Voters have some work to do on Feb. 5

Who needs term limits? By the time the 2008 election cycle ends, the Sauk Valley will have two more new congressmen - replacements for retiring U.S. Reps. Dennis Hastert of the 14th District and Jerry Weller of the 11th District, both Republicans.

This follows the 2006 election where longtime U.S. Rep. Lane Evans, a 17th District Democrat, stepped down due to complications from Parkinson's disease. Voters chose Phil Hare, an Evans aide, to replace his boss.

Hastert, the House speaker from 1999 until early this year, is looking to retire after first being elected in 1986. He's said to be pondering whether or not to leave office early. His term ends in early January 2009.

Weller appears to be getting out while the gettin' is good, after facing investigations into his failure to report several Nicaraguan land deals in congressional ethics statements. He's been criticized in other areas, including last year logging nearly $25,000 worth of taxpayer-paid travel in a two-year period.

Only U.S. Rep. Donald Manzullo, a Republican from Egan in Ogle County, hopes to be a Sauk Valley holdover as he ramps up his re-election bid in the 16th District.

With the Feb. 5 primary election only about four months away, voters are going to have to start paying attention to regional politics more quickly than usual. In the past, the primary wasn't until the third week of March.

Area voters have a passing interest in Weller's replacement, since his district grazes the southern edge of the Sauk Valley. However, voters should make it their business to be keenly aware of candidates hoping to fill Hastert's shoes. His 14th District spans the breadth of the region, taking in all of Lee County, a good portion of Whiteside County and some of Bureau County.

Another congressman-wannabe announced his intentions to run for Hastert's seat this week. He is Rodolfo "Rudy" Clai, a Republican from North Aurora. He joins a growing field of candidates who have thrown their hats in the ring - names such as Chris Lauzen, Kevin Burns, Jim Oberweis, Jotham Stein and John Laesch.

The freshman Hare seems to be acquitting himself well in Congress. One of his goals is to bring a veterans health clinic to the Sauk Valley. He's showing that change can be a good thing. Let's hope the trend continues when freshmen step in for Hastert and Weller.