Herald & Review Endorsement:
Johnson, Shimkus, LaHood deserve new terms

November 4, 2006

Johnson, Shimkus, LaHood deserve new terms

Three of the four congressional districts included in the Herald & Review circulation area have political races in name only.

The exception is the 17th District, where the retirement of veteran Congressman Lane Evans has left an open seat. We will discuss that race in tomorrow's paper.

Here are the races in the three other districts:

In the 15th District, incumbent Tim Johnson, R-Urbana is facing Democrat David Gill.

In the 18th District, incumbent Ray LaHood, R-Peoria, is facing Democrat Steve Waterworth.

In the 19th District, incumbent John Shimkus, R-Collinsville, is facing Democrat Danny Stover.

If you haven't heard of the challengers, don't be embarrassed. With the gerrymandering of Illinois congressional districts, and the power and money-raising abilities incumbents already have, the challengers haven't been able to mount much of a challenge.

The lack of a challenge also speaks to the ability of the three incumbent congressmen. All three do an able job of representing their district.

The best of the three is Rep. LaHood. LaHood, while holding strong Republican and conservative ideas, also realizes that the only way for Congress to be effective is by both parties working together. LaHood has done a lot of work in the last several years trying to promote more unity and less bitterness among members of Congress.

LaHood is well-known and well-liked in Washington. He is often called on to chair the House when there are controversial issues to be discussed because both parties trust he will be fair. LaHood is a member of the powerful Appropriations Committee.

Rep. Tim Johnson is a quieter member of Congress, but he's also working to find ways for the two parties to work together. Johnson said he understands that while partisanship may win elections and is necessary in Washington, Congress needs to work together to get things done.

We were disappointed when Johnson decided not to honor the term limit pledge he made when he signed Newt Gingrich's "Contract with America."

Shimkus has been in the news the most recently, but it's not the kind of news a congressman likes to receive. Shimkus is chairman of the House Page Board and was aware of a nonsexual e-mail that Rep. Mark Foley sent to a former page. Foley recently resigned after sexually oriented e-mails and text messages were found. Shimkus likes to portray himself as something of a victim in the scandal, but he's one of a handful of people who could have further investigated Foley's actions. It was a judgment call by Shimkus, and hindsight is always perfect, so we're willing to give him the benefit of the doubt with what we know at this time.

Shimkus also is ignoring that he signed the Contract with America term limits pledge.

The three - LaHood, Johnson and Shimkus “ have earned another term in Congress.