Duckworth, Scott attend DuPage County Unity Breakfast, Cegelis does not [View All]

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6th District Democrats rallying to defeat Roskam

By Kathryn Grondin
Daily Herald Staff Writer
Posted Sunday, March 26, 2006

DuPage County Democrats are thirsty — thirsty to win a seat in Congress.

They say they think their goal finally will be within reach this November in the traditionally Republican 6th Congressional District, where retiring political icon U.S. Rep. Henry Hyde’s seat is up for grabs.

“Even Moses got out of the desert,” Joan Brennan, a state central committeewoman, said Saturday. “I want out of the desert. Don’t you?”

The question drew resounding applause Saturday during a party unity breakfast in Oakbrook Terrace.

“The Republicans are losing their stranglehold on this district,” said the party’s nominee, Tammy Duckworth. “The middle-class lifestyle is in jeopardy. We need to take care of our families.”

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“We’re going to go out there and fight … advocate for the working families of this district,” Duckworth said. “I am strong enough to stand up to Peter Roskam and all of his powerful interests.”

But before Democrats can effectively wage a unified campaign against Roskam, they must rebuild some bridges within their own party.

Saturday’s breakfast was supposed to demonstrate unity among Duckworth and the two primary foes she vanquished on Tuesday, Lindy Scott of Wheaton and Christine Cegelis of Rolling Meadows.

Scott attended but Cegelis — who unsuccessfully had taken on Hyde two years ago — did not.

Bridget Dooley, who worked on the Cegelis campaign, said Cegelis had a family commitment and could not attend.

“We are a family, a Democratic family, and blood is thicker than water,” Scott said. “The bad news is that in our Democratic family, like any family, there are hurt feelings. There’s a lot of pain.”
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