Sheriff Bob Hertz hosts dinner for Madison County Federation of Labor

East Alton – Madison County Sheriff Bob Hertz hosted a reception for union members – complete with fried chicken, potato salad and drinks – prior to the Jan. 23 Madison County Federation of Labor meeting.

Hertz is facing opposition in the March 18 Democratic primary and recently received the endorsement of the 12^th District COPE Board. He has also earned the endorsement of the Madison County Federation of Labor and the Southwestern Illinois Building and Construction Trades Council.

Hertz thanked the labor representatives for their support and asked them to help turn out the vote in the primary.

Hertz also announced that he’ll be hosting a chicken and beer night Friday, Feb. 28, and gave the Federation 100 free tickets for union members struggling in the current economy who might enjoy the event, which includes entertainment.

“They will have a night out on the sheriff,” Hertz said.

The event will be from 5 to 10 p.m. at the Bethalto Knights of Columbus on Illinois Route 143. Admission is $10.

CALLIS ENDORSED

Another COPE-endorsed candidate facing primary opposition, Ann Callis, the long-time Madison County Chief Judge now running for Congress in Illinois’ 13^th Congressional District, also attended the meeting.

Callis said the U.S. House of Representatives’ refusal to consider a minimum wage increase shows why a change is needed.

“What’s going on in Washington D.C. today is not fair and just. People are really hurting,” Callis said.

“People just want good jobs, and they want to send their children to good schools.”

FOR THE LEGISLATURE

Two Democrats challenging Republican incumbents in the Illinois House of Representatives also spoke to the Federation.

• Cullen L. Cullen of Edwardsville, superintendent of the Venice School District, is running in the 112^th District against Rep. Dwight Kay, of Glen Carbon.

“I’m meeting a lot of voters at the doors and listening to them, Cullen said. “The number one thing is jobs. They can’t take on any more of the burden of covering the mistakes of the state.”

• Josh Evans, of Jerseyville, is running in the 100^th District against Rep. C.D. Davidsmeyer, also of Jerseyville. Evans said he grew up on a farm and served in Afghanistan and Iraq before entering law school at St. Louis University.

“We need infrastructure to survive and we need education. Those are the two things I’m going to focus on,” he told the Federation.

Evans’ heavily rural district is centered around Jerseyville but reaches as far south as the northern neighborhoods of Godfrey.