The Tea Party movement’s impact in Will County will be tested in the 11th Congressional District election.
Tea Party organizers today will hold an event in New Lenox, a “Done with Debbie” rally, to build opposition against U.S. Rep. Debbie Halvorson’s bid for re-election. The keynote speaker for the event is Halvorson’s Republican opponent in November, Adam Kinzinger.
The 11th District race is the most local contest so far to attract Tea Party attention in Will County. The organization was active in the primary election, but its focus was on statewide races.
“Every day the Tea Party gets stronger and better organized,” said Bill Walker, an organizer for the anti-Halvorson rally.
Walker said he expects a couple of hundred people at the event, which will be at 6 p.m. at Gatto’s Restaurant, 1938 E. Lincoln Highway.
The rally is co-sponsored by the New Lenox and Joliet Tea Party organizations. Both are part of the Will County Tea Party Alliance, which hosted candidate forums for congressional and governor candidates in the Feb. 2 primary election.
Hundreds of people came to both forums, Walker said. Only Republican candidates attended, he said, but Democrats were invited.
The Tea Party movement, with causes that emphasize small government and low taxation, generally has had support from Republicans and resistance from Democrats.
Halvorson, of Crete, drew the ire of local Tea Party members last year when she held town-hall-style meetings about the health care reform bill via teleconference rather than in public forums. Tea Party members elsewhere used such forums to rally opposition to Democratic health care proposals.
Halvorson spokesman Ryan Vanderbilt would not comment on tonight’s rally, saying that Halvorson “is 100 percent focused on her official responsibilities right now.”
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