An interesting political "heads-up" since Ann mentioned Politics ---
Peoria's large U.S. Congressional district will very possibly be sending a 26-year old political Republican Wonder-Boy to Congress if he wins on Tuesday. He, for now, has no Democratic opponent in the Primary or General Election in November. He is a phenomenon named Aaron Schock who grew up in the Apostolic church in Peoria and, since age 19, has won the hearts of most people in Central Illinois.
You can get the whole Cinderella story on his website www.aaronschock.com but in a brief summary, he was overwhelmingly elected to the Peoria School Board at age 19 with a WRITE-IN campaign after knocking on 13,000 doors, defeating the incumbent Board President. He then was soon elected Pres. of the School Board. At age 23, he became the youngest Illinois State legislator by beating, by a LANDSLIDE, the 8-year Demo incumbent in a highly Democratic inner-city district. Then won re-election 2 years later, again by a LANDSLIDE. Now he is going for the U.S. Congress and leads nicely in the 20-county district. He has 2 opponents but Tuesday will tell the story. Kathleen and I have been volunteering a little in his campaign office. If he wins, he will be the youngest Congressman in D.C. by 6 years! And, you'll probably then be seeing some national human-interest stories about him. I predict he will win, so be alert for this story -- maybe even on the election returns Tuesday evening or soon after.
Cleve
4 comments:
What an interesting bio! You mention his two opponents. Apparently this is not expected to be a landslide victory as well?
--Rhoda
I see your man won last night! Will be watching to see if there are national stories in the next weeks and months. It looks like one that could develop that way--become a national feature story.
Ditto to what Ann said; in fact her first line is exactly what I was going to say. And it was quite a landslide!
The margin of victory was overwhelmingly more than anyone expected or hoped for. His 2 opponents were not lightweights -- very formidable, in fact. Yet, young Schock won 71% to 15% and 14% -- Schock got double the votes of his opponents combined. In some of the 20 counties, he got over 80% of the votes. He, at 26 will be the youngest Congressperson (the next youngest is 33,from N. Carolina) but the General Election still needs to be won, if a Democrat is put on the ballot. This margin of victory might scare off any new challenger. Yes, he will likely get some national human-interest stories soon.
Cleve
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