Introducing Two Candidates

During the monthly meeting of the Madison County East End Precinct Committee, two Democratic candidates had the opportunity to introduce themselves. Dan Stover is a member of the Centralia City Council running for the House of Representatives in IL-19. William “Bill” Berry from Collinsville is running for the seat that Gordon Maag vacated on the 5^th Appellate Court.

Daniel Stover

Mr. Stover’s education includes a bachelor’s degree in government and a master’s degree in higher education with a concentration in political science. For the past 28 years, he has also been a professor at Kaskaskia Community College. He is a program coordinator, political science instructor, administration of justice instructor, and chairman of the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences. He taught in Olney before that. He is also a former police firearms instructor and a criminal justice consultant. Mr. Stover has been a public servant of many years. He is a husband and a father of two sons.

Mr. Stover will address several issues during the campaign:

1. Keeping promises are important to him. He would not have told people that he would limit his term in office and then justify hypocrisy telling people that no one has to keep “bad promises”.
2. The federal response to the destruction in the Gulf was completely disastrous in itself.
3. The gasoline prices need to come down.
4. The war in Iraq should have a clearer, honorable exit strategy.
5. He supports the troops and has concern about the quality of intelligence that put the country in this situation. He differs with President Bush. The level of corruption is equal to the Nixon Administration.
6. He knows that the GOP scandals inside the Beltway will have an adverse effect on the GOP’s IL congressional delegation.

As a person completely familiar with politics, Mr. Stover feels that every congressional seat should have a challenger. Free rides are not an option. His primary concern is the hemorrhage of jobs in IL-19. It will never see an economic boost from outsourcing and suffers from the highest unemployment rate in the state.

Mr. Stover's opponent in the March Primary is Vic Roberts from Taylorville.

William “Bill” Berry

Bill Berry has been an attorney for more than 30 years practicing in St. Clair County and the St. Louis area. He received his B.A. from Millikin University and his J.D. from Washington University. He is a member of Dunham, Boman, & Leskera practicing. In the diverse firm, he specializes in family law. He also lectures often on legal issues affecting families of patients with Alzheimer's in Illinois.

Mr. Berry said electing an appellate judge is an important aspect of the voting process since it directly affects average citizens derive from an appellate court. Everyone has a right to appeal to the appellate court. The Supreme Court does not choose to listen to all cases.

Candidates’ associations are typically varied and have an agenda within legal constraints. They advocate several points of view. Mr. Berry promises to bring three important characteristics to the bench:

1. Experience
2. Integrity
3. Independence

Some of the legal professions organizations have already recognized Mr. Berry abilities:

• The Leading Lawyer Network elected him among the top 5 percent of attorneys in Illinois.
• The Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings awarded him the highest rating - an AV. That means that his Legal Ability Rating is Very High to Preeminent. His General Ethical Standards Rating (i.e., his adherence to the professional standards of conduct and ethics, reliability, diligence, and other relevant criteria related to his professional responsibilities) is Very High.

Bill Berry has already visited some of the 37 counties of the 5^th District. The residents have given him the opportunity to speak and have received him well. His opponent in the March Primary is Bruce Stewart from Harrisburg.

One of Democratic candidates will run against Stephen McGlynn (R) of Belleville in the November 2006 General Election.