Sterling Mayor throws support to Jacobs

STERLING – Sterling Mayor Skip Lee threw his support Wednesday to state Sen. Mike Jacobs, D-Moline, whose 36th District now covers much of Whiteside County after redistricting.

Lee announced his endorsement at Sterling Main Street. It’s his first since becoming mayor, and more will be coming, he said.

Jacobs is running against former state Rep. Mike Boland, D-East Moline. The winner of the Democratic Party primary March 20 will face Republican Bill Albracht of Moline in the general election.

Lee said he met with both Democratic candidates before deciding to back Jacobs.

“What we need is someone who is going to defend the working man and woman, and yet be cognizant of the needs of industry,” Lee said. “We need somebody who understands what it is to be part of the team, yet is also going to be strong and aggressive enough to be independent.”

Lee said he came to the conclusion that “there’s only one man in this race who is going to be able to do that, both at the primary and general level.”

“I don’t make endorsements very often,” Lee said. “This is an important race, and Mike has the experience. He’s been down there in the Senate, fighting the folks from Chicago who’d like everything to go their way.”

Lee said he is confident Jacobs will bring economic development to the Sterling-Rock Falls area, given his ties to the Quad Cities. “They’ve done marvelous things down there,” he said.

Jacobs called Lee’s stamp of approval “the most important endorsement I have ever received.”

“This is coming from a mayor who works every day, who knows what the issues are in his district, who’s talked to both candidates and has endorsed our campaign,” Jacobs said. “I will be the kind of strong advocate that people need in this area.”

Jacobs said he would make the Sterling-Rock Falls area, new to the 36th District, “his new home.”

People have accepted for too long “the philosophy that this area doesn’t need anything” and he will work to ensure people of the district get “their fair share,” he said.

In the past 3 years, Jacobs brought more than “$563 million in hard projects” to the Quad Cities area. He wants to do the same for this area, he said.