GOP Sen. McCarter To Challenge Shimkus In 15th District

State Senator Kyle McCarter (R-Lebanon) says Congressman John Shimkus of Collinsville has spent too much time in office appealing to special interests, and that’s why he’s challenging the incumbent in the 15th District's March primary.

The Senator launched his campaign with four stops Wednesday, criticizing his opponent for ultimately supporting short-term funding for Planned Parenthood, after protesting the organization by speaking in front of their offices a week earlier.

He says Shimkus repeatedly votes to raise the federal debt limit to appeal to wealthy campaign donors, rather than the people of his district.

“When people are struggling, and living within their means, they don’t want you to go up there and produce bigger government – and extend the debt limit, and get a larger balance on the credit card, when at home they can’t do that,"  McCarter said.

The Senator also says he favors term limits, and won’t go back on his word like Shimkus, a 10-term Congressman, who initially vowed to run for no more than six.  McCarter said he won't run again for the legislature.

"I was eight years on the (St. Clair) County Board, will (serve) eight in the senate, and eight or ten is fine in congress as well," he said.  "Why anyone would want a career in politics, I have no idea.  It was supposed to mean citizen legislators who step aside from their career for a time to serve, and then go back in to their original profession." 

The senator, who also owns two manufacturing companies, has served in the legislature since 2009. 

He currently lives outside the 15th Congressional District, but plans on moving to Effingham soon.