[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 204 (Thursday, December 3, 2020)]
[House]
[Pages H6049-H6050]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                THANKING MY CAMPAIGN TEAM AND SUPPORTERS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Shimkus) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, another group that I would like to pause 
and thank is my campaign team and supporters.
  It is amazing how diverse this group is. They are young and old; they 
are rich and poor; they live in towns, villages, and isolated country 
roads. While conservative in ideology, they identify as Republicans, 
Democrats, Libertarians, and even Independents.
  These are the people who walked in parades; they helped pass out 
balloons, candy, and political literature; they carried signs; they put 
up and took down political signs of all sizes; they helped stuff mail 
and phone-bank; they organized fundraisers, both big and small; they 
manned booths at county fairs.
  What causes people to give up their time, their talents and 
possessions to a candidate, party, or cause? It is at the heart of a 
representative democracy, our constitutional Republic.
  If someone is going to cast a vote for you, shouldn't you know their 
beliefs?
  If you feel strongly about an issue, wouldn't you want to help a 
kindred spirit?
  I started to run for Federal office 28 years ago, unsuccessful then. 
I was successful 4 years later.
  When asked in 1992 what I stood for, I replied:

       Less government, individual responsibility, lower taxes, 
     and more personal freedoms and liberties.

  I followed immediately with:

       I am pro-life, and I support the Second Amendment, and I am 
     a churchgoer.

  My volunteers subscribe to these values. They decided not only to 
vote for me, but they also actively engaged in campaign activities.
  Mr. Speaker, one way to thank my volunteers and supporters is to list 
their names in the Congressional Record, which I am doing today. They 
are:
  Mayor Al Adomite, Floyd Alexander, Kirby Ballard, Sue Barfield, Steve 
Barker, Rhonda Belford, Bill Bethel, Ruth Buettner, Glen Bolger, Pat 
Brady, Jen Daulby, Rosalee Davis, Marty and Donna Davis, Sherri Long 
Deeder, Mayor Dick Dietz, Chris Dudley, Sue (and Jack) Dwyer, Bill 
Enlow, Bruce and Matt Flannigan, The Tony Fuhrman Family, Mayor Allen 
Gaffner, Kenny and Joni Garret, Andy Goleman, Brad Goodrich, Wally and 
Evie Gorski, Wes and Rene Gozia, Brad Graven.
  Doug Hartman, Karen Hasara, Holly Healey, Brian Heckert, Bob 
Hermsmeyer, Dennis Herrington, Nita Hill, Mark and Elaine Hoffman, 
Nancy Kimme, Bob Kjellander, Gwen Klinger, Doug Knebel, Lynn Koch, Gale 
and Pat Koelling, Greg Knott, J.C. Kowa, Kelvin Kuneth, Keith and Judy 
Loemker, Kay Long, Tom and Robin Long, Senator David Luechtefeld, Curt 
and Lu Maddox, Tony Marsh, Mark and Carol Mestemacher, Don and Joanne 
Metzler, Guy Michael, Tom and Robin Long.
  Kathy Lynch, Kathy Lydon, Andy and Judy Madonia, Tony Marsh, Mayor 
Billy McDaniel, State Representative Charlie Meier, Mark and Carol 
Mestemacher, Lois Olson, Bill and Emily Olson, Paul Palazollo, 
Katherine Parker, Randy Pollard, Richard Porter, Bob Radmacher, Ed and 
Meredith Ragsdale, Mark and Shirley Repking, Pat Roddick, Dora Rohan, 
Tim Schneider, The Schulte family, Tim Schneider, Randy Shroyer, Irv 
Smith, Tim Smith and Scott McPherson, Kristy Koch Stephenson, State 
Representative Ron Stephens, Richard Stubblefield, Steve Tomaszewski, 
Wes Tucker, Troy Uphoff, Senator Frank Watson, Don and Wanda Weder, Jim 
Wham, Bob Winchester, Sharon Woodward, Boone Wooden.
  Mr. Speaker, there is always a risk when you recognize people and 
name names. Most of us, when we do that, forget someone who should have 
been mentioned. If I have done that, I apologize. My intent is not to 
exclude but to offer thanks.
  Until I officially leave office, I can add names to the Congressional 
Record, so if I have forgotten you, let me know and I will submit your 
name.
  Many of my supporters have died. I mourned their loss with their 
families. I tried to attend either the wake or the funeral. We also 
tried to send notes, memorials, or flowers, whatever was deemed 
appropriate at the time.
  All of my colleagues here on both sides of the aisle share this 
experience.

[[Page H6050]]

We would not be here without our supporters. We couldn't have survived 
our primary or general election without a core group of people who 
believed in us and would always answer the call when we needed them.
  As long as we have people willing to, as Teddy Roosevelt said, step 
into the arena and we have people willing to support them, we as a 
nation will be fine.
  My thanks to them, my volunteers and supporters.

                          ____________________