With less then three weeks left until the election, Colleen continues to work hard on her campaign and meet with as many constituents as she can, getting to know their needs and letting them know how she will help them once elected.

In these tough economic times, Colleen believes the voters of the 18th District deserve a candidate willing to be open and honest with them. This is why, after a call from Green Party candidate Sheldon Schafer, Colleen released her personal tax records from 2006 and 2007. Despite numerous requests from both Colleen and Sheldon Shafer, Republican Party candidate Aaron Schock refuses to release this important information.

Colleen released these records because she thinks it is important, more so now then ever before, that elected officials be completely open about their campaign. This is also why Aaron Schock owes it to the voters of the 18th District to be transparent as possible about his finances and release his tax records.

When Aaron Schock refuses to be open to voters on an issue as important as this, it raises the question as to what else he is hiding. If Aaron refuses to be open with the people of Central Illinois before the votes are cast can we believe that he’ll be honest with them if he is elected?

Aaron—release your financial records, not only is it the fair thing to do, but the right thing to do.

Click here for the latest Colleen Callahan press release.

Friends,

Please go to www.pjstar.com and click on “Poll: Who fared best in the debate?” Under the article Three candidates for 18th Congressional District debate to vote for Colleen. She did a tremendous job and definitely deserves all of our support in the poll. Thank you!

The Colleen Callahan for Congress Team

The Colleen Callahan for Congress Team is pleased to announce the endorsement of Illinois Federation of Teachers. This is a testament to Colleen’s strong support of public education issues and teachers. Click here for press release in PDF format.

Farmers for Callahan Event Invite

Click above to download the invitation to the Ag Coalition Hog Roast at Meils Brothers Farms on September 8th.

Ag Coalition Logo

Despite a barrage of verbiage and immature name-calling from Aaron Schock’s campaign manager on Tuesday, two things were conspicuously absent in his press release.

One was the unmistakable fact that the campaign manager for the GOP candidate for the 18th Congressional District refused to accept or even acknowledge Colleen Callahan’s challenge to debate her in all twenty county seats in the district.

The other glaring absence in the lengthy press release was the candidate himself.

“Aaron’s campaign manager called me confused, among other things,” Callahan said Wednesday. “And I am confused. Who, exactly, would I be debating should his campaign actually quit this chicken dance and accept our challenge? Will I be debating his campaign manager — who continually speaks for Aaron — or would voters finally get a chance to hear from Aaron himself? We continue to hear from confused voters who wonder just where Aaron has been hiding all summer.”

Schock’s campaign manager accused the Callahan Campaign of seeking publicity. Schock’s handlers, on the other hand, have done everything in their power to shield Aaron from the press and the public all summer.

Is publicity in a Congressional race really a bad thing?

Could it be that Schock’s GOP handlers don’t want you to know that Aaron Schock proposed selling nuclear weapons to Taiwan to use against China?

Or that he voted against benefits for families of soldiers killed in Iraq and Afghanistan?

Or that he accepted thousands of dollars from Big Oil?

Ask yourself why Aaron Schock’s campaign handlers don’t want him appearing before a microphone. The answer is simple — he’s not ready.

Colleen Callahan represents true change for the voters of the 18th District. The working men and women of central Illinois deserve responsible and mature leadership in Washington.

Colleen Callahan, Democratic candidate for the 18th Congressional seat, today challenges Republican opponent Aaron Schock to debates in the county seats of all twenty counties in the district.

“I believe the best forum for voters to see the candidates in their work clothes is in a debate,” Callahan said. “The debate format presents the opportunity for the candidates to not only respond but to react as well.”

Schock has withdrawn from several previously scheduled debates, often giving no reason for his withdrawal. As of today, the Schock Campaign has officially committed to exactly zero debates.

Barbecue chicken will be served at all twenty debates in honor of Schock and his reluctance to step up and debate Callahan on the issues. “We think it’s a fitting tribute,” said Terry Towery, Callahan’s campaign manager. “We’re barbecuing chicken because we are running against someone who is chicken to debate us.”

Towery said he hopes Schock recommits to the debates. “It’s not that our opponent is young, but you would think someone running for Congress would have enough respect for the voters of the district to stand on stage with their opponent and debate the issues facing our country. To do any less is disrespectful and cowardly at best.”

Callahan said she is willing and able to debate Schock “anytime, anyplace” and that if
television debates are too scary for Schock she would be happy to debate him in the twenty county seats without the lights and cameras but with plenty of media coverage. “There is absolutely no reason the people of this district should not see their candidates for Congress debate the issues facing our country in open debates,” Callahan said.

Colleen traveled to Springfield on Thursday, August 7 for the Illinois State Fair.

While there, Colleen marched with Sen. Dick Durbin and Obama for America volunteers at the annual Twilight Parade.

Even though it is not uncommon to see candidates at the Illinois State Fair, Colleen’s appearance at the fair was not a political gimmick, but rather Colleen’s visit was another example that this candidate does not forget who she is and where she comes from.

It is here where Colleen’s parents, Fran and Elaine met over seventy years ago, and as they say, the rest is history.

It is this fair where Colleen has attended every year since her first one at six months old.

It is these few weeks in August where Colleen can connect with family friends like the Bobby Meeker family, who were the grand marshals in this year’s parade.

She often speaks about her roots in agriculture, and the Illinois State Fair has been a place where she has been able to share her experiences in the industry with family and friends for years.

Colleen said when she was a little girl, she would cry when she would leave the fair because she was sad to leave the fun. Those few weeks in August were filled with memories that have lasted a lifetime. She could not turn her back on the people and the places like the state fair, which have made her proud to be a Central Illinoisan.

Career politicians can attend events, raise and spend large sums of money, and promise anything to get elected. But once in office, these same people can lose touch with those who gave them their job.

To fix the broken system in Washington, we need to elect people who won’t stop caring about their constituents once they reach the steps of Capitol Hill.

The 18th District can do this. They can elect Colleen.

Sen. Dick Durbin’s contest to decide which congressional candidate he will support first is down to the wire.

Friday, August 1, is your last chance to let Sen. Durbin know Colleen is the best candidate to work with him in Washington.

Colleen’s race is close, and she is gaining more support as she continues along the campaign trail.

A few seconds of your time could make a difference in this campaign.

Vote for Colleen. Then, send this link to ten of your friends.

Remember this campaign is about the people! As Colleen stands up for you, stand up for her today!

Supporters from across the southern part of the district came in overwhelming numbers Wednesday evening for the opening of Colleen’s Springfield field office.

The office is just blocks away from where Sen. Barack Obama announced his candidacy for President of the United States. Since the now presumptive Democratic nominee’s announcement in February 2007, more people have become engaged in the political process and have been inspired by a candidate.

While Obama has brought this excitement and hope to a national level, Colleen has inspired and excited voters on the congressional stage. Over 100 people, the politically active and those who are not, listened to Colleen speak. The audience was captivated as Colleen discussed her family philosophy that life is not about what you have at the beginning or at the end, but what you do in between.

When Colleen explained the political process is about acting as a public servant, a person in the crowd leaned over to a friend and said, “Amen!”

One supporter presented a picture that he drew for Colleen. In the corner, the person had drawn a sun with the phrase “Colleen Callahan for Congress” on the inside.

Colleen’s candidacy has been like the sun. She has shone a light on the problems ordinary men and women are facing and has brought hope that our future can be brighter.

These moments are proof Colleen, in four months, has reenergized voters who have felt disenfranchised by the old way of politics. And the best part … there are still three months to go!