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For Congress: Tim Johnson

By:

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

In a political campaign season that, especially in Illinois, appears to favor Democrats overwhelmingly, incumbent U.S. Rep. Tim Johnson, R-Urbana, faces only token opposition from the Democratic Party. Perhaps it is because of the strong rural and conservative nature of the 15th Congressional District. Perhaps it is because of Johnson's unusually independent voting record, especially the distance he has kept from President Bush on some noteworthy votes.

In any case Johnson's opponent, Steve Cox, has put up only a nominal campaign, with little money and even less organization. Still, he deserves credit for giving voters a choice. He has run a truly gentlemanly, issue-oriented and grass-roots race, much like Johnson's 2006 opponent, Dr. David Gill. But Gill managed to get just 42 percent of the vote, and he had significantly more resources than Cox has.

So we find ourselves again endorsing Johnson, although without a great deal of enthusiasm. He remains generally true to the interests of his district – conservative in most spending, pro-gun and anti-abortion, supportive of education and agriculture and pro-environment.

Johnson is renowned for every day calling 50 or so of the approximately 650,000 constituents in his district and asking what issues they care about and whether there's anything he can do for them. He claims that keeps him in touch with the voters. Perhaps it does. But we also wonder why the congressman doesn't hold occasional town meetings – other elected officials do – where constituents with the benefit of time to formulate questions and express views might give him better feedback than they do with those surprise phone calls.

Plus they'd be able to hear the congressman's views on other issues and other voters' concerns. We're certain the people of Mattoon and Tuscola would like to hear Johnson's take on what is being done to nudge the FutureGen clean coal project along. The citizens of Rantoul undoubtedly would be interested in what is being done regarding federal help to redevelop the old Chanute Air Force Base. And Danville residents might want to hear the congressman's take on progress at the Veterans Affairs medical center there. Just a suggestion.