Big news from the Land of Lincoln today. As was rumored, Jerry Weller (R-Guatemala) announced that he will NOT run for re-election.
Former Bradley and Indiana Pacers Head Coach Dick Versace also announced he will run for Ray LaHood's seat.
And Jerry Weller's staff decided to beat up a couple of reporters at the event where Weller announced his retirement.
From CBS2 News via The Capitol Fax Blog:
CBS 2 Political Editor Mike Flannery plans to press criminal charges after he was shoved and sent down a flight of stairs while questioning a congressman Friday, knocking him into a woman who also fell.
The incident happened at a news conference in Joliet, where Rep. Jerry Weller (R-Ill.) was announcing his intention not to run for reelection. [...]
Flannery said he later learned an arrest had been made by police officers from Joliet Junior College.
He said the man who shoved him was identified by others as a Weller staffer, but, "He never said a word to me before during or after his violent actions, nor did he say a word to my colleagues who were similarly mistreated."
Rich Miller at thecapitolfax also notes that this isn't the first time a Weller staffer beat someone up.
Weller's retirement speech noted that he wants to spend more time with his family. I guess somebody needs to hang out with genocidal dictators.
Peoria Journal Star on Dick Versace, also via the capitol fax:
Former NBA and Bradley basketball coach Dick Versace hopes to add another win to his record with a bid for Congress.
"I’m all in," Versace, a Democrat, said Thursday.
His confirmation ends several weeks of speculation about whether he would seek election for the 18th Congressional District seat held by Ray LaHood, who is not seeking re-election.
He said he’ll hold a news conference to officially announce his bid in the next couple weeks. After that, Versace will take off in a 38-foot motor home he will call "The Common Sense Express."
Illinois is going to be a huge battleground for Congress in 2008.
We have a millionaire in Richard Abboud running against Don Manzullo, Several strong candidates running for Hastert's seat, a primary battle against Lipinski, and Dan Seals running against Mark Kirk again.
Now, we have the best possible candidate (IMO) running for LaHood's seat in Dick Versace, who is quite popular downstate and has huge name rec from his time as basketball coach at Peoria's Bradley U.
And, over in Weller's district, Emily's List, the D-Trip, and Jan Schakowsky are recruiting Senate Majority Leader Debbie Halvorson hard to run. The biggest question for her potential candidacy is that moving up to the Congress might not be a real promotion. Halvorson is in line to become the first female Senate President.