Election Names

Stevenson's Solidarity slate

Adlai E. Stevenson III, who withdrew from the top of the Democratic ticket in April rather than share it with Lyndon H. LaRouche Jr. supporters, rounded out his new party's full slate of statewide candidates June 13. They join gubernatorial candidate Stevenson, lieutenant governor candidate Michael J. Howlett Jr. and secretary of state candidate Jane Spirgel under the new party banner of the Illinois Solidarity Party. Stevenson's third-party bid required that he field candidates for all statewide offices.

Stevenson said that the seven candidates filling out the slate "have agreed to join the ticket solely to satisfy the legal requirements" and that "they have given their full support to the candidacies" of the Democratic counterparts on the ballot. The new Solidarity candidates, whom some have dubbed the no-names candidates, are:

For U.S. senator: Einar Dyhrkopp of Shawneetown, a long-time Democratic supporter who is Stevenson's southern Illinois finance chairman. A former mayor of Shawneetown and a former chairman of the Shawneetown Regional Port District, Dyhrkopp is president of the coal brokerage firm Tecumseh International Corporation.

For attorney general: Taylor Springs resident John R. Keith, a special assistant attorney general since 1983 and a partner in the Springfield law firm of Holley, Keith & Mehlick. Keith served briefly in the Illinois House in 1976-77. completing the term of James T. Londrigan.

For comptroller: Patricia Scott of Chicago, director of Bryant and Stratton College. A former teaching fellow at the University of Pennsylvania and book editor, Scott served as executive director of "Friends of Roland Burris" from 1983-85.

For treasurer: Bill Skedd of Palos Heights, an affirmative action compliance officer for the Metropolitan Sanitary District of Greater Chicago since 1979. A former high school social studies teacher, Skedd also spent two years with the Cook County Sheriff's Office as a deputy.

For University of Illinois trustee (three to be elected): Philip Martin of Chicago, an adjunct law professor at Northwestern University specializing in regulation of financial institutions and Japanese law. The former Rhodes scholar also serves as counsel to the Chicago law firm of Mayer, Brown & Piatt.

Elena B. Mulcahy of Chicago, director of legislative services for the Chicago public school system since 1982. Mulcahy spent the previous six years directing the school system's multilingual education program.

James Spencer of Galesburg, chancellor of Illinois Eastern Community Colleges from 1969-83. Prior to that he served as associate secretary of the Illinois Community College Board from 1966-68. Spencer has also served as superintendent of schools in Knoxville, Ill., and as president of Olney Central College.

State Reps. Hastert, Ryan candidates for Congress

Local Republican party officials from two of Illinois' 22 congressional districts chose state representatives as replacements for congressional candidates. Now on the November ballot in the 4th District is state Rep. Jack Davis (R-84, New Lenox), replacing Congressman George O'Brien (R-4, Joliet), who withdrew because of ill health May 16. O'Brien died suddenly July 17 (see p. 70). Davis was chosen July 12 by precinct and township committeemen from the district, which includes Will County where he is GOP chairman.

Davis, 50, who has served in the Illinois House since 1977, joined House Minority Leader Rep. Lee A. Daniels' (R-46, Elmhurst) leadership team in 1983. He was running for reelection to the House, and as the only GOP count chairman in the 46th District, he will name his own replacement in the state House election. Davis's opponent in the congressional race is Democrat Shawn Collins of Joliet.

In the 14th Congressional District, state Rep. Dennis Hastert (R-82, Oswego) was named June 22 to replace Rep. John E. Grotberg (R-14, St. Charles) on the November ballot. Grotberg withdrew because of poor health. Hastert, 44, was first elected to the Illinois House in 1980 and is minority spokesman on the House Appropriations II committee. His Democratic opponent for the congressional seat is Kane County Coroner Mary Lou Kearns.

Hastert had a free ride for another term in the Illinois House; so will his replacement, to be named by Republicans from the 82nd legislative district.