Another Republican Congressman declines to stand for re-election
Link to Chicago Tribune article
Weller won’t seek new term
Spokesman denies link to ethics issues
By Hal Dardick | Tribune staff reporter
Amid a growing list of questions about his Nicaraguan land dealings, his wife’s investments and his relationship to an indicted defense contractor, U.S. Rep. Jerry Weller (R-Ill.) announced Friday he will not seek another term.
The seven-term congressman whose district includes Joliet said he was calling it quits after 25 years in politics to spend more time with his wife, Guatemalan legislator Zury Rios de Weller, and their 1-year-old daughter. He made the announcement at a luncheon of the Joliet Region Chamber of Commerce, which gave Weller its Spirit of Enterprise Award.
A Tribune investigation recently revealed Weller failed to disclose several Nicaraguan land transactions on his congressional ethics forms. The newspaper also recently reported that a charity formed by his wife raised questions about whether he had legally excluded her assets from congressional filings.
Weller also is among 13 House members subpoenaed to testify in the criminal case of a defense contractor accused of bribing then-Rep. Randy “Duke” Cunningham (R-Calif.). They are fighting the subpoenas.
After making his announcement, Weller immediately left the luncheon without responding to questions from reporters.
His spokesman, Andy Fuller, denied Weller’s decision had anything to do with questions raised about the congressman.
“Nothing that was printed in the last two weeks had anything to do with the decision,” Fuller said. Weller, he said, made the decision not to run by early this summer.
“For the benefit of my family, I can no longer seek another term in the United States House of Representatives,” Weller said. “At this time, my wife, my child—my family—must come first.”
He said his wife, the daughter of a former Guatemalan dictator, was recently elected to a new four-year term. Steven Shearer, Weller’s campaign manager, said Weller plans to make Guatemala his primary residence after his term ends.
Democrats were pleased with the announcement.
“I thought it was in play given the scandal-ridden state of Mr. Weller’s affairs,” Will County Democratic Chairman Myron Brick said. “But it’s definitely in play now, and we are looking for the highest profile candidate we can find.”
Republicans weighing a run for Weller’s seat include state Sen. Christine Radogno of Lemont, who lost a race last year for state treasurer, and Joliet Mayor Art Schultz. Democrats include Illinois Senate Majority Leader Debbie Halvorson of Crete; John Pavich, a former CIA counter-intelligence officer who lost to Weller by a margin of less than 10 percent in 2006; and Jerry Weber, president of Kankakee Community College.
Will County and its biggest municipality, Joliet, are considered key to winning in the 11th District.
Weller, 50, was first elected to the seat in 1994. He grew up on a hog farm in Dwight. He served as a General Assembly staffer, Illinois Agriculture Department assistant director and aide to U.S. Agriculture Secretary John Block in the Reagan administration before being elected to the Illinois House in 1988.