PEORIA --Republican Joan Krupa will be appointed to fill the seat of outgoing state Representative Aaron Schock on Monday, and will serve until the newly elected Illinois General Assembly is sworn in on Jan. 16.
At that point, Democrat Jehan Gordon will take the 42nd Illinois House seat. She defeated Krupa on Nov. 4 for the post.
Schock, R-Peoria, who was elected to Congress from the 18th District, must resign before he can be sworn in as a Congressman on Jan. 6.
Gordon spoke to the Peoria County Democratic Women on Jan. 3, took a call from Schock at the meeting, then informed the group of Krupa's appointment.
Gordon said Schock had at first indicated she might be appointed to the seat, which would give her some senority that would benefit the district. But nothing was finalized, she said.
The Republicans plan a huge election effort in 2010, she said, to capitalize on the disgrace of Gov. Rod Blagojevich. The governor's office, Obama's senate seat, members of Congress and the General Assembly will be up for election.
Krupa may better positioned to challenge Gordon for the seat, having served briefly in the spot.
Gordon talked about her run for the position, and said she even made a database on the concerns she heard as she went door-to-door during the campaign. In Peoria, School District 150 topped the list of concerns, she said, especially in families with children or who wanted children.
-- Elaine Hopkins
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