Cheri Bustos (IL-17)

Former journalist and healthcare executive Cheri Bustos is running for Congress in Illinois' 17th Congressional District.

A native of Illinois,Bustos has been elected twice to the City Council of East Moline. She reported on many issues during her journalism career including government corruption, crime, and healthcare. Bustos was the Senior Director of Corporate Communications for Trinity Regional Health System in Illinois and served as the Vice President of Public Relations and Communications at IHS. She currently serves as the President of the Board of Directors of the Women’s Connection and was an Alderwoman on the City Council in East Moline, Illinois. As part of her commitment to economic development, Bustos founded and chaired the East Moline Downtown Revitalization Committee.

She has said she will seek a seat on the House Armed Services Committee if elected to represent Illinois’ 17th Congressional district. Bustos’ top three issues as a first term Member of Congress would be creating jobs, increasing access to quality affordable healthcare and protecting Medicare and Social Security.

WAND Distinguishing Points: Bustos answered all of the questions on our questionnaire to our satisfaction.

The Seat: The seat to represent the 17th Congressional district of Illinois is currently held by Bobby Schilling (R), elected in 2010, who is running for re-election. After re-districting, the new 17th district is slightly more favorable to Democrats. Recent public polling shows that only 39% of voters said they would re-elect Bobby Schilling and 32% have a favorable opinion of the Republicans in Congress. A Democratic challenger leads 44-40 when voters were asked who they would support for Congress between Schilling and a Democratic challenger. In the Democratic primary, Bustos faces three opponents: Greg Aguilar, Freeport Mayor George Gaulrapp, and attorney Eric Reyes. State Senator Dave Koehler was previously the most credible opponent for the Democratic nomination; however, he dropped out of the race in early December to keep his state Senate seat. Bustos raised more than 15 times the amount of her next closest opponent in the most recent fundraising quarterly report and is a strong Democratic candidate. She anticipates main issues in the election race to be jobs, Medicare and Social Security, and healthcare. Primary elections are on March 20, 2012.

Endorsements to Date: EMILY’s List, Women’s Campaign Forum, Senator Dick Durbin, Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, Former Congressman Phil Hare, Lt. Governor Sheila Simon, Painter’s District Council 30, Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 25

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