Plainfield men may seek Cross' seat

PLAINFIELD -- Two local Republicans say they are pondering a run for longtime state Rep. Tom Cross' seat because they believe some of his actions stray from traditional Republican values.

Tony Fremarek, a Plainfield Township trustee, and Garrett Peck, a Plainfield village trustee, both announced last week they have launched exploratory committees for the Republican primary in February.

Both men were elected to their first terms in office in April.

"Tom Cross is a wonderful husband and father. He's a wonderful person," Peck said. "This is not a personal attack. This is two individuals having the guts to step up and say our principles have been lost."

Cross, R-Oswego, is serving his eighth term representing the 84th District. He was first elected in 1992 and has served as the House Republican leader since 2003.

Cross said Tuesday he plans to run for re-election.

"I truly am humbled every day I represent the 84th District," he said. "Quite frankly I've been very lucky. I love representing the 84th District."

When asked to respond to the accusation he has diverged from traditional Republican principles, Cross pointed out his photo on the home page of the Illinois Republican Party's Web site. It accompanied an article describing his fight against Gov. Pat Quinn's proposed tax hikes.

"Tax and spend are big issues of the Republican Party. When it comes to taxes and budget and spending control, we have been leaders in this state," Cross said. "There are issues people disagree with me about. Of course there are, there always have been. I don't agree with these two guys on everything but they're Republicans and I want to work with them." Fremarek and Peck both object to Cross accepting campaign contributions from Planned Parenthood. The organization has helped fund Cross' campaign for the past five years.

Peck said Cross should refund the money he and the House Republican Organization have received from the group.

Cross said, as the House Republican leader, he works with organizations on both sides of many issues.

"Planned Parenthood has given me money, but I also work with traditional conservative family groups -- Family-Pac, Project Reality, Concerned Christians," Cross said. "I'm working with different sides all the time because I'm working on recruiting candidates and helping candidates all the time."

Fremarek and Peck actually benefited from some of Cross' money earlier this year.

Cross mentioned he gave the Plainfield Township Republican Organization $5,500 this spring for mailers supporting local candidates, particularly Plainfield Township candidates. Both Fremarek and Peck are active in the organization, Cross said.

Fremarek and Peck also object to some items included in the state's $29 billion capital bill, and the way it would be funded.

The bill, which would fund construction projects statewide, was passed by legislators in May but is still waiting for the governor's signature. The money would come from legalizing video poker machines and raising taxes on liquor, candy and other items.

Two projects included in the bill are a new roof on St. Mary Immaculate Parish School in Plainfield, and new lights for baseball fields in Shorewood.

"There just seems to be an awful lot of money in there we're spending that we don't really need to," Fremarek said. "We need to look at where our tax dollars are being spent."

Cross said the argument for the capital bill is that it will put hundreds of thousands of people to work.

While the bill includes money for big construction projects -- fixing the Interstate 55 interchange at Weber Road, widening Route 30 and Route 59, and work on Interstate 80 -- it also includes money for local government and not-for-profit groups, Cross said.

"The YMCA is a not-for-profit. The St. Mary's school is also a not-for-profit," Cross said. "I look at various organizations that have impact on kids. I've always thought if we can invest money for kids, it pays huge dividends down the road." Both Fremarek and Peck say they want to feel out district residents before deciding whether to run for the seat.

"The most important thing is that the best candidate run in the general election," Peck said. "It's not about me, it's about the party. If I'm not that candidate, I will be humble enough to step aside and support the right conservative candidate for that office."

Fremarek agreed.

"My interest is to make sure we bring issues to the table," Fremarek said. "I want the best person to run for the 84th District, whether that person is myself, or Garrett Peck, or Tom Cross or someone else."