Shimkus says he will run for Congress again
From Illinois Business Journal news services
Congressman John Shimkus says he will be a candidate for re-election in 2016, seeking to keep the seat he has held since 1997.
The nine-term Collinsville Republican represents the 15th Congressional District, a territory that has been reconfigured and renumbered multiple times, today serving a 33-county area in Southern Illinois.
“It is an honor and privilege to represent the people of the 15th Congressional District in Washington, D.C., and I do not take that responsibility lightly,” he said in a letter sent to supporters.
“The process starts very early in Illinois,” he noted of the petition process that began Sept. 1 and which he needs to be placed on the March primary ballot.
Shimkus cites his experience as a senior member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee for the accomplishments he has been able to make this year.
The full U.S. House has passed two bills sponsored by Shimkus – the DOTCOM Act and the TSCA Modernization Act. The DOTCOM Act challenged the Obama administration’s unilateral decision to give away control over the Internet; however, they have backed down from the original plan after the bill passed.
“The Toxic Control Substances Act is a 1970s relic that does not work,” Shimkus noted. “Many years were spent to get to this point, and many other legislators tried, but I was able to get this through my committee and the full House with just one no vote.”
In announcing his re-election bid, Shimkus also reaffirmed his support for the pro-life movement, 2nd Amendment rights, and local natural resources such as coal and oil.
Shimkus and his wife Karen have been married since 1987. They reside in his hometown of Collinsville and have three sons. He is a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy and Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (MBA).
Also supporting Shimkus’ re-election are members of the General Assembly that serve overlapping territory, including State Senators David Luechtefeld, Dale Righter, Chapin Rose, and Jason Barickman and State Representatives David Reis, John Cavaletto, Bill Mitchell, Chad Hays, Adam Brown, Charlie Meier, Tom Bennett, Reggie Phillips, and Terri Bryant.
In 1996 Shimkus won his first term as representative from what was then Illinois’ 20th District. From 2003-2013 he represented the 19th District and he is completing his second term representing the 15th District.
His campaign office can be reached at (618) 344-1919 or campaign@volunteersforshimkus.com. Petitions can also be downloaded at www.volunteersforshimkus.com.
