Posted on 04/18/2006 7:36:33 PM PDT by TheRealDBear
Edited on 04/18/2006 7:55:38 PM PDT by Admin Moderator. [history]
Evans' brothers given temporary guardianship
By Doug Wilson Herald-Whig Senior Writer
A judge from Rock Island County ruled Monday that U.S. Rep. Lane Evans is "incapable of fully managing his own estate and person" and granted temporary guardianship to Evans' brothers.
Evans, 54, announced last month that he is withdrawing from his re-election bid in the 17th District. The 12-term Democrat was first diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 1995 and made his condition public in 1998.
Evans had to be hospitalized in February after falling ill while serving in Congress. He announced the decision to withdraw from the November election shortly after winning the March primary.
Several politicians are now seeking support from precinct committeemen who will name a new nominee.
Alan Blackwood, an associate judge in Rock Island County Circuit Court, made Doyle Evans the temporary guardian of his brother's person and a decision-maker in medical matters. Doyle Evans, 45, is from Rock Island and works on his brother's congressional staff.
In addition, Steven Evans, 56, San Diego, has been appointed the temporary guardian of his brother's financial dealings. Rep. Evans owns three houses with an estimated value of nearly $700,000.
Evans could not be reached for comment. Steve Vetzner, his long-time spokesman, said the guardianship decision was made by Evans and his brothers together.
"This is something that gives legal authority and accountability" and lets Evans focus on his recovery and his service in Congress, Vetzner said.
Also on Monday, letters purportedly from Evans were received by Democrat precinct committeemen. The letters endorse the appointment of Phil Hare, Evans' long-time district director, to be the party's nominee in the general election.
Vetzner said Evans has to wait until at least April 22 to file paperwork withdrawing from the campaign.
"I assume it will be done shortly thereafter," Vetzner said.
It is not yet clear whether Evans will actively campaign on behalf of whoever replaces him on the ballot. Although Vetzner said Evans is regaining his strength, his participation in the campaign is "still a ways ahead."
Vetzner also was uncertain whether Evans will be sufficiently recovered to attend sessions of Congress, which are scheduled to reconvene next week.
What is going on with this guy?
He isn't capable of handling his own affairs but can still serve in congress?
Why oh why oh why couldn't it have been Durbin? Or OBama. Or Daley?
And how many US Congressmen would you trust to be shift supervisor at the local McDonald's ?
I didn't know anything about him a couple years ago when I saw him chairing a committee on C-SPAN. I knew something was wrong then. The rest of the committee appeared to be walking on egg shells.
It's not really that the Republicans in that district are ineffectual, but the district is heavily gerrymandered to favor Democrats. Evans barely held his seat in the '90s, so the district was made more Democrat, stretching from Rock Island to Quincy to Springfield to Decatur.
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