We're getting our basic information together for the general election page that will be going up fairly soon on the Beacon. And I was double checking the Illinois districts.
Shimkus, check. Opposed.
Costello, check. Opposed.
Hare, hmmm. I haven't been following Illinois politics as closely as I once did. Who is Hare? He was first elected in 2006 and was unopposed in 2008. Since the race wasn't contested two years ago, he was under my radar screen.
But wait. He's from Rock Island. How does someone who lives in Rock Island represent Calhoun County and parts of Jersey, Macoupin and Madison counties?
A quick click over to the district map and lo, and behold it could be the dictionary drawing for gerrymander:
Enough said. (Love the little rivlet going up through Springfield.)
This article originally appeared in the St. Louis Beacon.