Jan 15, 2008 11:40 pm US/Central
Republican Candidates Debate For Hastert's Seat
AURORA, Ill. (CBS) ―
Congressional candidates squared-off Tuesday night in the western suburbs. The Republicans in the race to succeed Dennis Hastert had a debate and they clashed over the value of change versus experience. The 14th District stretches from Elgin, almost to Iowa, as CBS 2's west suburban bureau chief Mike Puccinelli reports.
Right now there is no congressman representing Illinois 14th congressional district, that's because Denny Hastert resigned his post in December 2007. That decision put up a special election, which will determine who will finish out the final year of Hastert's term. Now experts say there's a good chance one of the two Republicans sharing the stage Tuesday night will win that right, in this historically safe Republican territory.
After a brief handshake dairy magnate Jim Oberweis came out swinging -- talking about Lauzen's biggest single donor in his political career and his decision to return almost $100,000.
"It's easy to see why you would give the money back, the donor was convicted of patronizing a 16-year-old prostitute," Oberweis said.
But it took about forty minutes before state senator Chris Lauzen responded.
"When I have been confronted by a problem with a campaign contributor I have sent the money back without being told or even asked and it's been three times that I had to do that – with George Ryan, Bill Sallini and John Burgess, " Lauzen said. "For my opponent to say otherwise is cruel."
Lauzen went on to tout his 15 years in Springfield as the kind of experience needed in the 14th district.
"I plan to go in, to put my shoulder to the wheel, to build those relationships and work collaboratively to make sure we get our fair share here," Lauzen said.
Oberweis said that is what a career politician would say, "get our fair share, here." Oberweis next ripped into Lauzen for painting him as an out-of-touch millionaire trying to buy his way into office.
My opponent calls me a millionaire, but the forms that he has filed, indicate that he too is a millionaire," Oberweis said.
"Only in politics can you compare my wife and I borrowing $325,000, so that we have a fighting chance against a person who has spent $10 million," Lauzen said.
Lauzen was referring to the money spent by Oberweis in unsuccessful bids to be a U.S. senator and governor of Illinois.
Rob Johnson was the moderator at the Aurora University debate Tuesday. Diann Burns will moderate the Democratic debate next Thursday.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
Reporting
