Schock assures GOP faithful of his status
18th District candidate tops turnout at meet and greet
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
GALESBURG - One of the shooting stars of the Republican party made a stop in Knox County Tuesday.State Rep. Aaron Schock, R-Peoria, is running to replace longtime Congressman Ray LaHood, who is retiring this year. LaHood serves the 18th District, which encompasses 20 counties, including part of Knox. Schock, 26, was in town to attend the Knox County Republicans meet and greet at Cherry Street.
Despite being the youngest of three Republican candidates for the seat - Jim McConoughey and John Morris, both from Peoria are the others -Schock is considered the front-runner, both in terms of the polls and fundraising. He has been tapped for big things by national Republican operatives, according to columnist Robert Novak.
"I'm excited about the opportunity," Schock said. "I'll work like an underdog and fund-raise like a front-runner. Despite being the youngest, I have the most experience and a proven ability to get things done."
He said the biggest thing he will do, and has done as the youngest state representative, is work for his constituents. He said his relationships with local voters will protect him from any potential national backlash against Republicans, as there was in 2006.
"I can weather the storm and hold the seat for the party," he said, citing the fact that he defeated Democratic incumbent Ricca Slone in 2004 and was re-elected in 2006.
"At the end of the day, people elect a personality," he said. "The issues 14 years ago were different than the ones we face today and the ones we'll face a year or two from now. All politics is still local."
Another young Republican candidate making the rounds is 28-year-old Jared Hawkinson, who is running for one of the two District 4 seats on the Knox County Board.
Hawkinson, a police lieutenant in Abingdon and yard master supervisor with BNSF, said he was running in order to inject some youth into the County Board.
"The county needs someone young and energetic with fresh ideas," he said, adding he has been going door-to-door and "People have been real receptive to me."
Also at the Republican dinner was Jim Standard, a Monmouth attorney running for ninth circuit judge. Standard has been an assistant state's attorney, public defender and private practice lawyer, which he said gives him a well-rounded background.
"It's an opportunity to put my broad base of experience to work," he said. "Moving from the bar to the bench you are not an advocate for either party but an advocate for the judicial system."
He decided to enter the race several months ago, though did not make a public announcement about his candidacy. When asked if the audit investigation into current Judge Paul Mangieri - who was appointed to the post last year and is running against Knox County Public Defender Jim Harrell in the Democratic primary - influenced his decision to run, Standard said ethics dictate a judge avoid impropriety and the "appearance of impropriety."
"Someone should hold the office with the confidence of the public," he said.
