Politics: Edley might toss his hat in ring for 18th District run

I spoke by phone to former State Rep. Bill Edley (D-95, Macomb) a few moments ago. He was just as shocked as everyone else by Dick Versace’s decision to drop out of the race for Congress. In fact, he had sent a campaign donation to Versace’s campaign a week or so earlier.

But the former state representative might consider asking the county chairs of the Democratic Party in the 18th District to place his name on the ballot for the general election.

“I would think the Democrats would find many people Interested in running,” Edley said. “If they don’t, I would consider it.”

Edley thinks Versace’s campaign wobbled at bit at the beginning, but the ideal strategy for the Democrats is to let the Republicans beat each other up in the primary, spending time and money and generating hurt feelings within their party. That’s still going to happen between now and when the Democratic Party chairs pick a replacement after the primary election on February 5. The general election happens nine months later on Nov. 4, giving the eventual Democratic candidate plenty of time.

“In some respects it really not a bad situation for the Democrats,” Edley said. “We’ve made these things way too long, anyway.”

Edley did not have kind words for Aaron Schock, the current 92nd District state representative who is considered by some to the the most likely nominee from among a field of three in the GOP primary. Jim McConoughey, CEO of the Heartland Partnership, and former Peoria City Council member John Morris also are putting up credible campaigns to be the one to replace Ray LaHood in the 18th District.

“He’s in way over his head. He’s a self promoter,” Edley said of the 26-year-old Schock. Edley complained that Schock is basing his decisions on conservative ideology, not practical experience, as demonstrated by the positions taken during his campaign kick off speech. One such position was that the United States ought to use the threat of nuclear weapons sales to Taiwan to pressure China to change it’s behavior with Iran.

“You could see the kid written it himself and never vetted it with any one.”