Weller retiring, puts Congress seat in play

After negative publicity, GOP hopes to keep seat

21 Sep 2007 // Embattled Rep. Jerry Weller (R-Ill.) is expected to announce today that he will retire from Congress, placing a third GOP-held congressional seat in Illinois into political limbo.

Weller, a seven-term congressman from Morris, would join former House Speaker Dennis Hastert of Plano and Rep. Ray LaHood of Peoria in not seeking re-election in 2008.

Weller, 50, is expected to make his decision public during a Joliet Region Chamber of Commerce luncheon, a source familiar with the situation told the Chicago Sun-Times.

The source said Weller is retiring because he wants to spend more time with his family. His wife is a Guatemalan congresswoman, and the two have a daughter born in 2006.

Republicans were eager to see Weller go, viewing him as a liability in their efforts to reclaim control of Congress. His planned announcement comes on the heels of a barrage of negative publicity.

Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics, a Washington watchdog group, this week labeled Weller one of the 22 most corrupt members of Congress, accusing him of improperly disclosing land deals in Nicaragua. Weller, along with 11 other members of Congress, also is fighting a subpoena to testify in a bribery trial involving a jailed former California congressman.

Democrats are hopeful they can take over Weller's 11th Congressional District seat. The district includes parts of Will County and reaches as far south as McLean County.

State Senate Majority Leader Debbie DeFrancesco Halvorson (D-Crete) is one of the more well-known Democrats considering a bid. She has already been contacted by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.) about getting in the race.

Jerry Weber, president of Kankakee Community College, has indicated he will run for the Democratic nomination.

On the GOP side, state Sen. Christine Radogno -- the GOP nominee for state treasurer last year -- said she was considering entering the 11th District race. Radogno now lives outside the district in Lemont but said she would move into it if she decides to run and wins.

"It's an opportunity that doesn't come along very often," Radogno said.