Attorney selected over five candidates including Peoria Mayor Jim Ardis
Darin LaHood makes a reference to his opponent Kevin Lyons during their State's attorney race debate in 2008.
By PATRICK OLDENDORF (poldendorf@pjstar.com)
Peoria Journal-Star
Feb 26, 2011
PEORIA — "Humbled" was how Darin LaHood described himself Saturday afternoon, shortly after being appointed the new state senator for the 37th District.
The Peoria attorney defeated five other candidates to replace state Sen. Dale Risinger, who announced his retirement earlier this month after being re-elected in November.
"There were many other qualified candidates," LaHood, 42, said. "But I think my experience as a congressional staffer, a prosecutor (and) a municipal attorney ... will give me a unique perspective."
LaHood is the son of Ray LaHood, the U.S. Secretary of Transportation who served seven terms in the U.S. House of Representatives from the 18th District.
The younger LaHood's appointment is effective Tuesday morning, when he'll likely be sworn in at the Peoria County Courthouse. Risinger's resignation is effective at the end of the day Monday.
After taking office, LaHood said he plans to continue "representing the conservative principles Sen. Risinger brought to Springfield."
"But I'll also bring a new energy and passion to the job," he said.
Republican county chairmen from the 37th's seven counties - Peoria, Stark, Henry, Woodford, Knox, Bureau and Marshall - unanimously chose LaHood from a field that included Peoria Mayor Jim Ardis, Peoria County Coroner Johnna Ingersoll, Peoria County Board member Brian Elsasser and Metamora school district superintendent Ken Maurer.
It took the chairmen only one vote to reach the consensus, though it was no easy decision.
"Quite frankly, we had some very good candidates," said Rudy Lewis, chairman of the Peoria County Republican Party. "We had some discussion ... but it was a unanimous decision."
LaHood has worked as a prosecutor in Tazewell County as well as for the U.S. Attorney's Office in Las Vegas. He returned to Peoria and private practice in 2005. Three years later, he ran an unsuccessful campaign for Peoria County state's attorney against Democratic incumbent Kevin Lyons.
LaHood, an associate with the Peoria law firm of Miller, Hall & Triggs, has been involved in Republican politics at the state and national levels. He worked most recently with Bill Brady's gubernatorial campaign and Dan Rutherford's state treasurer campaign.
Ardis and LaHood were considered frontrunners heading into Saturday.
"It was a fair process," Ardis said Saturday night. "I have no issues. I'm sure they (the Republican chairmen) made the decision for what will be best for the district, and that's their job."
Risinger told the Journal Star earlier this month that he would not seek re-election and he would not finish the term he was elected to in November.
Risinger was first elected to the state Senate in November 2002. He ran unopposed in November.
"Even with this budget this year, the (state Legislature) wants to borrow $8 billion on top of the tax increase," he told the Journal Star on Feb. 11. "There's a lot of fight in Springfield yet to be done. I'm 67 years old, and it's time to think about maybe letting somebody else fight the battle."
On Saturday, he said he was excited about LaHood taking over.
"I'm still going to be around, and I've left the district offices in good shape," Risinger said. "I intend to give him any help he needs ... to ensure a good transition."
Though LaHood hasn't quite started the job, he's already looking to the future.
"I will actively be seeking re-election," he said. "We have a lot of learning, and I'm not taking anything for granted."
Ardis, serving his second term as Peoria mayor, said he isn't really planning on a future campaign for the job, though he didn't rule it out.
The seat, like all legislative seats in the state, is up for re-election in fall 2012.
Patrick Oldendorf can be reached at 686-3194 or poldendorf@pjstar.com.