PEORIA -- Congressional candidates gathered with progressive Democrats on July 14 to urge activists to get ready to work for their candidates.
The event, at the ITOO outdoor pavillion, was co-sponsored by the Peoria County Democrats, the Progressive Democrats of America's Greater Peoria chapter, and the Service Employees International Union.
Democrat Cheri Bustos, who hopes to unseat Republican incumbent Bobby Schilling in the 17th Congressional District, attacked her opponent's voting record in Congress. Schilling voted against the Affordable Health Care Act (ObamaCare), and has only a 7 percent pro-union voting record, she said.
The SEIU has endorsed Bustos.
"We need to balance the budget but not on the backs of middle class and working families," she said. "I'll protect Social Security and Medicare."
Democrat Steve Waterworth, who is challenging Republican incumbent Aaron Schock in the 18th Congressional District, said "this is the most important election" ever. "The Republicans are the party of regression. They're going backwards. The Democrats are going forward. I want to go forward."
Republican "economic policies will turn this country into a 1929-style depression," Waterworth said. "Schock is a Mitt Romney clone."
William Bianchi, who heads the Progressive Democrats of Illinois, said "the key is to return the political process to working and middle class people. Prosperity not austerity, fairness not privilege."
To do that, he said, people must turn out and vote. The conservative victories in 2010 stemmed from poor turn out, he said.
He urged people to vote Democratic at all levels, and to follow local candidates like sports teams are followed.
Peoria County Board member Allen Mayer urged the audience to vote for Democrats for the County Board. Democrats now hold a 10-8 majority, he said, but if that changes and Republicans take control of county government, many programs will be in jeopardy.
Dr. David Gill was scheduled to appear after I had to leave. He's running for Congress in the 15th District in Bloomington, a seat held by Republican Tim Johnson who is not seeking reelection after he won the Republican primary. He withdrew his candidacy and was replaced by a local Republican.
Gill is also a strong liberal candidate.
-- Elaine Hopkins
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