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Aurora Beacon-News
August 7, 2002
Out with outer belt: Democrat hopes anti-Prairie Parkway sentiments will become votes
By Dave Parro
STAFF WRITER
The long-shot Democratic candidate fighting for the congressional seat held by U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert
hopes the road to the Yorkville Republican's defeat is paved with concrete.
Nearly 36 miles of it, to be exact, right through the 14th Congressional District.
Auroran Larry Quick, a management consultant running for office for the first time, sees votes waiting for him
along the Prairie Parkway.
The former college professor staunchly opposes the corridor protection for an outer-belt highway connecting Interstates
88 and 80, and he's hoping his position will help steal votes away from the pro-highway Hastert.
Quick showed up at last week's Illinois Department of Transportation press conference on the revised central
corridor along with dozens of other highway opponents, and he plans to attend a "Stop the Beltway" rally
and picnic on Aug. 25 in Big Rock. He knows that, where there's anti-highway sentiment, there are votes to be won.
"I don't know how many votes it can get me," Quick said. "I know there are folks who are very
upset. Some of those are folks are who traditionally voted Republican and won't this time around, at least in the
congressional race."
Quick has an uphill battle, even if he does sway a few voters with the outer-belt issue.
Hastert soundly defeated Democratic candidate Vern DelJonson in 2000 by a 3-1 margin, 86,000 votes to 27,000
votes, and the 14th District goes well beyond the highway corridor.
Quick, however, said the larger issue of farmland protection and water shortages because of sprawl appeal to
a larger group of residents.
On top of constituent dissatisfaction with Washington officials and the scandals plaguing the Illinois GOP, Quick
thinks he has a chance to defeat the Republican speaker. The 14-year Aurora resident already has at least some
members of Citizens Against the Sprawlway on board.
"I think that he has a chance," said Jan Strasma, spokesman for the outer-belt highway opposition group.
"There are an awful lot of people who are disenchanted with Hastert, especially over the beltway issue."
Strasma, a one-time Hastert supporter, said highway foes view Quick as their only hope in defeating the Prairie
Parkway. Though Strasma said he doesn't necessarily agree with all of the positions of the Democratic candidate,
his views on the environment, farmland protection and the outer belt are "where I think we should be."
Hastert spokesman John McGovern said "our opponent has been quick to reject common-sense solutions"
but is "slow to propose a forward-looking transportation agenda of his own."
While McGovern would not speculate on whether the issue would cost Hastert votes, he said he sees plenty of support
for the outer belt.
"We understand that a small group of people oppose this project," McGovern said, "but we believe
the vast majority of people in the 14th District want their way of life protected and the ongoing growth managed."
Quick announced his opposition to the outer belt last week, just before the state unveiled its final alignment.
He said the high-capacity road, which is at least a decade away from construction, would lead to urban sprawl and
the destruction of family farmland.
If elected, Quick has vowed to oppose any federal funding for the 35.8-mile highway through Kane, Kendall and
Grundy counties.
Hastert, who has strongly backed the road, already has secured $15 million for a Phase I environmental and feasibility
study.