THREE CANDIDATES, PARTIES RACE TO CLAIM 115TH

BY NICOLE SACK THE SOUTHERN [Mon Sep 20 2004]

JACKSON COUNTY

Three men of three different parties all vying to for one position: 115th district state representative.

The 115th district is composed of Jackson, Clinton, Perry, Union and Washington counties. The seat is currently held by Rep. Mike Bost, R-Murphysboro, but Rich Whitney of the Green Party and Democrat Mic Middleton are making pushes to capture the position.

The Nov. 2 election will mark the sixth time Bost, 43, has run to defend the post, the second time Whitney, 48, has attempted to grab the state representative spot and the first time Middleton, 27, has dipped his toe into the political water of District 115.

Bost was first elected to the State House in 1994 after a failed bid in 1992. The incumbent said he must try to balance the work he was elected to do, while he tries to get re-elected in a three-way race.

"That makes it challenging," Bost said. "I wish I didn't have an opponent, but I've got two. Each one has their own unique area and their own unique base. I've got to present myself to their base as well as the swing votes and try to convince a majority of them that I am the better candidate."

Bost said his major goals in this campaign are job growth, education and medical malpractice issues. He also says he wants to protect the state from bad legislation and elevate the importance of Southern Illinois in the political spectrum.

"I want to be a voice for Southern Illinois against the large population of Chicago who think jobs just flow in. My job is to speak up and say, 'No, jobs don't just flow in. We've got to do things to create them,'" Bost said. "There were many pieces of legislation that would continue to raise fees and hamper job growth in the state of Illinois and put us in a very unfair advantage with the states around us."

While Bost does the typical door-knocking and sign distribution, in addition to his campaign, he is also using his name and notoriety to promote other candidates.

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"I've moved into a leadership position," Bost said. "I'm now trying to help others campaign around the state to try to get Republicans elected to the majority of the house."

Bost said there is no geographic area where he is focusing his campaign, but said he must work harder to become established in Washington and Clinton counties.

On his second go-around, Whitney said he has benefited from better name recognition, better fund-raising and an overall better presence in the all the counties of the 115th district. In the 2002 election, Whitney received 6.4 percent of the district wide vote and more than 20 percent of the vote in Carbondale.

While he did not win the state representative seat, Whitney did legally establish the Green Party in the district.

"We are definitely trying to give people in Southern Illinois a third alternative," Whitney said. "Even though I am running for state representative, this is a larger effort to build that alternative so hopefully someday people can vote for the third choice at the national level and win."

Whitney has described his time on the campaign trail as having "two full-time jobs." He is an attorney and partner in the Carbondale Law firm of Speir and Whitney.

Whitney said there has been the usual political signage battles, where signs disappear or are legally challenged. While these instances are annoying, he said they are not particularly troublesome. But there is something that has disturbed Whitney in this race, which he did not notice the first time he ran.

"There seems to be a dangerous trend of people who believe they should vote based on their religion," Whitney said. "I've had people come up to me asking what my religion is. I had one woman tell me that 'You're either a Christian or a Democrat.' I think that mentality is going to eventually backfire. If it doesn't, I think we are going to be in a whole lot of trouble."

Whitney said he wants people to vote for who they want in office.

"This campaign is doing what a lot of people say they want: a candidate that is talking about the issues not just slogans or sound bites

but really giving well thought out, concrete answers to the real problems that are facing the people of this state," Whitney said. "We are so much more ahead of the game this time around. I think we can really shake things up and surprise people."

Middleton also wants to get into the mix.

He was caucused into the race in May and now the Nashville resident and technical support consultant for Archer Daniels Midland Co. is trying to work his campaign on the grassroots level.

"The most difficult thing is starting late in the game because usually people are committed to other campaigns or other races," Middleton said. "Money is always an issue but it is getting better and better."

While the other two candidates are more secure in Jackson County, Middleton said he has a strong hold on the north end of the district, and now must focus his attention south of his base.

"The person who knocks on the most doors usually wins," Middleton said. "I made it a goal to hit 10,000 doors personally before the election."

So far he said he has gotten to 1,500 homes.

Middleton said his No. 1 plank on the campaign is to return hope and opportunity to Southern Illinois.

"What I see from young and older generations is that our population is decreasing, companies are shutting down and we have not seen the big tax incentives to promote small business," Middleton said. "You can't create jobs, but what we can do is create incentives for job growth and actively recruit companies to come to this area."

Middleton sees the Southern Illinois region as one interdependent circle, where success in one area, such as coal, education or jobs would be a success for all who live in the surrounding communities.

Middleton said his age has created mixed responses.

"I have had a few comments about my age. One person told me I should grow a beard or mustache," Middleton said. "But a lot of people are encouraging the fact that at 27 I am able to run at this. Honestly I don't see how anyone who is married with kids can do this. It is such a time consuming task."

Al three District 115 candidates will take part in a debate on Oct. 28 at Southern Illinois University Carbondale.

nicole.sack@thesouthern.com 618-351-5816