Secretary of State and gubernatorial candidate Jim Edgar will be on the campaign trail tonight at 6:30 p.m. in Sycamore to greet DeKalb County residents.

The DeKalb County Republicans will hold a reception for Edgar and local residents wishing to speak with the candidate, including music, appetizers and a cash bar.

“It’s gonna be a lot of fun,” said DeKalb County Republicans Chairman George Beasley. Edgar will speak with the local residents about the need for a republican governor in the 1990 election, Beasley said.

Since more than 60 percent of DeKalb County consists of republicans, the county republicans decided the residents should be aware of the republican candidate, he said.

“DeKalb County needs to become visible in Springfield,” Beasley said. NIU would benefit with Springfield connections because of the job opportunities for and from the university, he said.

The democrats have filled most of the state government positions, including the two senate positions, so the governor position is the last republican power available in the state government, said Gary Mack, assistant press secretary to Edgar.

The campaign costs for Edgar are estimated at $8 million, and this fundraiser is expected to have at least 300 people, Mack said. Tickets for the reception will cost $25.