Bean, Scheurer Iraq war stances greatly differ

The war in Iraq is one of the key issues separating the two Democratic candidates for the 8th District seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Two-term incumbent Melissa Bean of Barrington faces a challenge from Lindenhurst activist Randi Scheurer. Making her first bid for public office, Scheurer is hammering away at Bean's stance on war -- and the conflict itself.

Bean backs the U.S. military's presence in Iraq, saying they need to continue fighting terrorism and training Iraqi forces. Scheurer, however, believes all U.S. troops should be removed from Iraq immediately.

Both candidates answered questions about the war, their motivations for running and other issues in questionnaires for the Daily Herald.

Bean, 45, joined the House in 2005, about two years after the U.S. invasion of Iraq. She's visited Iraq twice, most recently in October.

After this last visit, Bean said she was encouraged by the U.S. military's progress in reducing violence, capturing terrorist targets and increasing the size and abilities of the Iraqi army.

She supports a responsible guideline for phased redeployment of American troops in Iraq.

"Our redeployment reinforces the need for the Iraqi government to take responsibility for their own future and step up so U.S. forces can stand down and return home," Bean said.

Scheurer, 56, is a retired educator. Her husband, Bill, ran against Bean as a Moderate Party candidate in 2006.

Scheurer cited the war -- and Bean's support for it -- as her top motivation for running.

"It is my goal as a citizen representative to bring our troops home now," said Scheurer, whose youngest son, Daniel, served in Iraq with the U.S. National Guard.

Scheurer favors stopping all funding for the war and believes that money instead should be used to take care of veterans after they return home.

The only American military objective in Iraq should be to protect refugees, she said.

The 8th District includes northwest Cook, western Lake and eastern McHenry counties.

Three Republicans -- Kenneth Arnold, Steve Greenberg and Kirk Morris -- are vying to challenge Bean and will face off in a GOP primary in February.

Moderate Party candidate Iain Abernathy also is seeking the seat.