Candidates talk politics over pizza
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| Sue and Bill Wolff of Sterling chat with 17th Congressional District candidate Greg Aguilar (left) on Friday evening at the Latin American Social Club in Sterling. Aguilar, director of multicultural services at Augustana College, is one of three Democrats on the primary ballot March 20. (Kiran Sood/ksood@saukvalley.com) |
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STERLING – Sue and Bill Wolff want to see a change in leadership in the state’s 17th Congressional District.
The couple, who have lived in Sterling for 6 years, came to the Latin American Social Club on Friday night to meet Greg Aguilar, director of multicultural services at Augustana College and a Democratic candidate in the district.
He is running against former East Moline Alderwoman Cheri Bustos and Freeport Mayor George Gaulrapp. The three are seeking the party’s nomination to challenge U.S. Rep. Bobby Schilling, R-Colona.
After speaking with Aguilar over pizza and pop at the club, Sue said he is a nice guy.
“He’s down to earth,” she said. “Sounds like he is more for the people than for the almighty buck.”
Bill agreed, saying Aguilar is a candidate he would support.
“He’s got to be better than the alternative; I mean, Schilling is not getting it,” he said.
Bill has been unemployed for the past 18 months. He asked Aguilar a question about the absence of what he sees as a revenue generator in the area.
“My main question to him is why won’t Whiteside County allow wind turbines? It’s the only county that won’t,” Bill said.
The couple is in favor of revenue that would be generated from windmills they say could be used to subsidize the cost of education.
“The fact that they are going to reduce the cost of power, ... we have the river right here,” he said.
Tony Ortiz is chairman of the board at the Latin American Social Club. He said he would support Aguilar in the 17th District.
“I was very impressed with what he had to say,” Ortiz said. “Being Hispanic, I would love to see somebody get in there.”
Also at Friday’s event was former state Rep. Mike Boland, D-East Moline.
Boland is running in the 36th Senate District, which includes a part of Whiteside County. He’s challenging Sen. Mike Jacobs, D-Moline, in the March 20 primary. Bill Albracht of Moline is running unopposed in the Republican Party primary.
Sterling resident Al Silva came to the event to support Boland and Sterling attorney Trish Joyce, who is running for Whiteside County state’s attorney.
Silva is a retired steelworker who has lived in Sterling since 1953. He said he has been a Democrat all his life.
He opposed Jacobs’ support for ComEd smart grid legislation. Silva said it was a conflict of interest because Jacobs’ father, former state Sen. Denny Jacobs, is a lobbyist for ComEd.
He said it is important for people to take part in the democratic process and be educated about the issues.
“I always vote. If you don’t vote, you don’t have a right to complain,” Silva said. “So if you want to complain about any situation, go vote.”
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