Female Iraq vet runs for seat Duckworth lost

[unhappycamper]

Female Iraq vet runs for seat Duckworth lost
By Deanna Bellandi - The Associated Press
Posted : Saturday Jan 26, 2008 14:15:13 EST

CHICAGO — Jill Morgenthaler’s 30-year Army career took her to Korea, Berlin, Bosnia and Iraq.

Now, the 53-year-old suburban mother of two and retired Army Reserve colonel has embarked on a new mission at home: running for Congress in a race that could seem eerily similar to voters — and incumbent Republican Rep. Peter Roskam — if Morgenthaler wins next month’s Democratic primary.

In 2006, Roskam edged out Iraq war veteran Tammy Duckworth, who lost both her legs in combat, in one of the nation’s most hotly contested congressional races. This time, Duckworth is backing Morgenthaler’s run for the 6th Congressional District in Chicago’s northwest suburbs.

“Why not? We female vets are a tough bunch and we stand up for what we believe in,” said Duckworth, now director of the Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs and a major in the Illinois Army National Guard.

Morgenthaler is running in the Feb. 5 primary against Stan Jagla, a 45-year-old Roselle businessman who says he’s currently between jobs. Roskam has no Republican primary opponent, and a spokesman said the congressman wouldn’t comment until his Democratic challenger was determined.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/01/ap_congress_campaign_080125/

[xchrom]

1. recommend