Gun Control: Where Does Your Congressman Stand?

Patch contacted 10 newly elected representatives to find out what they plan to do to help curb gun violence in our country in the wake of last week's mass killing in Newtown, CT. Those who actually wanted to discuss the issue say it's time for a change.

When members of the 113th Congress take their seats in January, one of the top items on their agenda very well could be a new look at federal gun control laws.  In the wake of the Newtown, CT, tragedy of one week ago today, President Obama on Wednesday set a January deadline for his administration to "create concrete proposals" to curb gun violence in the United States. Obama also called on Congress to reinstate an assault weapons ban that expired in 2004 to "pursue the possibility of limiting high-capacity ammunition clips" and to "close a gun show loophole that allows people to purchase firearms from private dealers without a background check."  What will come of this renewed debate is yet to be seen, but what is certain is that …

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Election 2012: Did Suburban Cook and Will Counties Choose Peloquin or Rush?

U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush hung on to his 1st Congressional District seat for another two years, but did his new constituents south and southwest of city get behind him in the election?

Democrat Bobby Rush will continue to serve as the 1st Congressional Representative, even after redistricting included more municipalities further from Chicago. But most of the townships where his new constituents live did not vote for him. Don Peloquin, the mayor of Blue Island who ran against Rush as a Republican, won all but two of the suburban Cook County and Will County townships, including many of the new areas now included in the 1st District. Only Calumet and Thornton townships placed more votes for Rush in suburban Cook County and Will County. Chicago precincts were a different story, with Rush receiving 181,032 votes compared to 6,574 votes for Peloquin. Here are the vote counts from suburban Cook and Will counties, and by …

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Bobby Rush Wins 11th Term in Congress

Within the redrawn 1st Congressional District, Bobby Rush will keep his seat for two more years as suburban voters weren't enough to propel Don Peloquin to a win.

Bobby Rush will continue to represent the 1st Congressional District of Illinois on Capitol Hill after winning his 11th term Tuesday. As of 10:40 p.m. Tuesday, Rush took in 212,661 votes, compared to 70,903 votes for challenger Don Peloquin, who campaigned as the Republican nominee for the seat. The count was with 582 of 617 precincts reporting from Suburban Cook County, Will County and Chicago. The new 1st Congressional District now holds a northeast boundary just around Chicago’s Bronzeville community, continuing near the Dan Ryan and along I-57, before cutting west, including towns south of I-80, before ending at rural Elwood at its farthest southwest point. The district includes Chicago neighborhoods, such as Hyde Park, Washington Park…

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Peloquin: We Can Rebuild Our Economy With What We Have

Blue Island Mayor Don Peloquin, who is the Republican candidate in the 1st Congressional District Race against incumbent Democrat Bobby Rush, shared his views on ways to simplify taxes and bolster local business.

Don Peloquin, Blue Island mayor and Republican candidate for the 1st Congressional District, believes the redrawn district can build off of the resources already here to grow the local economy. He is for smaller government and a simplified tax code for all Americans. Democrat incumbent Bobby Rush, Peloquin's opponent in the race, has not answered Patch's request for an interview. Read more about Peloquin's views on several issues including health care, the economy and others in our Patch Questionnaire. Read Rush's answers to our questionnaire. Looking for other 1st District race stories?

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Southland Stories

The Bobby Rush Hoodie Kerfuffle: Out of Order in the House

Should the South Side congressman, who was removed from the House floor for donning a hoodie as he spoke in protest of racial profiling, have been cut some slack? Take our poll.

