KEWANEE, IL -- Former Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood lended his support and endorsement to Bobby Schilling on the campaign trail today. LaHood, who served during the entire first term of the Obama Administration, told a crowd of 85 supporters at the Elks Lodge in Kewanee, Ill. that Bobby Schilling is the "right guy for the job" in the Illinois 17th District.
"I'm very proud to support somebody who wants to get our country moving again, particularly in western Illinois," LaHood said.
LaHood pointed to Schilling's bipartisan record of success in Congress and said we need more bipartisanship in Washington.
"Bobby has a great track record of bipartisanship," LaHood said. "When I was Secretary of Transportation, I participated with Bobby and Congressman Loebsack in really identifying the importance of replacing the bridge across the Mississippi River. Bobby worked very hard on that and moved it to a position where now, when there's a transportation bill, this bridge is going to be replaced."
In 2012, Schilling and Loebsack, a Democrat Congressman from Iowa, invited Secretary LaHood to the Quad Cities to inspect the I-74 bridge. At the time, LaHood called the I-74 bridge "one of the worst bridges I've ever seen."
LaHood also highlighted Schilling's work for the Rock Island Arsenal.
"On the House Armed Services committee, Bobby really helped strengthen one of the biggest economic engines in the Quad Cities. He got those key provisions passed into law. That wouldn't have happened if Bobby hadn't worked as a member of the House Armed Services Committee."
Schilling said he appreciated LaHood's support, calling him a "true statesman."
"Ray LaHood is a guy who gets it," Schilling said. "He understands that it's about serving people, not party, and he's proven that. I'm honored to have his support, and I'm really appreciative he came tonight to our event in Kewanee."
Bobby Schilling (R-Colona) was born and raised in Rock Island, Illinois. He has been married to his wife, Christie for 28 years and together they have 10 children. Schilling represented the Illinois 17th District in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2011-2012, serving on the House Armed Services Committee, the House Agriculture Committee, and the House Small Business Committee. Schilling is seeking another term and is running against incumbent Congresswoman Cheri Bustos.
