JOLIET — Tuesday is the deadline to apply for the vacancy that will be created when state Sen. A.J. Wilhelmi resigns from office. Dennis Grosskopf, chairman of the Will County Democratic Party, said he received Wilhelmi’s resignation letter this week. Wilhelmi, D-Joliet, who has held the post for seven years, will officially step down at 9 a.m. Feb. 25 to take a job as a senior vice president with the Naperville-based Illinois Hospital Association. Residents of the 43rd State Senate District seeking appointment to the post should send a letter of interest and a resume to the Democratic Party. They should be mailed to: Will County Democratic Central Committee, P.O. Box 4242, Joliet, IL 60436. Applications postmarked by Feb. 21 will be accepted. Applicants must be 21 years old, a resident of the district for at least two years, a U.S. citizen and a Democrat. “You have to be a Democrat because it’s a Democrat who is resigning,” Grosskopf said. Also, while recent redistricting changed the boundaries of the 43rd District for the next term, the person appointed to fill out the remainder of Wilhelmi’s term must be a resident of the existing 43rd District, Grosskopf explained. So far, five people have submitted applications: Pat McGuire, R. Dale Evans, Larry Walsh Jr., Paige Vanderhyden and Don Moran. A three-person legislative committee, which includes Grosskopf, will pick Wilhelmi’s replacement. The committee has 30 days after Wilhelmi’s resignation becomes effective to make its selection. But it will move faster than that because the Legislature is in session, Grosskopf said: “We’re going to see if it’s possible to get this done by the end of February.”

The former congresswoman and one-time Mary Kay saleswoman dashed up to the pulpit of the black megachurch and offered stories of growing up poor and raising two children on her own as she tried to win the congregation’s support for her bid to unseat Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-2nd). Debbie Halvorson, who is white, is giving the son of the iconic civil rights leader his first real competition in a district that has been held by a black congressman for three decades. Halvorson, of Crete, believes recent ethics scandals have made him vulnerable, and a new congressional map has added more white and rural voters to his district — along with a large chunk of the area Halvorson represented until she lost the 11th District to Adam Kinzinger, a Republican with strong tea party support in 2010.

Joliet, IL – The Will County Democratic Central Committee has announced the recipients of their annual “Salute To Courage Awards.” This year’s award winners include Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White, State Senator A.J. Wilhelmi, and J.D. Ross, Executive Director of the Will-Grundy Medical Clinic. The awards will be presented at the party’s annual dinner to be held on Friday, March 16, 2012 from 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM at the IBEW Local 176 Hall in Joliet. Tickets are $50 per person or $500 per table of ten. Ticket prices include dinner. A cash bar will be available. The event is open to the public. The evening will also include a performance by the Jesse White Tumblers. “We will be honoring some outstanding people this year,” said Dennis Grosskopf, Chairman of the Will County Democratic Party. “It will be a great evening that will pay tribute to some very special people for their deep commitment to the community.” In addition to the “Salute to Courage Awards” the event will present their “Outstanding Volunteer Award” to Steve Magruder, Business Manager of IBEW Local 176. “Steve has done so much for the community and our organization” Grosskopf said. We’re extremely proud to honor him.” For complete event information, sponsorship details, or to order tickets visit www.willcountydemocrats.com or call 815-690-1677. ####