Hastert eyes a smaller contingent

Once with eyes toward changing the nation, Ethan Hastert now says he has no political aspirations beyond representing a town of about 5,000 people.

Hastert is the son of former Speaker of the House J. Dennis Hastert. He recently failed in a Republican run for the 14th Congressional District against new Congressman Randy Hultgren. Hastert was a last-minute candidate for the Elburn village board Monday after local residents recruited him in the final weeks to circulate nominating petitions.

“Some people approached me and said they got to know me a bit during the congressional race,” Hastert said. “They said, ‘We like the way you think. You're well-informed on a lot of local issues and, when you don't know about something, you make yourself smart about it before you open your mouth.'”

Hastert said he had many reservations about entering politics so soon after his failed congressional bid. He was still feeling the weight of the defeat when first approached about the Elburn village board.

Hastert's wife also just recently gave birth to twins, a boy and a girl. And yet, the more he thought about getting involved locally, the more he felt his courage building for another campaign.

“The adage is all politics is local,” Hastert said. “You don't get much more local than the village board. The village has real issues facing it. But it's not like the congressional race where I saw an administration and a representative who didn't represent the district. The village has done a good job, and it has great leadership.”

Critics knocked Hastert in his congressional bid for aspiring to such a high platform while never having held political office. He then watched Robert Dold and Bobby Schilling win congressional seats with that same liability.

Historians will also recall Hastert's father began his political career as a state representative. But Hastert said his run for the Elburn village board won't be a resume-builder for higher prize.

“We have some great folks serving my area both in Springfield and in Congress,” Hastert said. “That's not something I'm looking forward to for my future. I'm just looking to raise my family and build my law practice. If I'm given the opportunity to serve on the Elburn village board, I'll enjoy that.”