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Appellate justice considering run to replace LaHood

Posted August 09, 2007 11:00 pm

Bernard Schoenburg

Sue Myerscough, a 4th District Appellate Court justice, is meeting today with Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee representatives about a possible run for the U.S. House seat being given up by Rep. Ray LaHood, R-Peoria.

And former state Rep. Bill Edley, now an official with the Illinois Department of Corrections, is another Democrat considering a run in the 18th Congressional District.

On Thursday, Myerscough, of Springfield, indicated she is a long way from deciding to seek a post that has long been centered in Peoria and held by Republicans. But she said she has been encouraged to consider a run.

"This is a position that's going to be significant to our country at a critical time," said Myerscough, 55, who has been a judge for more than two decades, including her time on the circuit court bench in Sangamon County. "And I think I would be a fool not to pause. It's a challenge of a lifetime."

Still, Myerscough said, there would be significant sacrifice. She has planned to be on the 2008 ballot for retention as an appellate judge, which would mark 10 years in that position, which now pays $178,011. Seeking a congressional seat would mean more than not seeking retention as a judge - she'd have to quit her job to run.

"My heart, honestly, is in my job," she said. "It's in running for retention."

But she added that she is honored that people have contacted her about LaHood's seat.

"Bipartisan groups have contacted me, county chairs," she said. "It's an honor to be contacted, and I hope they find a fabulous candidate."

She said she will "look at the numbers."

"I have been so impressed over the years with Representative LaHood and with (former U.S. House Minority Leader Bob) Michel," another Peoria Republican, Myerscough said. "And I hope someone equally fine replaces them."

While Myerscough said her heart is in her current job, her husband and daughters - one out of college and one in college - like the idea of a run for Capitol Hill.

"If you were to ask my family, they would tell you I'm running for Congress," Myerscough said. "They like the idea. They think I would be good at it."

But asked how far the door is open to a run, Myerscough said, "Not very."

"It'd be hard to have those cozy family dinners if I was in D.C. and they were here," she added.

Still, she said, she will meet in Springfield today with people from the DCCC, which oversees Democratic efforts to win House seats nationwide.

While already on the appellate court, Myerscough ran for the Illinois Supreme Court in 2002, losing to incumbent Republican Justice Rita Garman.

Edley, 59, who lived in Macomb when he was in the Illinois House from 1989-95, said he has "a passion for the issues that our country is facing," including economic security and the loss of good jobs, the "health-care crisis" and the war in Iraq, which he considers "a tragic mistake."

But he said he, too, would have to give up his state job, which pays $107,000 annually. He is director of Corrections' public safety shared service center, which is designed to bring together business services such as payroll for public safety agencies.

A factor in his decision would also be "electability," Edley said, with voters in the 18th having given 58 percent support to Republican President George Bush in 2004.

"But it's similar to the district I won in western Illinois," he said, and five of the 20 counties in the 18th were also in Edley's old district.

Edley now lives in a Springfield apartment during the week, and a Peoria home on weekends. He was a stockbroker and portfolio manager for Smith Barney in Peoria, earlier owned auto-parts stores in Macomb, and just out of college, he lived in Springfield for three years, doing purchasing and financial work for an auto-parts business.

The announcement last month by LaHood that he is not seeking re-election in 2008 has already yielded entry of Republican candidates Aaron Schock, a state representative from Peoria, and John Morris, a former Peoria City Council member, in the 18th. Peoria businessman Jim McConoughey, another Republican, has set up an exploratory committee.

Bernard Schoenburg can be reached at (217) 788-1540 or bernard.schoenburg@sj-r.com.

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