Noland says he'll back John Laesch

State Sen. Michael Noland has said he will endorse Democratic congressional candidate John Laesch.

Noland, D-Elgin, had planned to announce the endorsement Tuesday evening at a candidates forum in St. Charles hosted by the League of Women Voters, he told The Courier News.

In 2006, Laesch ran unsuccessfully against Republican House Speaker Dennis Hastert, who stepped down in November. Hastert's retirement has forced a special election for March 8, a month after each party will nominate one candidate in the Feb. 5 primary. The winner will finish out Hastert's term but still must run in November 2008 to retain the seat.

Laesch, a military veteran, is competing against Democrats Bill Foster, a former Fermilab scientist; Jotham Stein, a Geneva-based business attorney; and Geneva resident Joe Serra.