Congressional candidates get endorsements
<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial"> </font><font face="Imperial">Two 18th Congressional District candidates touted rival endorsements Thursday. </font>
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<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial">State Sen. Dale Risinger, R-Peoria, and MaryAlice Erickson, who represents the 18th District on the Republican State Central Committee, endorsed Peoria businessman Jim McConoughey for the job being vacated by U.S. Rep. Ray LaHood, R-Peoria.</font>
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<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial">Meanwhile, five members of the Illinois House joined state Rep. Aaron Schock, R-Peoria, at a Statehouse news conference to voice their support for Schock.</font>
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<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial">Supporting Schock were House Minority Leader Tom Cross of Oswego and state Reps. Rich Brauer of Petersburg, Jil Tracy of Mount Sterling, Raymond Poe of Springfield and Keith Sommer of Morton.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></font>
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<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial">Also in the race for the GOP nomination in the 18th is John Morris, a former member of the Peoria City Council. Democrats do not have a candidate on the Feb. 5 primary election ballot, but party officials can select a nominee later. </font>