Mowen, "Gilligan" file for office

Jim Mowen, a Rock Island real estate broker and developer, and Brian Gilliland, an Aledo businessman, both filed papers with the Illinois State Board of Elections. The state began accepting nomination papers Monday and will do so through Dec. 19. Incumbent U.S. Rep. Lane Evans, D-Ill., filed nomination papers earlier this week.

In announcing his filing, Mowen said Wednesday the district faces a “serious state of stagnation,” something he said neighboring districts aren’t experiencing. “We need a representative that understands economic development and job creation,” he said in a statement.

Gilliland, too, is focusing his campaign on the economy. “Our economic condition is something people are concerned with, whether they’re Republican or Democrat,” he said.

Andrea Zinga, the GOP nominee last year, said Wednesday she would file papers by the deadline but wasn’t more specific than that.

Also Wednesday, Mowen said Victory Enterprises, Inc., of Davenport, would no longer be his campaign consultant. It still is working on his Web site, though.

Sounds like Zinga is having a little trouble pulling the trigger.