A special election is being held Saturday, March 7, 2008, to choose a replacement for retiring US Congressmen and former Speaker of the House, Republican J. Dennis Hastert, who represented the 14th Congressional District of Illinois (Chicago).- Hastert held the seat for 21 years before resigning on November 26, 2007. He was the longest-serving Republican Speaker in history.
- The special election is being held because Hastert resigned before his term was completed. The winner of Saturday's election will serve until the term is completed in January of 2009.
- Another election will be held in November to elect a representative for the next full term.
- Hastert is one of three Congressional seats opening up in Illinois this year due to retirements. Jerry Weller (Republican) who represents the 14th Congressional District of Illinois and Ray LaHood(Republican) who represents the 18th Congressional District of Illinois both announced they would not seek reelection after serving 13 years.
- Running for Hastert's seat are Democrat Bill Foster, age 52, and Republican Jim Oberweis, age 61.
- Presidential candidate, Barack Obama, endorsed Bill Foster and John McCain endorsed Jim Oberweis.
- Foster, a former Fermilab physicist and theater lighting company owner, is new to politics.
- Oberweis chairs an asset management company and three mutual funds. He has run in three other political races for both governor and the US Senate.
Sources:
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gQZZmxxd-dehJ1c_lUKFffsXLaxwD8V8FKI80
http://www.suntimes.com/news/elections/830532,CST-NWS-cong07.article
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dennis_Hastert
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ray_LaHoodhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerry_Weller
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