Hastert running for precinct seat

Dennis Hastert's name will appear on some Fox Valley ballots this November, just not in the place voters are used to seeing it.

Shortly after submitting his resignation last month after serving 21 years as the 14th District's congressman, the former speaker of the U.S. House signed up to run for a third term in the office of Republican precinct committeeman for Little Rock Precinct No. 8.

No one is challenging his candidacy.

Each of Kendall County's 75 precincts may be represented by two committeemen -- a Republican and a Democrat -- who serve as party foot soldiers, urging neighbors to vote along party lines.

Former Kendall GOP Chairman Dallas Ingemunson acknowledged Hastert's advocacy probably carries a little more weight than that of average committeemen, who range from county officeholders to civic-minded residents.

The Kendall County clerk's office said Hastert has served two consecutive terms as precinct committeeman in the past four years. Other party members could not recall whether he had held the office at other times in the past.