Pols on both sides give Foster support

Democratic congressional candidate Bill Foster claimed bipartisan appeal this week in announcing endorsements from Democrats on two county boards and a pair of aldermen from the GOP-heavy Tri-Cities area.

Longtime Aurora Alderman Mike Saville and Aurora-based Kane County Board member Gerry Jones are also among the nine to back Foster, a former Fermilab scientist seeking the Democratic nomination to replace now-retired Rep. Dennis Hastert.

"I'm excited and honored to see that my message ... is catching on in the district and receiving bipartisan support," Foster said in a statement.

Attorney Jotham Stein and former Hastert opponent John Laesch join Foster for both the regular and special primary elections on Feb. 5. Geneva resident Joe Serra will appear on only the regular primary ballot. State Sen.

Chris Lauzen and dairy owner Jim Oberweis are the top Republicans in both contests, with low-key candidate Michael Dilger not running in the special primary. A special general election will be held March 8 to fill the remainder of Hastert's term.

Saville, an alderman for more than 20 years, said he "picks and chooses" when to make endorsements. After a conversation with Foster, Saville decided this was one of those instances.

"I just looked at what he had to say," Saville said, highlighting Foster's education and qualifications relative to the district. "He seems to be very much a common sense guy."

Also endorsing Foster are Kane County Board Democrats Bonnie Lee Kunkel and Rudy Neuberger of Aurora; DeKalb County Board Democrat Robert Rosemeier; Geneva Alderman Chuck Brown and Batavia Alderman Jim Volk, who worked at Fermilab with Foster; and from Kendall County, former Newark Mayor Roger Ness.

"As a lifelong Republican, I've never voted for a Democrat in my life," said Ness, who has known Foster for 24 years.

As far as politically tied endorsements, Laesch lists support from about 60 precinct committeemen around the 14th District, including DeKalb County Board Chairman Ruth Anne Tobias.

On the Republican side, those lending their names to campaigns appear more formidable. Oberweis has picked up the most notable endorsement -- Hasert's -- while Lauzen boasts several current and former Illinois legislators, as well as former U.S. Sen. Peter Fitzgerald.

Current U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin previously announced his support of Foster.