Akemann cookbook the top political mailer

In the past few weeks, you've probably received an avalanche of political mail.

I did.

So-and-so won't raise taxes.

So-and-so did, and was mean about it, too.

This guy will cut spending.

This guy did cut spending, but he hates kittens and cheated on a math test in seventh grade.

The glossy political ads will tail off at least until, probably October in preparation for the Nov. 2 election.

In Elgin, there's Republican Ruth Munson trying to get back her state house seat from Democrat Keith Farnham.

And Democrat Mike Noland will defend his state senate seat against Republican Steve Rauschenberger.

These races didn't get too much attention this month because each ran unopposed in their party's primary election.

Then there's the governor's race. Can't wait to see the mailers and TV ads on that one.

Four and eight years ago, it was "Vote for me, I'm NOT George Ryan!"

Now it will be "Vote for me, I'm NOT Rod Blagojevich!"

Captivating, really.

But out of all the mail I received this election season, one piece really stood out.

It was a small, no frills cookbook featuring recipes from the family of David Akemann, a former Kane County state's attorney and Elgin man who won the GOP nomination for a resident judge seat.

Elgin resident John Dalton won the Democratic nod to contend for the seat.

Not only was Akemann's cookbook somewhat useful, but it attempted to remind voters that he was a person - just like you and me - not just a talking head.

Now, if politicians can be people that truly work FOR the people, maybe more folks would be inspired to vote.

One step at a time: Bruce Johnson, the Elgin man who is running across the United States to raise money for the Elgin Community Crisis Center, keeps trucking along.

As of Friday, Johnson had made it to Mississippi and raised $2,080.

He's run 534.6 miles in 21 days and is on pace to hit the Pacific Ocean this May, despite twisting his ankle on Jan. 31.

That's an average of 25.45 miles per day, just less than a marathon at 26.2 miles. Johnson runs seven days a week and does not plan to take rest days.

For more information or to donate, visit crisiscenter.org/run or unitedstatesrun.com.

Monday, Monday: Next Monday, Feb. 15 is a day off school and Elgin officials have a full docket of activities at the Centre to help pass the time.

There isn't room for a full list here, but they are available at cityofelgin.org.