Lane Evans to drop out of race
Nicole Harris
Issue date: 3/29/06 Section: News
- Page 1 of 2 next >
1982 was the year Michael Jackson's "Thriller" sold 20 million albums, Ozzy Osbourne bit the head off a live bat on stage and everyone was singing "I want my MTV." Although these events are still pop culture staples, they come from a time most Western Illinois University students cannot remember.
This also was the year Rep. Lane Evans was first elected to his post and became a staple in Illinois politics.
After 23 years of serving loyal constituents, Evans' battle with Parkinson's disease led him to announce yesterday he will not run for re-election in the fall and will retire at the end of his term.
In his anouncement, Evans stated, "This is a tough day for me. I fully expected I would continue my work for the foreseeable future … But I have come to recognize the time needed to address my health makes it difficult to wage a campaign and carry out my work as representative."
Evans, at 54 years old, was first diagnosed with Parkinson's in 1995 and publicly disclosed his health issues in 1998.
In his statement, Evans stated, "My doctor said this condition would not interfere with my work and I would be able to perform at a high level for a number of years." Evans acknowledged, "That window of opportunity is now closing."
Charles Helm, Western's political science department chair, said he viewed Evans as a person who was politically active in the Democratic party.
"For me, some of the things that stood out about Evans is he was a person of great integrity and you just liked (him). Evans, while being quite liberal, was someone who had respect across a quite wide political spectrum."
Helm added there had been some suspicion if Evans would run again and said his Parkinson's "clearly had progressed more aggressively lately."
According to a March 28 article by The Rock Island Argus Dispatch, Evans last voted in Congress on Feb. 14 and has been at home since, resting at his doctor's suggestion.
His spokesman, Steve Vetzner, stated Evans was suffering from fatigue during that break from Congress and said he hopes to come back to work after the House's Easter recess next month. Vetzner added Evans did not plan his announcement to come after the March primary and he was not urged by party leaders to retire. Evans was said to have made his decision only Monday and announced to his surprised staff at a meeting at his townhouse.
This also was the year Rep. Lane Evans was first elected to his post and became a staple in Illinois politics.
After 23 years of serving loyal constituents, Evans' battle with Parkinson's disease led him to announce yesterday he will not run for re-election in the fall and will retire at the end of his term.
In his anouncement, Evans stated, "This is a tough day for me. I fully expected I would continue my work for the foreseeable future … But I have come to recognize the time needed to address my health makes it difficult to wage a campaign and carry out my work as representative."
Evans, at 54 years old, was first diagnosed with Parkinson's in 1995 and publicly disclosed his health issues in 1998.
In his statement, Evans stated, "My doctor said this condition would not interfere with my work and I would be able to perform at a high level for a number of years." Evans acknowledged, "That window of opportunity is now closing."
Charles Helm, Western's political science department chair, said he viewed Evans as a person who was politically active in the Democratic party.
"For me, some of the things that stood out about Evans is he was a person of great integrity and you just liked (him). Evans, while being quite liberal, was someone who had respect across a quite wide political spectrum."
Helm added there had been some suspicion if Evans would run again and said his Parkinson's "clearly had progressed more aggressively lately."
According to a March 28 article by The Rock Island Argus Dispatch, Evans last voted in Congress on Feb. 14 and has been at home since, resting at his doctor's suggestion.
His spokesman, Steve Vetzner, stated Evans was suffering from fatigue during that break from Congress and said he hopes to come back to work after the House's Easter recess next month. Vetzner added Evans did not plan his announcement to come after the March primary and he was not urged by party leaders to retire. Evans was said to have made his decision only Monday and announced to his surprised staff at a meeting at his townhouse.
Be the first to comment on this story