by Raymond Lenzi, Democratic candidate for Congress in Illinois’ 12th District

Last week, our campaign was notified that 12th District Congressman Mike Bost has refused to take part in a candidates’ debate scheduled to air on WSIU-TV, the Carbondale-based P-B-S affiliate, this fall.
These WSIU debates have become something of a “must-do” for the candidates, with our local broadcasters and their sponsoring partners stepping up to the plate to help voters get to know each of the contenders. Sadly, that will not take place this year; Bost has decided to break with this long-standing tradition.
For the past five months, we have tried to communicate with the Bost campaign seeking to engage in 12 debates, one in each county in the district, but with absolutely no response.
Then, on WSIL-TV’s Sept. 15th news broadcasts, Mr. Bost had the unmitigated gall to say he wants to “encourage open debate.” Really, Mike?!?!
This is just another attempt by Bost to hide from the voters and avoid discussion of the issues and his record. Perhaps we shouldn’t be too surprised. Bost shows up around here every two years, says “vote for me” and then disappears. Indeed, in our travels around the 12th District, we’ve heard from many people who say they haven’t even seen Mike Bost for years.
And so, we call out Mike Bost as “Chicken Mike” and “No Show Mike” for his obvious fear of an open discussion on the perilous questions before us.
Meanwhile, at this moment in our country’s history, we’re in the midst of four simultaneous crises: 1) the global pandemic and healthcare, 2) the climate crisis and global warming, 3) the economic collapse, and 4) the racial justice crisis that erupted in the wake of the murders of Brionna Taylor, George Floyd and others.
Donald Trump and Mike Bost have failed on all four of these issues.
Mr. Bost clearly is afraid to stand up to Trump, the catastrophically failed President; failed to stand up to Trump even though Trump called our soldiers, veterans and fallen heroes “losers” and “suckers;” even though Trump is afraid to confront Vladimir Putin regarding the Russian bounties on our soldiers in Afghanistan; afraid to stand up for the people of Southern Illinois and the 12th District, instead being a pawn of Big Pharma, Big Banks, Corporate Super-PACs and the Super Rich. I mean, do we really want to re-elect someone who takes money from the big pharmaceutical corporations to be involved in writing healthcare legislation?
Bost has even failed to once challenge the Liar-in-Chief on any of his more than 20 thousand documented lies.
Finally, we take Bost to task because he refuses to engage in dialogue or debate on the great issues before us, refuses to engage in communication so central to a vital or even real democracy to agree to a single debate, thus showing his fear of facing voters, rejecting proposals for a single debate even though our campaign has agreed to 12.
You can bet money Mike Bost will be hiding behind the trappings of his office for the next two months, trying to avoid the voters, while he starts airing those misleading negative television commercials we’ve come to expect from him.
The choice is clear. Donald Trump and Mike Bost have no plans for our future. We do. Visit www.lenziforcongress.com for information on our positions and our solutions to these, and other, problems.
So, what say you “Chicken Mike?” Are you still too afraid to defend your failed policies and your failed record on healthcare, the environment, the economic collapse, and racial discord?
The voters are waiting. Your silence is deafening.

Carbondale, Ill. – Ray Lenzi, the Democratic candidate for Congress in Illinois’ 12th District, takes his campaign on the road over the next month, engaging with community members, gathering input and discussing issues facing the voters.
“Our ‘Movement for Change’ tour will cover all 12 counties in the district,” said Lenzi. “Mike Bost has declined to participate in the democratic process so we decided to hit the road and allow the voters to engage directly with our campaign.”
The “Movement for Change” tour starts on Monday, Sept. 21, at the site of the Lincoln-Douglas debate in Jonesboro and ends a month later in Alton, the final site in the historic series of debates.
“At this moment in our country’s history, we’re in the midst of four simultaneous crises,” Lenzi point out, “the global pandemic and healthcare, the climate crisis and global warming, the economic collapse, and the racial justice crisis that erupted in the wake of the murders of Brionna Taylor, George Floyd and others. We want to hear what people have to say about these and other issues.”
Lenzi encourages everyone to attend these informal get-togethers. “We know that Mike Bost is going to hide behind the trappings of his office and attempt to win this election with his misleading, negative television commercials,” he said. “We want to engage with voters and encourage them to vote on Nov. 3.”
The schedule is as follows:
Sept. 21 Noon – Jonesboro, Lincoln Memorial Park, 521 N. Main Street
3 p.m. – Mound City, Pulaski Co. Courthouse, 500 Illinois Ave. # A
6 p.m.– Cairo, Intersection of Old U.S. Route 51 and 27th Street

Sept. 24 Noon – Herrin, City Park Pavilion, 1010 N. 5th St.
5 p.m. – West Frankfort, Coal Miners Memorial Park, 98 East Main St.

