Two candidates for the 14th Congressional District were at Thursday night’s DeKalb County Republican meeting.

Jim Oberweis and State Senator Chris Lauzen both presented to their fellow Republicans what they would offer to the district. With the presentations came reminders from James Barr, DeKalb County Republican party chairman, of former President Ronald Reagan’s 11th commandment: Do not speak ill of a fellow Republican.

While Lauzen was vocal about the amount of money Oberweis has spent and is spending on his campaign, Oberweis placed attention on Lauzen by quoting a mailing in which Oberweis was labeled as racist.

Both opponents stated their intentions for the candidacy by focusing on taxes, illegal immigration issues and family.

Oberweis said he and Lauzen do share the same political philosophy and that he would support him, should he win the primary.

There will be a special election for the 14th District on Saturday, March 8.

The turnout for the meeting was twice as much of what is usually present, said DeKalb County Clerk Sharon Holmes. Holmes also reported that DeKalb County currently is looking at the biggest turnout for absentee and early voting the county has had.

During the grace period, where unregistered voters had the opportunity to register to vote after the deadline, 125 people came in to vote, with 40 on the last day, most of which were NIU students, Holmes said.

Also present was DeKalb County Sheriff Roger Scott, who said he hoped the presidential candidates would spend some time in Illinois. “It’s pretty tough to win here, with [Barack] Obama being from here,” Scott said.

Pat Brady, a member of the [Senator John] McCain for Presidency campaign and Neal Sauerberg, son of U.S. Senate Candidate Dr. Steve Sauerberg, also spoke for their representative candidates at the meeting. Brady informed the Republicans that McCain would be in the state next Friday to campaign.

Neal Sauerberg campaigned for his father by stating his main platforms of family issues, guns, the war in Iraq and health care. Sauerberg is running against Illinois Senator Dick Durbin.