[Peace-discuss] FYI

[C. G. Estabrook]

Would he vote against any more funding for war in the Mideast (including arms for Israel), as Gill is pledged to do?


> On Nov 15, 2015, at 11:12 AM, David Johnson <davidjohnson1451 at comcast.net> wrote:
> 
> Mark Wicklund announces congressional bid
> DECATUR – Former Macon County Board member and Central Illinois Democratic party activist Mark Wicklund announced Tuesday his campaign to represent the 13th Congressional District.
> Wicklund, 47, is challenging U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis, a second-term Republican from Taylorville. He also could face David Gill, a four-time Democratic congressional candidate who has said he will seek the seat as an independent.
> In a news conference at the Decatur Civic Center, Wicklund blasted Davis, calling him “part of the Republican party of 'no'” and saying Davis had “never seen an extremist Republican proposal that he didn't like.”
> “We are going to build a new coalition that brings together seniors, organized labor, working families, farmers, students, women and veterans who are ready to elect a congressman who will fight for them, not against them,” he said.
> Wicklund is a disabled steel worker who served on the county board from 2010 to 2013, and as treasurer of the Macon County Democrats for six years, ending in 2014.
> He serves as president of the Decatur-Macon County Opportunities Corp. board, and said he also has been working with Army Wounded Warrior Program advocates on veterans' issues. His son, Adam Wicklund, suffered a hemorrhagic stroke while on leave from the Army in 2013, caused in part by his proximity to explosions from IEDs while serving in Afghanistan.
> Having become increasingly aware of disabled veterans' needs through that experience, Wicklund said he reached out to Davis to work together and did not receive a response.
> “But this is not just about Adam,” Wicklund said. “There are thousands of young veterans like him who need help when they come home, and they aren't getting it.”
> Wicklund said he has been seeking support across the district for several months and has already gotten a positive response.
> He said he will be able to make connections with Republicans and Democrats and already has great friendships with people from both parties.
> “We haven't had a real good Democratic candidate run in this district, somebody that's known in the district from one end to the other, knows labor rights, the labor movement and is able to reach across party lines and pick up votes outside the Democratic party,” he said.
> “I know I'm that candidate.”