Republican Rock Island County Board candidate Bill Long is hosting a meet and greet with U.S. Rep. Bobby Schilling, R-Colona, at 5 p.m today at City Limits Saloon & Grill, 4514 9th St., Rock Island.

Mr. Long is running for the District 11 county board seat against incumbent Democrat Nick Camlin.

Louie Alongi, president of the Italian-American Society of the Quad Cities, and Republican precinct committeeman Gary Snyder will co-host the event. Refreshments will be served; there's no entry fee, but contributions will be appreciated.

County chairman candidate

Jane Reinhardt-Martin, Republican Rock Island County Board candidate for District 11, wants Jim Bohnsack's job.

Ms. Reinhardt-Martin first must defeat Rock Island County Board member Don Johnston, D-Moline, on Nov. 6 before she can seek the chairman's job. Mr. Bohnsack is not seeking re-election, and a new chairman will be elected by the board in December.

Rock Island County Board member Mike McColl, R-Moline, already has announced he wants to be the Republican candidate for chairman, provided he also wins Nov. 6. But unlike Ms. Reinhardt-Martin, he -- along with most other Republican board candidates -- thinks the county should hire a professional administrator and reduce the role of the chairman.

Ms. Reinhardt-Martin, a dietitian, disagrees. "Our county government should remain in the citizens' hands," she said.

Mercer County candidates

The Mercer County Democratic Party will host a meet and greet with local Democratic candidates at 5 p.m. today at Aledo Depot, 204 SE 2nd Ave.

Atkinson Mayor August "Gus" Junior, candidate for state representative in District 74 against State Rep. Don Moffitt, R-Gilson, is scheduled to attend. A spaghetti dinner will be served; contributions are welcome.

McGehee fundraiser

A fundraiser for John McGehee, the Democratic Rock Island County State's Attorney candidate, is planned for 4:30 p.m. Thursday at the Milan American Legion, 515 1st Ave. West, Milan.

A taco dinner will be served; tickets are $10 per person, $50 for a sponsor or $100 for a host. Mr. McGehee is running against Republican candidate Jim Wozniak in the state's attorney election.

Tribune endorses Schilling

The Chicago Tribune has endorsed Rep. Schilling in his campaign against Democrat Cheri Bustos, of East Moline.

The Tribune's editorial board writes Ms. Bustos was "long on promises to protect safety net programs and short on solutions. She's all for finding efficiencies and cutting fraud and abuse — who isn't? — but we couldn't get her to commit to a single cut that would reduce any actual benefits."

Rep. Schilling was "willing to make tough reforms on Medicare, Social Security, food stamps," the Tribune's editorial board says.