Pioneer Press Says Beth Coulson Has the "Winning Formula" For IL-10

The Pioneer Press has endorsed 10th Congressional District GOP candidate and current State Representative Beth Coulson to succeed the seat being vacated by outgoing Congressman Mark Kirk, who is running for U.S. Senate. The Pioneer Press said:

First, Coulson's positions on various budget issues put her squarely within the Republican mainstream, despite the protestations of her critics. She backs tax credits for job creation, advocates the elimination of the estate tax, backs tort reform and opposes both versions of the current health care bills while advocating more incremental changes to the current insurance system.

But Coulson, the state House member from the 17th District, has also become a champion of health care efforts in the General Assembly, a product of her physical therapy training. She led the way for legislation to provide safe haven options for mothers who might otherwise decide to abandon their babies. She has worked to expand the state's drug programs for seniors.

We see her overall legislative experience and her demonstrated commitment to health care issues as a winning formula in Washington and for 10th District residents.

On the Dem side, the Pioneer Press endorsed Coulson's fellow State Rep. Julie Hamos over two-time l-o-s-e-r Dan Seals.

Lynne Stiefel at Pioneer Press has a nice wrap-up of some of the IL-10 candidates' positions here.

Pioneer Press also came in for Dirk Beveridge in the 8th Congressional District race for the GOP nomination to defeat incumbent Melissa Bean. Pioneer has some more 8th District news here.

GOP LEADERSHIP TEAM FUNDRAISER: Meanwhile, in other political happenings, there will be a massive fundraiser tonight for the GOP Leadership Team, which is Sheriff Mark Curran, County Treasurer Bob Skidmore, County Clerk Willard Helander, and Supt. of Schools Roycealee Woods. It will be held at the Country Squire in Greyslake, beginning at 5:30 p.m.. Tickets are $50 but larger donations are gratefully accepted. TA will be there, so I hope to see y'all come out.

We'll no doubt be talking a lot about the county-wide races in the months to come, as Sheriff Mark Curran, who jumped sides from the Dems last year as a matter of "conscience," as he put it, has a huge red target on his back put there by State Senator and Dem County Chairman Terry Link. If anyone thought Link was going to forgive Curran, listen here.

TA hears that the Dems asked just about every cop in the county to run against Curran but no one of any worth wanted to take on the challenge. They ended up finding two blokes who will duke it out in the primary. Neither looks like much of a threat to Curran, who is a media darling and is doing a great job, to boot.