Dateline Dixon: Homework in the spirit of education

DIXON – I know you all will be devastated, so I’ll break this news gently.

There will be no office hours at Books on First today.

I know. It’s a travesty. (This is where I’d put a smiley face to indicate a joke, but I suppose I have to maintain some level of professionalism.)

Anyway, I am off to St. Louis, where once a year I spend 4 days teaching college students about journalism, trying to keep tabs on my real job and not generally sleeping.

So – in the spirit of the educational role I’m taking on for the week – here’s your homework: Let me know what you want to know.

We have primaries coming up on March 20 where Republicans and Democrats will duke it out over who gets to be their party’s candidate in November – and not just for the presidency.

Voters living in Dixon, Polo or the eastern half of Amboy, for example, will have four choices for the 90th House District if they pick the Republican ballot.

For those living in the Sterling-Rock Falls area, the Democratic ballot might be more interesting.

Incumbent state Sen. Mike Jacobs, D-East Moline, is being challenged by another Democrat, former Rep. Mike Boland, as well as a Republican come November.

Two Democrats are also campaigning for the chance to take on state Rep. Rich Morthland, R-Cordova, for the House.

Your homework is to let me know what issues you’re interested in and what questions you want posed to candidates, and I’ll do my darndest to get those answered.

Emily Coleman covers state issues for Sauk Valley Media. Contact her via email at ecoleman@saukvalley.com