Schilling, Bustos Receive Endorsements

As the race for the hotly contested newly drawn 17th Illinois Congressional district comes down to the wire, both candidates picked up endorsements Thursday. Former Peoria Mayor Bud Grieves is throwing his support behind Democrat Cheri Bustos whose challenging Republican incumbent Bobby Schilling. Grieves says he is supporting Bustos because he "wants to send people to Congress who are willing to compromise." Meantime, Schilling, seeking his second term was endorsed by fellow Republican Congressman Aaron Schock who is losing some of his constituency to Schilling's district because of redistricting. Schock calls Schilling someone who can reach across the aisle to solve problems. Meantime, Schilling also picked up a union endorsement, International Union of Operating Engineers Local 150 who calls Schilling a strong supporter of the working and middle class. Schilling, who owns a small local business in the Quad Cities, served more than 13 years in a union and was the union steward for Local 191 of the United Paperworkers International Union. Schilling also picked up the endorsement of the Rockford Register Star and has already been endorsed by the Peoria Journal Star, Chicago Tribune,and Freeport Journal Standard. Both candidates debated in Peoria Thursday night.