PEORIA -- Early voting in Illinois for the Nov. 6 election begins on Oct. 22 and runs until Nov. 3. Grace period voting, where you can register and vote at the same time, runs until Nov. 3, and absentee voting, where you don't need an excuse, is taking place now. Contact the Peoria Election Commission or the county clerk in your county for details on these options.
I am a Democratic Party precinct committeeperson in Peoria, and I recommend all Democrats without reservations. The central Illinois ticket is especially strong this year. The candidates are running for election, an arduous process, for the public good and not to further their own personal ambitions. They deserve our thanks. I have met them all, even President Obama when he was a Senator.
In addition, all the Democrats listed below running for national or statehouse offices are pro-choice, important for retaining the rights of women to control their own bodies.
Here are my recommendations/endorsements:
President: Obama/Biden. Yes, they're not perfect. The civil liberties issues, such as those on Julian Assuange and Bradley Manning, are troubling. Obama was naive and let his Republican opponents roll him on many issues.
But Obama/Biden are so much better than Romney/Ryan who lie when convenient, tell audiences what they want to hear regardless of the truth, and whose policies would take women and seniors back to the 19th century.
Congress: In the 18th District Democrat Steve Waterworth is a terrific guy, sharp on the issues, experienced, a small town elected official who serves on many civic committees such as high speed rail. He would serve with distincting, compared with incumbent Republican Aaron Schock, whose claim to fame is a half-naked magaine cover.
Schock is anti-choice, anti-gay, anti-union and would turn Medicare into a voucher system. He's also ethically challenged, and listed as such by a national watchdog group. His $3 million campaign chest is said to be financing several downballot Republican challengers to Democrats.
In the 17th District, Democrat Cheri Bustos is smart, sharp and much preferred over Republican Bobby Schilling, a pizza parlor/tea party guy who somehow sneaked into this office in 2010. He's a Schock clone.
State Senate: Democrat Dave Koehler is a fine representative and deserves reelection. His opponent, restaurant operator Pat Sullivan, has not made a good impression on TV debates, where he looked like he would prefer to be anywhere else.
State House: Democrat Jennifer Allison is challenging Republican Michael Unes. She's pro-choice, he's not.
Peoria County offices:
State's Attorney: Democrat Jerry Brady was appointed to the post last year and is running for a four year term. I've seen him and his opponent Frank Ierulli in two campaign forums. Ierulli is a nice guy but lacks the experience and know how of Brady, who is endorsed. Brady is pro-choice, Ierulli is not.
Recorder of Deeds: At the Oct. 20 League of Women Voters campaign forum, Democratic challenger Evonne Fleming, a 23-year employee in the office, pointed out how it needs to be improved. Republican Nancy Horton agreed with her a few times, and added that the office computer system is a "lemon" that went down for seven hours recently.
Fleming would like to turn the office into a one stop shop for those recording deeds, while Horton said she has spoken to officials about this idea, without results. Fleming deserves a chance to run this office.
Peoria County Board: Several incumbent Democrats are facing challenges from Republicans, in a systematic attempt to take the board away from the Democrats. All are nice guys and civil, but the incumbents have not misbehaved and don't deserve to be unseated.
At the League forum several interesting statements were made, showing the value of campaigns and forums.
Republican incumbent Bob Baietto said wells in the county 50 feet deep are now polluted with farm chemicals. He faces Democrat Dan Dolan, 26, a senior at Bradley University who said Baietto had helped him in his campaign.
Republican challenger Tim Couri a former funeral director, declared: "I don't owe anybody anything." He's running against incumbent Democrat Phil Salzer, a retired coach and teacher, who defended the board's record on building a new nursing home and working in a bipartisan fashion.
The Republicans generally feel that the county should not be in the nursing honme business, the Democrats defend it. I agree with them, because a county home stabilizes prices for the consumers as private facilities must compete with it. The same is true of the municipal landfill.
One of the most valuable Democratic incumbents is Allen Mayer, a lawyer and a leader on the board. His challenger, Republican Michael Emerson, admitted that his primary interest is his neighborhood association, which he heads.
But the board is a powerful entity dealing with complicated issues. Mayer led the fight against the expansion of the hazardous waste landfill, led the redistricting effort which took place without much controversy, and certainly deserves to be reelected.
When asked about consolidating services with the city to save money, Mayer said the radios of the city police and sheriff don't even communicate. He also said Koehler will introduce legislation during the veto session to allow a referendum to consolidate the Peoria City Election Commission with the county clerk's office.
Board chairman Tom O'Neill also faces a Republican challenger. O'Neill has done a good job and deserves reelection.
The Constitutional Amendment: Just vote 'No.' The League of Women Voters has studied it, says it's a dog. It's vaguely worded and might bring disastrous unintended consequences. Don't bother to read the unreadable. Take the League's nonpartisan advice and vote 'No.'
-- Elaine Hopkins