Elections 2012

Rep. Dave Loebsack (D-Iowa City) says he would use his 4th term in Washington D.C. to continue the fight for the middle class.

Voters in more than 200 communities will decide this fall whether to approve electric aggregation. Those towns in western Illinois include Galesburg, Rushville, Carthage, Mt Sterling, Beardstown, Virginia, Vermont, Knoxville, Quincy, Mendon, Columbus, and Coatsburg.

“The idea behind electric aggregation is the theory – as in other consumer purchases – that if you can combine your purchasing power with others that theoretically you should be able to get a better rate for it,” said Doug Scott, Chairman, Illinois Commerce Commission.

Jim Steffen (R-Argyle) says southern Lee County needs a new voice in Des Moines.

State Rep. Jerry Kearns (D-Keokuk) says he has the experience needed to help create and retain jobs in Lee County and Iowa as a whole.

Ron Fedler (D-West Point) says he is running for the District 1 seat on the Lee County Board of Supervisors because he wants to stay involved in local government.

This week on Campaign Trails, Political Science Professor Vin Auger of Western Illinois University talked about this week’s foreign policy debate between Democratic President Barack Obama and Republican challenger Mitt Romney.

Auger said there was very little difference between the two on many of the issues that were brought up. He said Romney agreed with the president’s policies regarding drone strikes, the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan, and more.

Auger was surprised to hear so much consensus.

Illinois legislators overwhelmingly backed a constitutional amendment, saying it will prevent the state's massive pension deficit from growing by making it more difficult for lawmakers to increase public employees’ pensions.

But critics are coming at it from all sides.

McDonough County Clerk Gretchen DeJaynes said  voters were at her office when the doors opened at 8:00 am for the first day of early voting on October 22.

DeJaynes said early voting should help ease the rush on election day (November 6).

“I do not think we will have lines for election day. Really the only places that we have ever had lines are in the college precincts and early voting at the university has cured that problem,” DeJaynes said.

Matt Pflug says there are several reasons he entered the race for the District 5 seat on the Lee County Board of Supervisors.

Mike O'Connor (R-Keokuk) says he entered the race for the District 5 seat on the Lee County Board of Supervisors because of the recent consolidation of four county offices.