Jan 24, 2008 10:17 pm US/Central
Democrats Face Off In 14th District Debate
AURORA, Ill. (CBS) ―
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Joe Serra, Bill Foster, Jonathan Laesch and Jotham Stein (left to right) are the four Democrats running to replace former House Speaker Dennis Hastert in Illinois' 14th Congressional district.
CBS
Only CBS 2 was there for a Democratic showdown in the 14th Congressional district
CBS 2 West Suburban Bureau Chief Mike Puccinelli reports that candidates hoping to replace Congressman Dennis Hastert faced off in a debate sponsored by CBS 2 and the Aurora Beacon-News.
Joe Serra, Jotham Stein, Bill Foster and Jonathan Laesch are four men trying to do something that in years past has been unthinkable: get elected as a Democrat in Illinois' 14th Congressional district. It's a seat that's been in Republican hands for decades, but now some analysts say Democrats could score an upset.
Joe Serra is the only Hispanic running in the race. The Geneva entrepreneur appealed to disaffected Republicans by touting what he called his moderate credentials.
"I'm pro choice, yet I'm in favor of the death penalty. I support affirmative action and also believe in the right to keep and bear arms," Serra said.
Jotham Stein is a St. Charles lawyer. He said he has the best chance of knocking off a Republican and he lashed out at his endorsed opponents for being beholden to special interests.
"I'm the independent Democrat. Mr. Laesch and Mr. Foster have obligations to those people who have supported them," Stein said.
Bill Foster is a Geneva entrepreneur and a former Fermilab scientist. He shot back at Stein and other critics who accuse him of trying to buy his way into Congress.
"I don't think you buy the endorsement of (U.S. Sen.) Dick Durbin, I don't think you buy the endorsement of the Chicago Tribune or all of the daily papers that endorsed me," Foster said.
Jonathan Laesch is the only veteran in the race. He wants to end the war in Iraq and bring the troops home. And as a union carpenter, the Yorkville man said he truly is the candidate of change, who will represent the middle class, not millionaires.
"I'm running for U.S. Congress because I don't think the problems are technical, I think that there's a leadership deficit in Washington, D.C.," Laesch said.
All of the candidates want the troops brought home from Iraq, but they differ on the timeline.
(CBS 2, the Naperville Sun and the Aurora Beacon-News are news partners covering stories in the western suburbs. Send story tips to tips@cbs2chicago.com. (© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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