Politics

Illinois Election 2012

This is the place for stories about races for the U.S. House and the Illinois Senate and House from districts in the WNIJ listening area.As we have done in the past, WNIJ News staffers interviewed both candidates for Congress in the following districts:District 6: Peter Roskam (R,I) vs Leslie Coolidge (D) District 8: Joe Walsh (R,I) vs Tammy Duckworth (D)District 11: Judy Biggert (R, I13) vs Bill Foster (D)District 14: Randy Hultgren (R,I) vs Dennis Anderson (D)District 16: Adam Kinzinger (R,I11) vs Wanda Rohl (D)District 17: Bobby Schilling (R,I) vs Cheri Bustos (D)All candidates were asked to answer the following questions:Economy What do you see as the correct approach to handling the federal budget and deficit?Jobs What kinds of jobs would you like to see created in your district?What role should the federal government play in creating those jobs?Labor-management relations What is your position on right-to-work laws?What should the relationship be between governments and their employee unionsDomestic energy What course should the United States take on domestic energy?Social agenda How should the federal government deal with abortion rights?What role should the federal government have regarding marriage?Foreign policy What foreign policy issues do you see as paramount for the U.S.?Qualifications What sets you apart as the best choice for your district?Other What other issues do you see as important to the district, the state and the nation?

Winnebago County State's Attorney Stays: DeKalb County's Goes

Northern Public Radio | By Susan Stephens

Published November 7, 2012 at 3:08 AM CST

Two contentious races for State’s Attorney were decided Tuesday in Winnebago and DeKalb Counties.

Winnebago County State’s Attorney Joe Bruscato will keep his job for another four years. The incumbent staved off a challenge by Republican attorney Glen Weber, winning over about 57 percent of voters in Winnebago County. Bruscato says there are a number of things already in place he wants to expand in his second term, including trial teams and diversion programs.

In the race for DeKalb County State's Attorney, Democrat Richard Schmack narrowly defeated incumbent Republican Clay Campbell. Schmack says one of his first priorities is to keep in place the team that will prosecute murder suspect William Curl. Looking at the bigger picture, Schmack says he has restructuring plans for the office: he says that means more training, getting a “true first assistant,” and clearing up a backlog of criminal cases within the county judicial system. Schmack has spent much of his 30-year-plus law career in private practice. He did spend some time as an assistant state's attorney in DeKalb County.