Langendorf Wants to Challenge State Rep. Hays

A former candidate for local office in Urbana wants the Democratic nomination for an Illinois House seat.

Michael Langendorf has been meeting with party officials in Vermilion and Champaign counties with hopes that they will slate him as a candidate for 104th district seat held by Republican Chad Hays.

Langendorf said he likes Hays, but he also said competition is healthy.

"Some of the conversations have been good," Langendorf said. "There are just some concerns in terms of his perspective on things that I don't necessarily agree with. I feel like he needs to have a challenger, and needs to have someone looking at his ideas, and make sure there's other opinions out there."

Langendorf said he and Hays differ when it comes to funding pensions, and where to make cuts in Illinois' budget.

Langendorf is a social worker at Middlefork School in Danville and Oakwood Junior High, and he is active with the Illinois Education Association. He ran unsuccessfully for mayor of Urbana in 1997, and in the race for Ward 6 Alderman in 2009.

Champaign County Democratic Party Chair Al Klein expects Langendorf will be a candidate in the race since he is enthusiastic about running. That would happen late this month, but Langendorf would still be required to collect signatures on his nominating petitions to appear on the November ballot.