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Former Peoria councilman will run for Congress

Posted August 02, 2007 11:00 pm

KAREN McDONALD

Former Peoria City Councilman John Morris will declare his candidacy for Ray LaHood's 18th Congressional seat next week, beating a slew of other potential candidates to the punch to be the first to announce.

Morris, 39, a Republican and vice president for development at WTVP-TV, Channel 47, said he was encouraged by early commitments he received, garnering nearly $50,000 in pledges in just two days. He touted his conservative family values, political experience and experience in Washington, D.C., in numerous Republican volunteer and staff positions including in Congress and the Reagan White House.

"I've committed myself to building the community up and making it a better place and living by conservative values," Morris said. "I believe in America. To represent people in the Congress and take my conservative values to Congress in the tradition of Bob Michel and Ray LaHood would be a tremendous honor."

Jim McConoughey, president of The Heartland Partnership, announced Thursday that he's launching an "exploratory committee" that will help him decide in the next few weeks whether he should take a shot at LaHood's seat.

"They'll be in a fact-gathering mode for the characteristics of both what the community thinks is a winnable type of candidate and match that up with my skills and see if that's a combination," McConoughey said. "I have a very heartfelt, important role for the Heartland Partnership and we're going to review what significance this would have I were to make a run."

LaHood, R-Peoria, announced his retirement a week ago and though lots of names are floating around - more Republicans than Democrats - few are willing to officially commit to the race this early. LaHood will retire in January 2009.

LaHood's son, Darin, who's pounding the pavement on the St. Jude Memphis-to-Peoria run this weekend, said he's "keeping his options open" and plans to consult with constituents in Peoria and throughout the 20-county district in the coming weeks.

State Rep. Aaron Schock, R-Peoria, still says he's strongly considering the post, and state Rep. David Leitch, R-Peoria, says he's still thinking about it, but isn't in "a real big rush" to make a decision and loves his current job.

Others are falling off the list.

State Sen. John Sullivan, D-Rushville, said he won't run and instead will seek re-election to his 47th State Senate District seat next year. State Rep. Keith Sommer, R-Morton, said he's "definitely not a candidate for Congress," but is running for re-election in the House.

Morris said he embraces issues such as economic development and low property tax rates to keep people living in Peoria.

He served on the City Council for eight years and currently serves as the chairman for the national PBS Foundation station advisory board.

McConoughey, 46, also is president of the Economic Development Council for Central Illinois, president of the Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce, and manages other subsidiary business organizations of The Heartland Partnership family of companies.

He said he's been involved in politics for more than 25 years and worked in virtually all facets of local, state and federal government. He said he would work to support regional initiatives and job generation.

"The work that I do here is creating jobs and creating a community and a region that's highly livable," McConoughey said.

Karen McDonald can be reached at (309) 686-3285 or kmcdonald@pjstar.com.

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