Schmitz continues low-key approach
AURORA -- When state Rep. Tim Schmitz tours his district, many folks can't remember exactly who he is. Some even ask him, "How's Washington?" he says.
But the 49th District Republican -- who's running for another term against Carpentersville entrepreneur and fellow Republican Jim Krenz -- says he doesn't need notoriety to do his job well.
"I'm not a flashy guy," Schmitz said during an endorsement interview Wednesday at The (Aurora) Beacon News, sister publication of The Courier News. "You don't get all the good quotes from Tim Schmitz screaming into the microphone. I keep my head down. I do my bills. I get them passed, I get them signed."
So he keeps busy. In fact, Schmitz said Wednesday that later that day -- just a few hours later -- he was driving down to Springfield so he could vote against Gov. Rod Blagojevich's amendatory veto to the mass transit funding bill, which would allow seniors to ride for free.
That's something Schmitz has in common with Krenz, who owns Amy Plumbing, Heating & Cooling Inc., and says he is sick of the political games that go on in Springfield. They would agree that the money for transit funding needs to come from somewhere other than what they say are the collar counties' already overextended taxpayers.
"We thought it was unconscionable that (some lawmakers and transit officials) would not discuss fare hikes," said Schmitz, who's been in office since 1999. He also is assistant Republican leader, and remains on-call for the Batavia Fire Department, where he's worked for 23 years. "I guess we can't blame the mayor of Chicago. If you can get the money from Springfield, get the money from Springfield."
Krenz has said he does not intend to "climb the ladder" in state government, would limit himself to three terms, and feels "career politicians" like Schmitz are part of the reason why the Legislature is so inefficient.
The two men have their disagreements, but they appear to see eye-to-eye on a number of policy questions. Schmitz said he is anti-abortion, against allowing illegal immigrants to obtain driver's licences, and opposes expanding gambling in the state, all policies shared with Krenz.
But in response to Krenz's criticisms, Schmitz says he's been consistently productive and far from divisive.
"Jim Krenz says he's going to bring dollars back to northern Kane County," Schmitz said. "I challenge him on that. We're not northern Kane County and southern Kane County. We're Kane County. I have a proven track record. I didn't get into this because of my disdain for a certain person."
The two are vying for the Republican nomination in the 49th District, and only one will be left after the Feb. 5 primary. No Democrats have filed for candidacy to challenge the Republican winner.
