Cultra to Run for Full Term in State Senate

Republican voters in the newly redrawn 53rd state Senate District will have a choice in next year's primary election, between Jason Barickman and Shane Cultra. Barickman, who serves in the Illinois House, announced last week he would run for the Senate seat.

Now, State Senator Cultra says he'll run for the office, too, even though he could be facing an expensive primary fight.

"I'm not over confident, but I enjoy my job," Cultra said. "And what I had to do was sit down and look at all the facts, and how my family felt about it. It's quite a commitment, a huge amount of money to raise. I wanted to make sure I had enough funds to be competitive, lined up and committed, before I made that decision."

Cultra was appointed to the state Senate just a few months ago, replacing Dan Rutherford when he became state treasurer. Barickman was chosen to take Cultra's old seat in the House. Cultra said he has more legislative experience than Barickman.

"I have a long history for people to look at," said Cultra, who served eight years in the Illinois House, prior to his appointment to the Senate. "I certainly represent well the district I'm running in. I've lived here all my life."

But Cultra and Barickman will be introducing themselves to a new group of voters in the 53rd Senate District. With its new boundaries, the 53rd District covers all of Iroquois and Ford Counties, most of Livingston County, and parts of Woodford, Vermilion and McLean Counties. It will no longer cover any of Champaign, Tazewell or LaSalle Counties.