PHELPS BATTLES HILL IN 118TH

VIENNA, Ill. -- With less than a week to go, Jack Hill feels good about his campaign for the state representative in the 118th District of Southern Illinois.

"We've worked hard getting our message out," said Hill, a newcomer to the political ranks after more than 37 years in education, the last six as president of Shawnee Community College. "It's been a long campaign, and we feel we've made headway."

Hill started his campaign more than a year ago, when he announced on Oct. 14, 1995, that he would be the Republican candidate in the 118th District.

"We've been knocking on doors and talking to people full time since July of 1996," said Hill Tuesday.

Democrat David Phelps of Eldorado, who is seeking his sixth term as the district's state representative, also feels good about his campaign.

"We've had great response in the campaign," said Phelps, who this month received two big endorsements, from the Illinois Farm Bureau and Illinois Family PAC.

Phelps recorded a 93.7 percent voting record on issues important to farm families in Illinois to receive the Farm Bureau endorsement. Family-PAC, a statewide political action group committed to family friendly tax policy and traditional family values, endorsed Phelps earlier this week.

"I have stressed regional cooperation among several counties for development," said Phelps, "and I have worked closely with our Republican governor and legislators to pass programs that benefit the people in Southern Illinois."

Phelps supported financing for the Super Max Prison at Tamms.

Phelps said his goal is to be even more aggressive in pursuing private industry development.

"We must diversify our economic base for economic revival," said Phelps.

In his plan for Southern Illinois' future, Phelps points to tourism as a "sleeping giant," with such facilities as provided by the Shawnee Forest, Cypress Creek, Cache River Swamp and Crab Orchard Wildlife Refuge.

Hill, who served as president of Shawnee College since 1991 until his recent retirement, said he is ready to put Southern Illinois first in all his decisions and that he will make a positive difference for the district.

A Marion native, Hill said, "I'm tired of politicians forgetting about Southern Illinois."

Hill said he has been campaigning on five points: jobs, education, taxes, crime and punishment and political reform.

Hill served as a member of the Super-Max Prison Proposal Group, which successfully landed the prison at Tamms. And he worked to develop jobs through Shawnee College's Office of Economic Development.

During his years as an educator, Hill served as vice president for instructional services at John A. Logan College in Carterville and various other positions from 1969 until taking the Shawnee job.