The nation is talking about South Side Congressman Bobby Rush, who donned a hoodie on the floor of the U.S. House Wednesday morning as he talked about racial profiling and the death of Trayvon Martin in Florida. He was escorted off the floor by the sergeant at arms for violating the House dress code that prohibits headwear. In the Washington Post, Trayvon Martin’s parents said they were moved by Rush's actions. They met with him Tuesday to discuss their son’s case, but had no idea he was going to don a hoodie and speak about the case from the floor of the House. “I’d like to commend Congressman Rush for pleading our case,” said Tracy Martin, the father of Trayvon Martin. When they were shown a videotape of Rush’s speech after the meeting, …

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frank

9:11 pm on Thursday, April 5, 2012

Say William, It's a week since you posted this comment. How do you feel about your comment now? Well, I have a life and found it interesting about the facts that have come out in the last few days. I didn't rush to judgement like Rush did. I know what the law is, unlike Rush. I think I'd be a better REPRESENTATIVE than who we have serving our district…   more ›

Can Peloquin’s Votes Outside the City Beat Rush’s Chicago Numbers?

Don Peloquin may have taken in more votes in the suburbs during last week’s primary election, but that number didn’t come close to what Bobby Rush pulled within Chicago city limits.

The 1st Congressional District covers an almost comically diverse landscape. Starting on the north end at 26th Street and Michigan Avenue, down Martin Luther King Drive to the Dan Ryan at the Skyway and further south, including neighborhoods just east and west of the highway. But the new district then continues down I-57, stretching past Harlem Avenue to LaGrange Road, continuing south and west to Highway 53, all the way to the 2,300-population town of Elwood. All residents in this area will have their interests represented in Congress by either Democrat Incumbent 1st District Rep. Bobby Rush or Republican Blue Island Mayor Don Peloquin. Rush handily won far more votes in Chicago alone with 55,196 votes to Peloquin’s 599 as of Tuesday. But…

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Chicago Cop to Face Suburban Mayor in Dist. 1 GOP Race

Frederick Collins, who previously ran for Cook County sheriff, will face off against Blue Island Mayor Donald Peloquin to challenge longtime incumbent Rep. Bobby Rush.

Republican congressional candidate Frederick Collins wants to take the lessons of 20 years on the Chicago police to Washington. "I'm a beat cop. I’m the guy on the street doing the work," said Collins, a third-generation patrolman. Collins is vying for the Republican nomination for the District 1 seat currently occupied by Rep. Bobby Rush (D-Chicago). Blue Island Mayor Donald Peloquin, who co-owns Hickey Funeral Home in New Lenox, also is seeking the GOP nod. Read "Hickey Funeral Co-Owner to Run for Congress in 1st District" Collins, who ran unsuccessfully for Cook County sheriff last year, said he would be as hands-on with the district as he is with his beat. "I'm not going to be someone who gives you an appointment and not going to be …

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Hickey Funeral Co-Owner to Run for Congress in 1st District

Blue Island Mayor Donald Peloquin enters the race to eventually square off against U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush, Sun-Times Media reports.

Blue Island Mayor Donald Peloquin told Sun-Times Media on Monday that he'll be running for Congress in the newly redrawn 1st District.  Peloquin, a Republican and the president of Hickey Memorial Chapel in New Lenox, needs to win the March GOP primary before he can face off against Democratic incumbent U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush next November. READ: Hickey Funeral Co-owner Mulls Congressional Run Against Bobby Rush Earlier this year, state Congressional district boundaries were redrawn. Under the new map, which the GOP is challenging in court, Rush's 1st Congressional District extends through the south suburbs to Elwood, including Frankfort, New Lenox and Mokena.  "The new mapping puts about 15 towns in the district now, and I probably know 10 …

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Blue Island Mayor Considers Run Against Bobby Rush

Republican Donald Peloquin, the Blue Island mayor, is talking with family and business partners about running for the 1st Congressional District.

Although many Illinois Republicans have seen the redrawn congressional maps as an outrage, the mayor of Blue Island and president of Hickey Memorial Chapel in New Lenox sees an opportunity. Under the new map, which the GOP is challenging in court, Chicago Democratic stalwart Bobby Rush's 1st Congressional District extends through the south suburbs to Elwood. But Hickey President Donald Peloquin, who is also the Republican mayor of Blue Island, said he's considering a run against Rush. "The new mapping puts about 15 towns in the district now, and I probably know 10 of the mayors pretty well," Peloquin said. "I think there's a real opportunity for us to work together and this district is prime to be developed and create more jobs." Peloquin …

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