Congressman Shimkus in Du Quoin to Endorse Republican Plummer in 12th Congressional District
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Calling the 12th District race for Congress "one we can win", eight-term Republican Con-gressman John Shimkus was in Du Quoin Monday to endorse Jason Plummer for the Republican nomination in that race.
"We want to get our best person to the next level. Jason is the best person to take this fight to that level," Shimkus said.
"This country is worth fighting for and the Republicans need to be all-in for the race in Costello's 12th District," said Shimkus.
That district has had only two congressmen--both Democrats--in the past 70-plus years.
Plummer, the 2010 Republican nominee for Illinois Lieutenant Governor, resides in O'Fallon. He serves as Vice President of Corporate Development at R.P. Lumber Company, a family-owned and operated business. Jason serves as an Intelligence Officer in the United States Naval Reserves. In his community, Jason also serves on the Executive Board of the Lewis & Clark Council of the Boy Scouts of America.
Shimkus is serving his eighth term in Congress and represents the 19th District of Illinois, one of the largest geographic districts east of the Mississippi River, stretching from the metro-east region of St. Louis to the state capital in Springfield and down to Metropolis along the Ohio River.
Shimkus serves on the House Energy and Commerce Committee. He is the chairman of the Subcommittee on Environment and the Economy. In addition, he serves on the Subcommittees on Energy and Power; Health; and Communications and Technology.
John is a U.S. delegate to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly.
Shimkus said, "Jason's business background will face the test. We have to change the way we operate. He spent time with the Heritage Foundation and knows that the nation's debt and the Obama Care legislation are the biggest threats we face."