BIGGSVILLE - Andrea Lane Zinga spoke briefly Saturday morning to a group at a meet-the-candidates session at Country Fun restaurant and asked that voters consider Lane Evans' 22-year political track record when they vote in November.
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Zinga says its time to change Lanes
By DAVID GRIMES, The Quill Correspondent
BIGGSVILLE - Andrea Lane Zinga spoke briefly Saturday morning to a group at a meet-the-candidates session at Country Fun restaurant and asked that voters consider Lane Evans' 22-year political track record when they vote in November.
The Republican challenger remarks touched on issues of principal concern to those in the 17th Congressional District - jobs, taxes and health care.
While Evans' first name and Zinga's middle name are the same, the similarities end there.
The first-time candidate did not specifically address recent comments she made, in which she questioned whether Evans, who has Parkinson's disease, was healthy enough to represent the district effectively.
But the former radio personality and TV anchor reviewed Evan's record in bringing to the district what is needed most by those he represents.
The Macomb, native said her 35 years in the media has afforded her opportunities to groom herself in the machinations of local and state government. She said that while she has no experience in politics, "neither did Lane Evans when he took office."
Zinga spoke also of Evans' 1982 promise to bring new jobs and industry to Canton, in Fulton County and how that promise is only now beginning to show results.
Zinga said Evans has recorded 175 votes against defense spending issues.
"The (Rock Island) Arsenal was at just 23 percent capacity pre-Iraq," Zinga said.
She added that since George W. Bush's decision to send troops to Iraq, the percentage is growing again.
Manufacturing and farming are also issues that Zinga said are important to her, adding that when elected she would like to serve on congressional ag and transportation committees to bring needed improvements in those areas to the 17th district. She said family farms, the arsenal, ADM, John Deere and small businesses are integral parts of what comprises the 17th district and as such should receive priority attention.