18th District Congressional Candidates: Congress' Approval
By: Matthew Fuchs
Updated: November 6, 2012
In the race for the 18th congressional
district seat, Republican incumbent Aaron Schock is facing Democrat Steve Waterworth.
Our question: A recent Wall Street Journal /
NBC News poll finds the approval rating for congress has tied its all-time low
while its disapproval rating has tied an all-time high.
Why is that, and what would
you do to reestablish confidence with citizens you represent?
Aaron Shock:
Well I think there is
a great sense of frustration in Washington D.C. People sense that the system is
broken because there's not a lot getting done right now and I think it's up to
the electorate to demand from their elected officials a greater accountability
to get things done. And we all have a responsibility when we go to the polls to
choose people to serve on our behalf that represent us in the way we're proud
of. In other words, I can say I'm proud of the way I go to Washington D.C. Not
that everyone in my district agrees with me, but I'm respectful of people in
Washington and I think I've engendered the respect of my colleagues, the
democratic and republican sides of the aisles because of the way I perform when
I come in the capital.
Steve Waterworth:
I have a lot of, what
I like to call, real-world experience, even though I'm twice as old as Aaron
Shock is. And because of that, I have a lot of real-world experience. I've done
24 years in the military, I retired from the Peoria International Guard. I've
been on numerous boards including Community Action, Head Start, local zoning,
my town board or my local township. I grew up on a farm; I know about farming.
I feel like I bring a lot more to the position of representing the people of
the 18th than my opponent, Congressman Schock.
