Sentinel The Shorewood
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Vol. 17 No. 14
Enterprise Publications • www.shorewoodsentinel.com
Election2012 2012primaries 2012primaries 2012primaries
AIR APPARENT Voyager Media’s got you covered
Voyager Media’s got you covered
Jesse r. Jackson J
Debbie Halvorson
Voyager Media’s got you covered
CONTROL OF PROPOSED AIRPORT AT CENTER OF JACKSON-HALVORSON RACE
By Sherri Dauskurdas Staff Reporter
N
ewly drawn district boundaries have changed the primary game in Illinois, and nowhere is that being felt more than in the south suburbs and the newly designed 2nd district, where political heir Jesse Jackson Jr. is being challenged by former U. S. Representative Debbie Halvorson. Whoever prevails will get a powerful democratic nod for the November election, and with it, a chance to represent a diverse area, which covers parts of Cook,Will and all of Kankakee County.All or parts of Bradley, Bourbonnais, Calumet City, Chicago, Chicago Heights, Country Club Hills, Dolton, Harvey, Hazel Crest, Homewood, Kankakee, Lansing, Markham, Matteson, Park Forest, Richton Park, Riverdale, Sauk Village and Steger are included. In some of these rural communities, Halvorson has a history of support. Those in the northwest end of Will County will remember Halvorson was elected to the House of Representatives for Illinois’s 11th congressional district in 2008. But just two years later, Halvorson lost her bid for re-election to republican freshman Adam Kinzinger, a young soldier who captured the support of local conservatives and spirited
tea party voters. With today’s boundaries, Kinzinger’s Manteno address falls not in the new second, but the 16th District, leaving Halvorson ready, and able, to battle against Jackson. And battle she has. She’s publicly questioned his ethics, his voting record, and his support of White House initiatives. She’s even questioned his residency. So why should voters north of the district line care? Because she’s also been in dispute with Jackson over one of Will County’s biggest points of contention--the proposed Peotone Airport. While the airport had never been in Jackson’s district, he leads the Abraham Lincoln National Airport Commission, a group of municipal leaders from across the suburban landscape that has been in continual conflict with Will County leadership over management control of the project. At the root of the argument is the ongoing expansion of an airport that has yet to begin construction. The ALNAC, and Jackson, support plans to expand the airport by setting automatic triggers based on cargo and passenger demands. Will County officials are vying for control of the airport and its future expansion, and that local control is supported by Halvorson.