Standing room only at Walker for senate event

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[In spite of the bad weather, 250 people from all over Southwestern Illinois came to the Lions Club in Sparta to show their support for Jeremy Walker. Mr. Walker, 31, lives in the most Democratic Senate seat in Illinois held by a Republican and this would be Walker's first run for elected office.

The weather could not dampen the spirit in the Lion's Club, as the crowd seemed to welcome the youthful energy of Mr. Walker.

"Jeremy Walker represents a much needed breath of fresh air in Illinois politics. He is the kind of concerned and committed young person we need in Springfield," said Alan Pirtle, the Monroe County Democratic Chairman and the President of the Illinois Democratic County Chairman's Association. "As State Senator, Jeremy Walker will fight effectively for the people of the 58th district for years to come."

"I'm humbled by the turnout and the support of people from throughout the district," Mr. Walker said. "Our top priority needs to be job creation in Southern Illinois so that we can get people back to work," added Walker. "This campaign depends on the support of hard-working folks like those here tonight to get my message out there on how to create jobs," concluded Walker.

The seat has been held since 1995 by incumbent Dave Luechtefeld, 69. The race will prove competitive as the 58th Senate District has nearly twice the number of Democratic as Republican voters who routinely vote in primary elections.

About Jeremy Walker- Jeremy Walker's early childhood was spent on a farm near Gillespie, Illinois. His family moved to Red Bud where he graduated from high school. Walker went on to graduate from SIU Carbondale with an undergraduate degree in Political Science, a minor in Agribusiness Economics. He followed this by earning a degree from the SIU School of Law. In 2005 he was appointed the Public Defender for Randolph County. He is a partner in the firm Arbeiter and Walker with offices in Chester and Red Bud, Illinois. He is a member of the Red Bud Chamber of Commerce, Red Bud Lions Club, Illinois State Bar Association, Randolph County Bar Association, Illinois Public Defender's Association, and National Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys.

Jeremy is an avid hunter and lives in Red Bud with his wife Jennifer.