This essay was written by Arthur C. Donart, Ph.D. He stated, “Full disclosure: As Assistant Professor of English at Western Illinois University and President of the W.I.U. Federation of Professors, I led the drive for “Collective Bargaining” in 1973. Later, I supported Senator Bernie Sanders for the Democratic Presidential nomination.”
Editor’s note: Voting has already begun in Whiteside County; the in-person Primary Election is Tuesday, June 28, 2022.
After serving eight years representing the 17th Congressional District in Illinois, Congresswoman Cheri Bustos has decided to retire from office. On the Democratic side there are seven people seeking the nomination; on the Republican side, just two. Let’s start with the short list of Republicans.
Ester Joy King ran against Congresswoman Cheri Bustos in 2020 with a well-financed campaign and lost. She apparently thinks her chances to succeed are better this time around, since she would not be running against an incumbent Legislator. King has no Government experience. She lists her residence as East Moline, IL, so she is relatively new to the district. She has a Law degree from Northwestern University, graduating in 2013; she has attended Oral Roberts University where she studied Public Relations and Advertising. King’s financial support is from mainly law firms and hedge funds. Her opponent is Charles Helmick of Hampton, IL. He has no experience in Government and has been a self-employed Country Music Artist. Helmick studied Law Enforcement at a Florida University for a year, 1994-1995.
Seeking the Democratic nomination are seven individuals. Eric Sorensen is the Weatherman for the Quad-Cities and lives in Moline, IL. He is a graduate from Northern University and has no experience holding elective office. Jacqueline McGowan, like Sorensen, has no Government experience. She wants to be an active cannabis-consuming Congressperson. The last of the “no Government experience” group is Marsha Williams. She earned a B.A. in Legal Studies from Purdue University in 2013. Presently she is a Branch Manager of the 160 Driving Academy. When I spoke to her, Williams said she supports Medicare for All and the Pro Act (which would make union organizing less difficult.)
These final four all have some Government experience. Linda McNeely is an Alderman for the City of Rockford, IL, a position she has held since 1997. She has a B.A. in Government from the University of Denver and an M.A. in Business from Roosevelt University. In addition, she is a member of the Illinois State Democratic Central Committee.
Also serving as a Rockford Alderman is Jonathan Logemann, a High School Business teacher, first elected in 2017. Logemann earned a B.S. in Education from the University of Wisconsin in 2009. He earned a M.P.A. in Public Safety and Security from Northwestern University and a M.B.A. from the University of Illinois at Chicago, IL.
Angie Normoyle lives in Moline, IL, and is an Assistant Professor at Augustana College. She has a B.A. in Communications from Augustana College; an M.S. in Communication from Northwestern University; a Ph.D. in Communications. Her experience in elective office includes serving on the Moline School Board from 2007 to 2011. She also was elected to the Rock Island County Board in 2019, where she continues to serve.
Last, but not least, is Litesa Wallace. She earned a Bachelor’s Degree from Western Illinois University and a M.S. in Marriage and Family Therapy from Northwestern University. Later she earned a Ed. D. in Educational Psychology from Northern Illinois University. Of all the candidates, she has the most pertinent government experience having served in the Illinois Legislature for four years, before seeking the Lieutenant Governor nomination. In response to my questions, she supports Medicare for All and the Pro Act (which would make union organizing less difficult.) She is also endorsed by Our Revolution which was founded by U. S. Senator Bernie Sanders.