NORMAL, IL: Conservatives in Illinois’ 18th congressional district are fighting back the political establishment, and its candidate, Obama Secretary Ray LaHood’s son Darin, by promising to produce a conservative alternative for the GOP primary.
Schock, who resigned on Tuesday, will likely be replaced in congress by the Republican who wins the special election primary, tentatively set for June 8 2015.
“We’re forming an organization of donors, business leaders, and citizens that are concerned that our government is out of control,” said McLean County elected board member Mark Johnson. “Today we filed paperwork with the FEC and begin our fight.”
Johnson will lead The Grassroots Speak PAC, joined by Ken Wilber of Wilber and Associates PC, Chris Gramm of Stivers and Gramm LLC, and Ian Bayne, a talk show host on Bloomington’s Cities 92.9 FM talk station.
“We need a candidate who wants to take on Washington, not be Washington,” said Gramm, who has been active in Republican politics in Bloomington and will work closely with Wilber, who will serve as the informal finance director.
“We need fighters who represent us against the excess of government,” added Bayne. “Our freedom is shrinking, our wages are shrinking, our businesses are shrinking, and our government keeps getting bigger. We have had enough of the political ruling class.” Bayne, who has been hosting the morning program on Limbaugh affiliate Cities 92.9, is also a small business owner in real estate valuations.