September 27, 2007
Moderate joins 8th District race
The Moderate Party will field a candidate for the 8th Congressional District in 2008, though it will be a political newcomer instead of party founder and former challenger Bill Scheurer.
Round Lake resident Iain Abernathy, a benefits analyst for Mercer, announced Monday that he is planning to run for the 8th District seat, currently held by Democratic Rep. Melissa Bean, of Barrington.
At the same time, Lindenhurst resident Bill Scheurer, who ran in the Democratic primary in 2004 as the Moderate candidate in 2006, said he would not run for the 8th District again in the upcoming election.
Instead, Abernathy, who volunteered for Scheurer's previous campaigns and helped form the Moderate Party last year, has stepped forward as the party's only announced candidate so far.
Without a primary election opponent, he may end up with a free pass to the November 2008 general election, where he would join the Democratic and Republican party nominees on the ballot.
Abernathy carries on Scheurer's fervent opposition to the Iraq war and criticism of the two-party establishment.
"The two parties have almost complete control," he said.
"My campaign is trying to prove that they don't have complete control and that we can take it back."
He proposes an immediate withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq, which he believes is attracting terrorist factions such as Al Qaeda to that country.
"I believe we have already failed in Iraq and it will be more of a problem than a solution," he said of the military occupation.
"As long as we remain, (the insurgency) will remain."
"We've lost most of our credibility in the Middle East and we need to lead by example for a few years before we can have any concrete progress in spreading democracy."
Abernathy's platform issues of supporting "peaceful security" and "open democracy" are closely aligned with those of 8th District Democratic challenger Randi Scheurer, wife of Bill Scheurer.
Those involved with the Moderate Party agree that there may be some overlap of support between Randi Scheurer and Abernathy's campaigns, mostly because of their similar positions against the Iraq war, which they say Bean has not opposed strongly enough.
"All along, the people behind the Moderate Party have always put peace over party, and we've always put it over any individual, as well," Bill Scheurer said.
Having like-minded candidates running in the primary and general elections gives them twice the opportunity to campaign for peace, he added.
"In case Randi does not win the primary, we cannot leave ourselves without an acceptable candidate in the general election," he said.
Now a month before the official filing period, there are six announced candidates for the 8th Congressional District. Aside from Abernathy, the Feb. 5 primary election ballot is expected to include Bean against Randi Scheurer for the Democratic nomination while Republican candidates Ken Arnold, Steve Greenberg and Kirk Morris.
( http://www.pioneerlocal.com/schaumburg/news/576577,sc-8thabernathy-092707-s1.articleprint )