The incumbent Congressman for the 17^th District was in Peoria today/yesterday to kick off his campaign. Colona Republican Bobby Schilling is running against East Moline Democrat Cheri Bustos. The winner in the November election will represent the newly re-drawn district that includes a large portion of Peoria.

Schilling toured various sites including George’s Shoe Shine and the Heartland Community Health Clinic. He says the purpose of visiting area locations is to educate himself on what’s important in Peoria.

"What we don't want to do is enter into the new district and not have a pretty good grip and grasp of what's happening and then seeing how we can work together with the other Congressman. So, the thing that's pretty exciting for me is some folks are upset. They are thinking oh my goodness; we're going to lose our Congressman in part of the district. But I look at it as the glass is half full cause now you have two members of Congress representing the area. So, it's pretty exciting," says Schilling.