Democratic representative does his best to try and distance himself from the establishment

For the first time since 1974, someone without the last name “Mautino” will be elected to the 76th District Stare Representative seat.

One candidate answered questions in front of an unlikely audience, in the hopes that it’ll help lead him to a victory in 12 days. Democrat Andy Skoog took questions from moderator Brad Spelich of Classic Hits 103.9 WLPO and members of the LaSalle County Tea Party for more than an hour Wednesday night.

Skoog covered policy issues ranging from his stance in favor of term limits to denouncing Springfield Democrats on issues that he says would hurt his district. He tried to distance himself from the establishment with statements like “I’m not Madigan’s yes-man, I’m not Mautino, I’m just Andy.”

Skoog is running for his first full term as State Representative against Republican challenger Jerry Long. The forum was meant initially to be a debate, but Long cited a sudden family obligation as his reason for not being in attendance.