Democrat Mark Haasis to challenge LaHood for 18th Congressional District

Posted on December 4, 2019
Mark Haasis. (Facebook/Haasis For Congress)

 

By Neil Doyle

BLOOMINGTON – A Peoria Democrat will challenge incumbent Republican Darin LaHood for Illinois’ 18th Congressional District.

A retired United Auto Workers representative, Haasis was born in Springfield and now lives in Peoria. He worked at the former Mitsubishi Motors plant in Normal and Caterpillar.

Haasis said the 18th Congressional District needs a stronger infrastructure program and better support for farmers, something LaHood has not accomplished, according to a Facebook post.

The 18th Congressional District covers parts of Bloomington-Normal, Peoria, and Springfield.

Haasis did not respond to a request for comment.

Neil Doyle can be reached at [email protected]

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…