Baldermann shocks GOP, drops out of race

by Carol Henrichs

In what promised to be one of the most closely-watched congressional races in the country, has already proven to be.

In the 11th congressional district – Republican Tim Baldermann announced Friday that he was dropping out of the race.

Citing an inability to juggle his run for congress with his two municipal jobs and family life, Baldermann said in a prepared statement that he plans to file papers Monday with the Federal Elections commission to officially withdraw from the race.

Baldermann now serves as the Mayor of New Lenox and Police Chief in Chicago Ridge.

“I have reached the conclusion that I cannot ably serve the citizens of those two municipalities while also running a full-time campaign for Congress,” Baldermann said.

“Though I tried to make it work, I’ve learned that it’s just not possible to essentially have four full-time jobs – mayor, chief, father of five and congressional candidate.”

He added that he was grateful for all the support he has received in the last few months from Republicans throughout the district, and he is confident the Republican Party will select a nominee who can win in November.

Early on, Baldermann dismissed criticism about trying to hold too many positions while running for office.

Just weeks ago, Baldermann won the Republican primary Nov. 5 with 60 percent of the vote. He gave no indication that he was anything but ready to take on his opponents, Debbie Halvorson, D-Crete, the State Senate Majority Leader and Jason Wallace of the Green Party in November.

Party leaders are calling the statement Baldermann made at noon Friday, “shocking.” There was no indication that he would step down.

Insiders claim that his dropping out of the race is related to a distaste for fundraising. He told a newspaper recently that he had done very little fundraising. He said it made him sick to his stomach.

Baldermann had raised only $103,860 through mid-January. Campaigning in the primary caused him to spend more than half, leaving him only $50,414 in the bank. In the same timeframe, Halvorson, who ran unopposed in the primary raised $427,874 in the same timeframe and has almost $400,000 banked.

Jason Wallace has raised $2,527 and has spent all but about $350.

Baldermann’s funds came largely from individual contributions – 81 percent. PACS provided almost twenty percent of his cash.

The 11th district promised to be one of the most closely watched races in the country. It was vacated by longtime congressman Jerry Weller who announced his resignation last September amid allegations related to questions about land he owned in Nicaragua, his wife’s finances, and other potential breaches of ethics.

GOP leaders will seek a new candidate to fill the position on the ballot.