CHICAGO – Three pro-family groups in Illinois are encouraging state Rep. Allen Skillicorn (R-East Dundee) to seek the Republican nomination for the 14th Congressional – a race state Senator Jim Oberweis (R-North Aurora) has already announced he is pursuing. Crystal Lake HR specialist Danny Malouf and Republican businessman James Marter are stirring interest in bids, as well.
Skillicorn has been a consistent pro-life, pro-family voice during his first term in the Illinois House, the letter says – just what the 14th CD needs in 2020 to win back the 14th CD from Liberal freshman Democrat Lauren Underwood.
The letter sent out in early April, signed by Paul Caprio of Family Federal PAC, David E. Smith of Illinois Family Action and Bonnie Quirke of Lake County Right to Life, didn't mention Skillicorn's libertarian views on legalizing recreational marijuana or the fact that Skillicorn doesn't currently live in the 14th district.
Skillicorn's views on legalizing marijuana
When Illinois Review asked Illinois Family Institute's David Smith how the group – which has been strongly opposing recreational cannabis in Illinois – reconciles endorsing Skillicorn despite his support for loosening pot laws.
"Not an an endorsement," Smith wrote in an email. "It merely urges Skillicorn to explore the opportunity."
When asked if he still intends to vote for marijuana legalization, Skillicorn told Illinois Review, "Currently the sponsors have worked with my concerns and ideas to balance freedom with reasonable restrictions to preserve law and order. As long as that balance remains in the final bill, then yes."
The marijuana bill is currently slowed down in negotiations, but Governor Pritzker has been pushing for legalization with hopes of increasing state revenues.
Skillicorn's residency dilemma
But what about him not living in the 14th district? Would that present an obstacle?
Skillicorn pointed to his lengthy political activity in the district over the last 14 years.
"I bought my home in 2005 in the 14th congressional district. In 2008, I voted for [Jim] Oberweis in the primary, Oberweis in the March 2008 special election and Oberweis in the November 2008 General Election. I have a consistent Republican voting record and have been a conservative activist for years. In 2010 I helped Randy Hultgren defeat Foster. I also helped Steve Rauschenberger in his state Senate race. I turned out a lot of votes in my precinct and my town. I worked precincts all over Kane County," he said.
Then Speaker Mike Madigan and US House Speaker then redistricted Skillicorn out of his state House, state Senate and US Congressional districts after the big 2010 turnout Skillicorn helped to create, he said. Then Mike Nolan – who beat Rauschenberger by 207 votes – was the co-chair of the redistricting committee in 2011.
"I did such a good job the Democrats were obligated to gerrymander me," Skillicorn told Illinois Review. "The 2020 election is a redistricting year. Flipping this seat back to Republican means we have a chance to be competitive. If we let the liberal congresswoman keep it, the 14th will be redrawn to make her unbeatable."
Skillicorn said after the 2021 map comes out, he would "be happy to stay with the district," meaning live within the district boundaries – whatever they are if he wins the 14th CD.
"These are the counties that I grew up in, went to school and live my life and ran for elections in, and have served for over a decade," – as township trustee before being elected as state rep in 2016. "I have strong roots in the Fox River Valley. My grandfather moved to McHenry County after World War II. He was the janitor at Crystal Lake South High School. My mother was a teacher in District 300,"Skillicorn said.
While the district boundaries fluctuate, the important point is that the conservative district is endangered of being represented by a radical Leftist that has little or no ties to the 14th. The only chance conservative have of regaining the 14th is to have a tried and true conservative run an energetic, competitive campaign against Underwood, Skillicorn confirmed.
Then Jim Oberweis would seem best to focus on his condo in Florida where his wife lives the majority of the year – and enjoy his grandchildren and the riches he's accumulated? Skillicorn agreed.
Here's the letter being circulated by the three pro-family groups:
Dear Fellow Pro-Family Conservative:
Have you already had enough of Nancy Pelosi and the far-left Democrat majority in the U.S. House of Representatives? Live birth abortion… packing the Supreme Court with liberal activist judges… attacks on traditional families… attacks on the free enterprise system… more and more taxes.
Democrats won 31 seats in 2018 in districts carried by President Trump in 2016. The 14th District in Illinois is one of those “Trump” districts. Unfortunately, our conservative friend, Randy Hultgren, lost this district to a radical liberal feminist, Lauren Underwood.
Randy is not planning to run again next year. The District includes parts of McHenry, Kendall, Kane, Lake, DuPage, and Will Counties.
It’s important that Republicans nominate the strongest possible conservative to win this seat back next fall.
Therefore, we encourage State Representative Allen Skillicorn to seek the Republican nomination for Congress in the 14th Congressional District.
Allen Skillicorn has compiled an outstanding pro-family, conservative voting record in Springfield since his election to the General Assembly in 2016 to represent the 66th District. Allen is a life-long resident of the Fox River Valley, having lived in Algonquin, Crystal Lake, and Dundee.
He has consistently supported pro-family policies, including opposing any state tax increase, the attempt to allow minors to receive abortions, and the many attacks we are seeing from the radical left in both Washington and Springfield on families and children.
Allen Skillicorn has not simply been a vote, but a real fighter for us in Springfield… He should be a great conservative addition to the U.S. Congress.
Signed,
Paul Caprio of Family PAC Federal
David E. Smith of Illinois Family Action
Bonnie Quirke of Lake County Right to Life
