Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Sam Spradlin
Sam Spradlin can be faulted for lacking political support and fundraising, not to mention a home in the district, as part of his quest to get elected to Congress. But he does not lack foresight or patience. The truck driver and political novice is running for Illinois’ 15th Congressional District not in 2010, but 2012.
Spradlin, a Republican, has filed paperwork with the Federal Election Commission to challenge five-term incumbent GOP Congressman Timothy V. Johnson in the 2012 primary because he wants to run when turnout is expected to be higher than 2010, thanks to the presidential contest scheduled for 2012.
Of course by the time of the 2012 election, Congress will have conducted another reapportionment, which could change the composition of the 15th, currently incorporating the cities of Champaign and Urbana and part of Bloomington. But that’s okay with Spradlin—he doesn’t live in the district anyway. He says he works a lot in the 15th, though, which he figures qualifies him for residency status.
-Noel Brinkerhoff
First-Time Candidate Plans Ahead — Way Ahead (by Greg Giroux, CQ Politics)
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