundee and Carpentersville.