12th District The Other Side: Democrat Baricevic call Bost nice guy but, ineffective
<pre class="aLF-aPX-K0-aPE aLF-aPX-aLK-ayr-auR">Democrat 12th District congressional candidate C.J. Baricevic (Bar-civic) attended the Du Quoin Youth Club charity ball 10 days ago and while there told this newspaperman he wanted to come back to Du Quoin to meet with the newspaper and begin telling his story.
True to his word, drove back to Du Quoin on Friday morning after Tuesday's primary election and didn't mince words.
He paints freshman Republican congressman and favorite son Rep. Mike Bost as a "nice guy" who is as ineffective in congress as he was in the Illinois House of Representatives.
He believes Bost beat short-lived congressman Bill Enyart based on the unhappiness the electorate had with Illinois governor Pat Quinn with some idea that in electing Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner in Illinois and Bost to congress things would be better.
"They aren't," he said.
The general election is still eight months away, but Baricevic admits he has a lot of ground to cover in telling his story.
Part of his story comes from the district's Democrat heritage. He points to the admitted labor and public works legacy of past 12th District office holders Mel Price, Ken Gray, Glenn Poshard and Jerry Costello. "They were advocates for the working men and women in this district and advocates of coal," Baricevic said.
While coal is less of an economic engine that it once was, the conversation still ignites a fire in the families whose livlihood were and are dependant upon it.
Baricevic comes to the election after St. Clair County Sheriff Rick Watson, seemingly the first choice of Metro East Democrats, decided not to seek election in the early going.
With voter approval in hand after the primary, Baricevic heads into the November election unafraid of Bost or the challenge.
"He (Bost) caught voters when they were sick of their governor and Enyart," said Baricevic.
"I am attacking his record in Congress, not Bost personally," Baricevic said. He knows that Bost is well-liked across Southern Illinois and has a strong following.
"My biggest issue with Bost is that he has not proposed one single piece of legislation since he has been in office and he votes with Republicans 93 percent of the time," he said.
Baricevic is a partner in a Belleville personal injury law firm and the son of John Baricevic, the St. Clair County chief judge and St. Clair County Democratic Party leader.
He picked up support from mainstream Democrats quickly. The endorsement of the Illinois AFL-CIO, with its considerable financial and political support, is a major boost to his campaign to unseat Bost. The union's endorsement of a Democrat follows history, but sends a clear message.
"Bost voted for the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal which will ship jobs abroad, harm steelworkers at US Steel in Granite City, harm I.B.E.W. workers in Franklin County, and lower wages. He has repeatedly voted against collective bargaining rights, opposes raising the minimum wage, and supports turning Medicare into a voucher system," said Baricevic.
Baricevic said there would be clear differences in the race.
"Mike Bost has put the interests of his own party over the interests of our hard-working families. Unlike Mike Bost, I will oppose trade deals that send jobs abroad, and I will fight to reduce income inequality. I will support tax policies to keep manufacturing jobs in Southern Illinois, fight for continued investment in Southern Illinois University, push for greater college financial aid for middle-class families, protect Social Security, support our farmers, oppose turning Medicare into a voucher program, and be a strong advocate for Illinois coal and ethanol," said Baricevic.
"Mike Bost, who claims to be a fiscal conservative, has irresponsibly spent more money on taxpayer financed self-promoting franked mail than other member of Congress. This district needs a Congressman who'll fight for it-not a Congressman focused on promoting himself," said Baricevic.
After years in the Illinois House of Representatives, Baricevic said he believes Bost ran for congress as some sort of an entitlement, not practical help for his constituents.
But, hold on C.J., Bost is quick to respond. Some of Bost's recent announcements include:
Bost voted to authorize the House to file a historic legal brief challenging the constitutionality of President Obama's executive order on illegal immigration. Prior to House passage of the resolution, Rep. Bost addressed his colleagues urging them to join him in upholding Congress' exclusive authority to make law.
Bost voted to protect 19 coal refuse-to-energy facilities across America, including the Southern Illinois Cooperative in Marion, from job-killing EPA regulations. The House-passed Satisfying Energy Needs and Saving the Environment (SENSE) Act turns back two EPA regulations that would have prevented the Williamson County plant and others from utilizing coal refuse in energy production, provided operations remain within state air emission limits.
"This is just another example of unjustified EPA overreach that would result increased energy costs and reduced jobs in Southern Illinois," said Bost. "The facility in Williamson County is a specialized power plant that recycles coal refuse by using it as an energy source to generate affordable and reliable electricity for Southern Illinoisans. Knocking this plant offline would have serious consequences for consumers, jobs and the environment."
With respect to shutting down Guantanamo Bay Prison Bost responded:
"The President has shown time and again - through his Iran nuclear deal, his support for the Syrian refugee program, and now his plans to close Guantanamo Bay - that he will put political talking points ahead of securing the homeland. That's a dangerous precedent and one that I will continue to fight by every means possible. It is not only wrongheaded to transfer detainees to American soil, it is illegal, and it needs to stay that way."
As far as the traditional Democrat heritage in the 12th District, it's no longer Democrat or some new-found Republican stronghold. There's a third party: the working class, just trying to make ends meet. Both Bost and Baricevic will be in a race to see who can capture that trust as the election moves forward.
Baricevic said he knows his St. clair County political connectivity and the fact that he's an attorney are cliche issues with voters. "I went to SIU, my dad coached there and when I get done talking to people I have to go back to work," he said sincerely.
As far as federal funds being just a phone call away for towns like Du Quoin, Pinckneyville, Elkville and Tamaroa, the late Mayor John Rednour, former Mayor Rex Duncan and current Mayor Guy Alongi could tell you that just happen anymore regardless of who is in office.
At this writing Bost is well-known--and liked--for the paper-throwing passion he showed in addressing the Illinois House when lawmakers were given no time to even read the bills presented them but Baricevic says throwing paper doesn't help anyone. Baricevic is largely unknown, but s connecting quickly.
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