14th race heating up as Hastert steps down

The big political news this week in Kane County was, of course, U.S. Rep. Dennis Hastert's retirement announcement Thursday afternoon. The Plano Republican's plans to leave office early, which would cause a special election to be scheduled in addition to the Feb. 5 primary, makes the crowded, competitive race to replace him even more intense.

In the race for the top ballot spot in the 14th Congressional District, Republican Chris Lauzen and Democrat John Laesch came out on top this week. The State Board of Elections held a lottery in Springfield on Wednesday to determine ballot order because many candidates filed simultaneously at 8 a.m. Oct. 29, the first day of the filing period. Securing the top spot results in more votes, according to conventional political wisdom. The ballot order is as follows:

Republicans: 1. Lauzen, 2. Jim Oberweis, 3. Kevin Burns, 4. Mike Dilger

Democrats: 1. Laesch, 2. Jotham Stein, 3. Bill Foster, 4. Joe Serra

Objection hearing scheduled: Dilger is an unknown candidate who lists his address as the McGaw YMCA in Evanston, which is outside the 14th Congressional District. A preliminary hearing is scheduled at 10:30 a.m. Monday to consider objections to his nominating petitions. Local conservative political operative Jon Zahm, a volunteer on Lauzen's campaign, was one of the two objectors. Zahm contends that many of the signatures on Dilger's petition are invalid, putting him below the minimum amount needed to run for office. A Republican candidate needs 927 signatures; Zahm estimates only 500 to 600 are valid.

Federal election law doesn't require congressional candidates to live in the district they're seeking to represent, as long as they live in the state. U.S. Rep. Melissa Bean, for example, lives just outside the 8th Congressional District she has served since 2004. When lawmakers drew new maps using 2000 Census data, her Barrington home was determined to be 1,400 feet outside the district.

"I don't think it's good government myself," Zahm said.

Dilger could not be reached for comment. A woman who answered the phone at the YMCA confirmed that he does live there but added: "I don't know when he's here; I never see him."

Endorsements earned: Also this week, Burns' fellow Tri-Cities mayors endorsed him. St. Charles Mayor Don DeWitte and Batavia Mayor Jeff Schielke announced their support at a fundraiser they hosted Wednesday at the Hotel Baker in St. Charles.

"It is important to send someone to Washington, D.C., who is experienced in the trenches," Schielke said. "We need someone who is on the local front of the issues, someone who will not forget where he came from."

West Chicago Mayor Michael Kwasman and Montgomery Village President Marilyn Michelini also are backing Burns.