On this particular Saturday, Bill Black has chosen to focus his campaigning on the village of St. Joseph in eastern Champaign County.

Black and his band of volunteers meet in the Dairy Queen parking lot at 9:30 this brisk morning.

His volunteers include wife, Sharon; retired Danville veterinarian Dr. Wesley Bieritz; Ogden farmer Bill Wilson; and three volunteers from Springfield, Liz Hartog, Terry Horstman and Vicki Crawford.

“I have helped Bill many years with financial contributions to his campaigns but this is the first year I have been able to get out and knock on some doors for him,” Bieritz said. “My veterinary practice kept me too busy to help before but I have retired and now have the time.”

Black tells his volunteers what areas of the village to walk through and they head out.

Black and Wilson head off to erect some 4-by-4-foot signs along well-traveled county roads. Wilson has pre-scouted and secured permission to place the signs.

The first stop is Wilson’s own farm on U.S. Route 150 east of Ogden. While driving the steel fence posts in the ground, Black laments: “At this point in the campaign you wait for it to be over. You have done everything you can.”

This marks Black’s 12th campaign for state representative.

Difficult task

“It is getting harder to do,” Black added. “Technology has made things more complex and difficult.”

Black said it is harder to attract volunteers to help campaign.

“Maybe being the incumbent, people don’t think you need the help,” Black said with a laugh. “I do see a shortage of volunteers.”

Wilson’s wife, Sandi, comes out to greet Black and wishes him well. Black talks with the Wilsons about their crops and their impending harvest.

Black and Wilson then head for the farm of Stanley Harper of Ogden. Wilson has secured permission to put up a large sign on farmland owned by Harper.

Black said everything related to campaigning has become expensive. While he estimates on this campaign he would probably spend $85,000 to $90,000, it is not his most expensive.

“In 1986, I ran against Larry Stuffle and I know we both spent about $100,000 each in that campaign,” Black said.

“For this campaign I have bought 550 yard signs, 100 4-by-4-foot signs and 25 4-by-8-foot signs,” Black said.

After the last large sign is put up, Black heads back to St. Joseph to catch up with his volunteers. Black meets with his volunteers and they map out the rest of the neighborhoods they need to cover. Black grabs a stack of election cards and sets out.

“There is a lot of discussion about how much good walking precincts and knocking on doors does anymore,” Black said.

“I’m not sure it does that much good anymore,” he added. “With the 2–3 minutes of contact you have when you knock on a door, if the person is home, you aren’t going to change too many minds.

“Also in the age we live in, some people are reluctant to open their doors or another problem is people are so busy, that they are not home.”

Black says he uses voter lists and walks only in districts that make up his base — namely, Republican.

Black says he will do a limited amount of walking, will send out a mailer and will do some radio advertisements. He said he also is considering some cable television advertisements.

Long record

He said there are advantages to being the incumbent in that people know who you are and you have a record that you have to stand on.

“People know where I stand, they can look at my voting record,” Black said.

At one house Black is greeted by a woman who explains she is social worker, and thanks him for his work on behalf of special needs children.

A humbled Black thanks her and said that is an issue close to his heart.

On the street, Black encounters a father playing catch with his children. The father questions what can be done about the high energy costs?

Black tells the man he intends to introduce legislation to require open hearings between the Illinois Commerce Commission and the utility companies.

“Those hearings are now closed to the public, even the Illinois attorney general, cannot be in those meetings,” Black said. “I think if they were open to the public, with public input, it would open up the process a lot more.”

Black also explains to the man that there are 63 cents in state taxes on each gallon of gasoline. That money, Black said, is supposed to go toward the road fund but the governor is siphoning off money for other things. Black said he intends to introduce legislation to suspend the taxes if gasoline hits $3.50 a gallon.

Black continues to walk the St. Joseph subdivision, knocking on doors until he meets up with the rest of his volunteers.

Busy weekend

As Black and his group of volunteers part company, he heads to a hog roast for Court Appointed Special Advocates group and later that evening, to a performance by the Danville Symphony Orchestra.

On Sunday, Black will attend a ham and bean dinner for the Catlin Historical Society and then return to St. Joseph to finish walking certain precincts.

Later in the week will find him walking in Royal and in Potomac.