Former Illinois State Representative and State Senator Shane Cultra might be on his way back to the Legislature? The tech team in the Capitol better get ready to check those buttons at Cultra's new desk.
He's going to be wearing one of them out again it seems. Kurt Erickson in The Southern has the scoop:
During his 10 years in the Illinois House and Senate, Republican Shane Cultra of Onarga was known mostly for pushing his red "no" button on what seemed like nearly every proposed law.
Now Cultra is hoping GOP leaders in the 106th House District give him a green light to return to the Statehouse.
Cultra is among four people looking to replace state Rep. Josh Harms on the ballot in November in the heavily Republican 106th House District.
After filing to get on the ballot earlier this year, Harms decided to abandon his fledgling political career, giving party insiders -- not voters -- an opportunity to place a name on the ballot.
Tom Bennett of Gibson City, who finished second to Harms in the March 2012 primary, also is vying for the appointment. Also in the running are Jason Bunting of Dwight, president of the Livingston County Farm Bureau, and Susan Wynn Bence of Watseka, a legislative aide to Harms.
GOP leaders from the counties making up the district have a weighted vote in deciding who gets the nod. Livingston County Republican Chairman John McGlasson has the most. Cultra, who chairs the Iroquois County party operation, can vote for himself, but needs help from the other Republican chairmen.
Cultra served until 2012, when he was ousted in the Republican primary by state Sen. Jason Barickman, R-Bloomington.
Cultra sounded like he was still smarting from that race when I asked him why he was wading back into politics.
"I really wasn't ready to get out when I got out," Cultra said.
"This was an opportunity I didn't expect," he added.
