Long Grove village president explores run in 8th District

Long Grove Village President Maria Rodriguez on Tuesday said she may run in 2010 for the congressional seat now held by Democrat Melissa Bean.

"I have been considering it," said Rodriguez, who was elected to a second term as the village's leader this year. "It's an interesting proposition."

If she enters the race, Rodriguez would run as a Republican. She said she hopes to decide within the next few weeks and will make a public announcement.

Two other Republicans - Greg Jacobs of Mundelein and John Dawson of Barrington - have declared their candidacies in the 8th District, which includes parts of Cook, Lake and McHenry counties.

Bean, who joined Congress in 2005, is seeking re-election.

Rodriguez, 50, said she has been approached by several Republicans about running. She also spoke with officials from the National Republican Congressional Committee this month while the group was in the Chicago area during a national candidate recruitment drive.

The NRCC stayed out of the 8th District race last year, a fairly one-sided contest in which Bean crushed poorly funded Long Grove Republican Steve Greenberg.

That win seemed to solidify Bean's hold on the once-staunchly Republican seat. But the congresswoman is facing intense pressure on both sides of the health care debate, which has led to protests at her office.

GOP representatives have said they might target Bean in 2010 if the right candidate materializes.

Also in the running for the 8th House seat is repeat candidate Bill Scheurer of Lindenhurst, who's seeking the Green Party nomination this time.