When it comes to the issues at hand, Congressional candidates believe they have the answers to help America thrive economically, educationally, and in the war on terror.

Autumn will be heralded with red, white, and blue this year as Election Day approaches and voters begin taking a close look at candidates’ platforms in contested races across the Peoria area. The race for the 18th District Congressional seat soon to be vacated by Republican Congressman Ray LaHood has drawn much voter attention since LaHood announced his retirement and three viable candidates stepped up to the plate. Read the rest of this entry »

One in four veterans in the United States are homeless; and, with the early presence of Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans showing up at shelters, veteran’s affairs directors are expecting a “tsunami of homeless veterans” in the near future.

That’s why Bob Johnson is starting a shelter for veterans at 416 N.E. Jefferson Street which he hopes to have opened sometime in 2009. The new shelter is located next door to the current Salvation Army Shelter for homeless men at 414 N.E. Jefferson where Johnson works as the volunteer veteran’s coordinator. He has worked diligently towards getting this venture going for two years in partnership with the Salvation Army.

“All this is a trial run,” says Johnson, since the new facility will initially only house 12 – 15 veterans. He hopes to catapult it into something bigger later. Read the rest of this entry »

Domestic abuse is a significant national problem and is prevalent among American households. Abuse can happen to both men and women, but about 73 percent of family abuse victims are female. According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, about one in every four women in the United States will experience some type of violence in her lifetime, and each year an estimated 1.3 million women nationwide receive physical abuse by an intimate partner.

Abuse is even scarier when it’s in your own backyard. In 2006 there were 114,921 reported cases of domestic violence in Illinois, and 44 percent of those cases were committed by a spouse, ex-spouse, or common-law spouse. In the same year, Illinois had 3,798 reported violations of court-ordered protection restrictions. Read the rest of this entry »

The contest between Republican Darin LaHood and Democrat Kevin Lyons for Peoria County state’s attorney became a hot topic of political discussion after it was revealed LaHood attempted to talk to the father of an alleged rape victim. The revelation was made by Lyons, who’s seeking re-election. The story was widely covered by the PJS and the local electronic media. Who benefited?

Supporters of Lyons believe the story helps the current state’s attorney because LaHood, they believe, used poor judgment in trying to talk to the victim’s father without first getting his permission. LaHood’s supporters feel the Lyons’ news conference actually helped LaHood bring attention to his campaign issue that many in police enforcement feel Lyons is soft on crime. LaHood has been endorsed by every police organization in Peoria County. Read the rest of this entry »

Candidates to replace retiring U.S. Rep. Ray LaHood (R- Peoria) from the 18th Congressional District are, in alphabetical order, Colleen Callahan (Democrat), Sheldon Schafer (Green), and Aaron Schock (Republican). Below are responses to questions sent to all three campaigns, questions derived from the nonpartisan Project Vote Smart – supported by the late U.S. Sen. Barry Goldwater (R-Ariz.) and former President Gerald Ford, a Republican, as well as retired U.S. Sen. George McGovern (D-South Dakota) and ex-President Jimmy Carter, a Democrat.

In mid-July, Schock explained to me that he refused to reply to Project Vote Smart’s questionnaire, but “if anyone wants to know my positions, they can come to where I’m talking and ask me.” Then he promised me that he’d respond to my written questions. However, multiple calls to his office, chats with helpful staffers and emails all resulted in no response.

Still, here are 15 issues, presented in alphabetical order, and candidate responses (Colleen Callahan =CC, Sheldon Schafer = SS, Aaron Schock= AS).) Read the rest of this entry »

Chris took the plunge this year (perhaps a holdover from his days on the swimming and diving teams at Peoria Central High). Our son transferred to Northern Michigan University at Marquette from Western Illinois. It’s a significant transition, trading the rolling hills and farm fields of Macomb for the wild and windy shores of Lake Superior in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.

Dropping him off at school was a novel experience. After hauling belongings, books, and mementos five hundred miles to a new apartment, and after meeting a new semester’s roommates, we set out to explore the immediate area.

A nearby hiking trail put me in mind of Longfellow’s “Evangeline.” Read the rest of this entry »

About a month ago, I wrote about a change in Illinois law that would lessen the likelihood that municipalities would have to hold primary elections. Here’s how it works:

Under the rules in effect for the two previous city elections, a primary was needed when there were three candidates for mayor and/or district council seats and when at least 11 people were running for at-large council positions. The way things stand now, five candidates for mayor or district council seats triggers the need for a primary election. Only when 21 people file petitions for at-large seats is a primary required.

As it turns out, Peoria’s home rule powers makes it possible to retain the previous system by referendum. The issue of placing the question on the November 4 ballot will be made by the time this column is appears in print. Read the rest of this entry »

by Joann Thomas, Peoria, IL

As a former elected official in Peoria County, I understand the commitment and dedication that public servants must show the people they wish to represent. I believe Jehan Gordon exemplifies what we want our public servants to be. She is young and energetic and ready to get to work solving the many problems our state is facing.

As a member of the Pleasant Hill school board, a retention coordinator at Illinois Central College, and a volunteer mentor in the Peoria high schools Jehan has worked hard to improve our community and provide opportunities for our children. Once elected, Jehan will help to address problems facing our state’s economy, local residents without healthcare, and the issues facing our local schools. Jehan is committed to listening to the people of our region and will fight to ensure our voices are heard in Springfield.

Jehan Gordon is a strong voice that will represent our interests in Springfield. I hope you will join me in supporting her this November.

This letter came from an anonymous West Peoria resident who wanted to express concern and thanks:

I write this in regards to the attractive residential areas of West Peoria. I have for the past ten years gone to City Hall and called many, many times to complain about the property at 2820 West Rohman. Nothing was ever done.

A few weeks ago, a few gentlemen appeared and filled a dumpster with debris such as shrubs, trees, bushes, weeds, etc. and there stood a house!

My point here is to say no thanks to West Peoria, this property is going to look like an attractive residential area – after only ten years or more.

Isolate “X” we are told. Get rid of everything on one side so that only X is left then figure out what X is. Only a select few, I have found, understand what X is or how to find it. Multitudes, on the other hand, have no clue how to find X, what it is, or care if they ever find it. I spent years in the latter crowd. Read the rest of this entry »