Sept. 29 Noon – Du Quoin, TBD
6 p.m. – Murphysboro, Jackson County Courthouse, 1001 Walnut St.

Oct. 1 Noon – Mt. Vernon, Veterans Memorial Park, 800 South 27th St.

Oct. 7 Noon – Chester, Randolph County Courthouse, 1 W. Taylor St.
6 p.m.– Waterloo, TBD

Oct. 9 Noon – East St. Louis City Hall, East St. Louis, 301 River Park Drive
5 p.m. – Belleville, St. Clair County Courthouse, 10 Public Square

Oct. 21 5 p.m.- Alton, Elijah P. Lovejoy Monument, 1299 E 5th St.

Dates, times and locations for the “Movement for Change” tour are subject to change. Updates will be sent as warranted.

CARBONDALE, Ill. – The 12th District Congressional campaign of Ray Lenzi has picked up a major show of support. The Teamsters Union Joint Council 25 has announced their endorsement the Makanda Democrat’s run for Congress.
The move comes on the heels of this week’s endorsement announcements from AFSCME and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers. “An endorsement from the Teamsters Union is a signal to 12th District voters that our campaign is supporting working men and women,” said Lenzi. “The Teamsters understand that we will be a partner in finding solutions to a lagging economy, the pandemic and others issues facing not only their membership, but indeed, the entire country.”
The Teamsters Joint Council 25 serves more than 100,000 workers in Illinois and Indiana. “Ray is a true friend of organized labor,” said Jason Ashmore of Teamsters Local 50, which covers the 12th Congressional District. “We’re proud to endorse his campaign and look forward to working with Ray to address issues important to our membership.”
Other organizations endorsing the Lenzi campaign include Illinois AFL-CIO, Illinois Federation of Teachers, United Steelworkers, Illinois/National Indivisible, Sierra Club, Mom’s Demand Action, Our Revolution, LEAP Forward, Sunrise Movement, AFSCME, the Illinois Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers.
“We expect to announce additional endorsements in the coming days and weeks as we approach election day,” said Lenzi. “More and more people are deciding that it’s time to retire Mike Bost.”

East Alton, Ill. – The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace workers today announced their endorsement of Democratic 12th District Congressional candidate Ray Lenzi.
The announcement was made at the Machinists Union Hall in East Alton and was accompanied by a $5,000 donation to the Lenzi campaign.
“We are very grateful for the support of the machinists,” said Lenzi. “The $5,000 donation will help keep our campaign competitive as we approach the November 3rd election.”
The Machinists and Aerospace Workers union represents machinists, assemblers, welders, maintenance, and repair, auto technicians, truck technicians, auto body technicians, attorneys, nurses, woodworkers, aircraft mechanics, city employees, police, and a wide variety of other skills and trades.
“The machinists union represents a diverse body of working men and women,” Lenzi said. “This endorsement is another indication that our campaign is attracting more and more support from people across the 12 District.”
IAMAW District 9 president, Dean Webb, noted that the Lenzi campaign will fight for the best interests of the union as well as working men and women across the 12th District. “Ray is a former member of the United Mine Workers and is very familiar with the issues that face labor organizations,” Webb said. “We’re proud to endorse his campaign.”
It’s a sentiment echoed by District 9 Directing Business Representative Dave Weaver. “It is important that our representatives in Washington understand the challenges facing labor unions and their membership,” said Weaver. “Ray deserves our backing and our financial support.”
Other organizations endorsing the Lenzi campaign include Illinois AFL-CIO, Illinois Federation of Teachers, United Steelworkers, Illinois/National Indivisible, Sierra Club, Mom’s Demand Action, Our Revolution, LEAP Forward, Sunrise Movement, AFSCME, the Illinois Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, and the Teamsters Union.

Carbondale, Ill. – The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees has thrown its support to Ray Lenzi, Democratic candidate for Congress in Illinois’ 12th District.
“The AFSCME endorsement is quite an honor,” said Lenzi. “It is an indication that those who work for the people, for the taxpayers, understand what our campaign is about.”
AFSCME represents 100,000 active and retired public service workers in Illinois, including approximately 40,000 state employees working in more than 50 departments, authorities, boards, and commissions under the authority of the Governor.
“We’re proud to have the backing of these hardworking Illinoisans,” Lenzi said. “Our campaign is about standing up for the needs and interests of working families.”
Lenzi noted that his opponent is pushing an anti-labor agenda. “What’s good for working people is good for the 12th District and the nation,” Lenzi said. “Mike Bost doesn’t seem to understand that.”
The Lenzi for Congress campaign has also won endorsements from the Illinois Federation of Teachers, the Illinois AFL-CIO, the United Steelworkers union, the national Indivisible organization, Mom’s Demand Action, LEAP Forward, the Sunrise Movement, Our Revolution Downstate, IBEW, the Teamsters, the Steelworks Union, and the Sierra Club.