Lauzen does 180 – urges voters to support former rival Oberweis

GENEVA – Setting aside all past differences and bitterness between them, Kane County Board Chairman Chris Lauzen today endorsed Jim Oberweis for Congress, over his opponent incumbent U.S. Rep. Lauren Underwood, D-Naperville, in the Nov. 3 election.

The two met at his newest eatery – Oberweis Ice Cream & Dairy Store, That Burger Joint and Woodgrain Pizza in Geneva – to announce his full support for his former rival in a 2008 primary – ironically for the same Congressional seat now contested.

Lauzen’s current conciliatory tone and praise for Oberweis, of Sugar Grove, was a 180-degree turn from his past of blistering criticism and name-calling.

Before Oberweis won the GOP primary in March this year, Lauzen sent a letter to Cal Skinner's McHenry County Blog urging voters to support anybody but Oberweis.

In the letter, Lauzen referred to Oberweis as a Milk Dud and condemned him for spending more than $12 million to “buy” primary elections, only to lose six general elections. Oberweis finally won a seat as a State Senator in 2012 in the same 25th House District where Lauzen had served for 20 years.

But in the space of seven months, and a mere 13 days before the election, Lauzen's vitriol vanished into a veritable love-fest, resulting in an endorsement.

“We do have a love-fest,” Lauzen said.

“The reason why I made the decision (to endorse Oberweis) is that I really do think that things are so serious now, that we are in so much trouble as a country – in large part because of some of the people who we made the mistake of electing to powerful offices – and I don’t want to be any part of what’s so bad,” Lauzen said.

“Some people are saying that ‘Hell must be freezing over.’ ‘No Tarsus moment,’” Lauzen said, regarding his about face to his current praise and support for Oberweis. “Actually I remember the exact moment when I thought, ‘Things are getting too serious to let any part of the past get in the way of the future in the present.”

A Tarsus moment refers to when Saul of Tarsus meets Jesus on the way to Damascus, is converted, and then becomes Paul the Apostle as described in Acts 9:1-19.

Lauzen said he heard Oberweis being interviewed recently on the radio by reporter Craig Dellimore and decided that his answers made sense.

“So I think the country is in such such trouble now. Whether it’s the rioting, the looting, the burning of buildings … that’s a disaster that we’re going through,” Lauzen said. “Are we really going to turn our elections into (a) junior high popularity contest? The idea that, ‘I don’t like him, I don’t like what he says sometimes.’ I tell you, I want to see results from the people who serve us in our government.”

Lauzen blasted Underwood for voting to re-elect Nancy Pelosi as Speaker of the House, and for voting for the views of San Francisco, instead of the values of Kane County.

“She promised a moderate voice for Midwestern values,” Lauzen said of Underwood. “Who, in this race, truly represents Kane County in this region? And the answer is, Jim comes from us. For generations, the Oberweis family has strengthened who we are and what we are. By contrast, Ms. Underwood … who had even heard of her three years ago? … I want Jim as my Congressman.”

Oberweis thanked Lauzen for his support and restated the criticism of Underwood.

“Thank you very very much. I really appreciate that. It means a lot to me,” Oberweis said. “It’s not just that Underwood voted for Pelosi as her first vote in office, she has voted with Pelosi on every issue, 100% of the time … every issue, every vote, every bill. She’s representing Nancy Pelosi, she’s not representing the 14th Congressional district.”

Oberweis said he believed that Lauzen's endorsement will make a difference – even this late in the game.

"I really do," Oberweis said. "Chris has some very very loyal supporters throughout ... the entire area here. It's very meaningful to me and I really appreciate it. ... It probably wasn't the easiest thing for Chris to do, so that makes it that much more important and much more appreciative."