* I just received this press release from Local 150 of the Operating Engineers Union…

Updated Release: Democrat Lance Redneck Announces Run Against Jerry Long for State Representative

Lance Redneck? What an interesting name for a Downstate candidate.

Trouble is, the candidate’s name is actually Lance Yednock.

Now, I normally don’t make a deal out of auto-correct typos, but that one was just too hilarious to pass up.

* Here’s the release…

Lifelong Ottawa resident Lance Yednock, D-Ottawa, announced his candidacy for the Illinois House of Representatives in the 76th District today. Yednock, 45, a business representative with the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 150, felt compelled to run after Jerry Long lied to union families and failed to support a measure that would have protected middle-class workers from Bruce Rauner’s dangerous agenda.

“I have spent my adult life building and cultivating relationships across our communities,” said Yednock. “I was driven to run for office by my passion to serve the working people of the Illinois Valley. I want to ensure that working families get a fair shake, something Jerry Long has failed to do since he took office.”

Before being hired on as a business representative by Local 150 in 2012, Yednock was an equipment operator for nearly 20 years. He also previously served on Local 150’s Executive Board for 7 years before being brought on staff. Yednock has a degree in political science and he lives in Ottawa with his wife.

“Lance is a hard worker, a committed husband and a trusted member of this community,” said Local 150 President-Business Manager James M. Sweeney. “Jerry Long sent working families up the creek without a paddle when he stood with Bruce Rauner and his anti-worker agenda. A line in the sand has been drawn, and I know Lance will fight every day in Springfield to ensure our voices are being heard.”

Long is a life-long member of the Teamsters, and has often used his union credentials as a way to curry favor in the district with voters. Leading up to a vote in Springfield earlier this month that would have protected middle-class families from Rauner’s anti-worker agenda, Long promised local community members he would stand up to the governor and vote for the measure. On the day of the vote, Long caved to Rauner’s demands and broke his promise to his union brothers and sisters.

Teamsters Joint Council 25 has also stepped up to support Yednock’s race against Long. After Long voted in favor of allowing local “right to work” laws, the Teamsters Joint Council 25 President Terrence J. Hancock embraced Yednock as a candidate who will represent working families in the Illinois Valley.

“After the disappointment Long has personally delivered to working people by breaking campaign promises and supporting Governor Rauner, Long should turn in his union membership card and stop touting himself as a friend of labor,” Hancock said. “We will be supporting every effort to secure Lance Yednock’s place on the ballot in the upcoming primary election, and we will work hard to ensure that he is successful in November.”

“Jerry Long turned his back on working families when he chose to support Governor Rauner’s reckless agenda instead of standing up for the rights of middle-class workers,” said Laborers International Union of North America Vice President John Penn. “Jerry Long cannot be trusted and the families in the 76th district deserve better. That is why we are fully supporting Lance Yednock, a labor representative who has a proven record of standing up for working men and women.”

The International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 150 is a labor union representing 23,000 working men and women in Illinois, Indiana and Iowa. Local 150 represents workers in various industries, including construction, construction material development, public works, concrete pumping, steel mill service, slag processing and others.

Suggested campaign slogans?

…Adding… That’s Redneck… um, I mean Yednock wearing the yellow vest…

       

47 Comments - Grandson of Man - Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 12:13 pm: “Finally, a Redneck who doesn’t believe tax cuts for the rich and union-busting will bring prosperity to everyone.” - Michelle Flaherty - Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 12:15 pm: If you’re tired of a fake plaid cowboy trashing workers’ rights … You might be a Yednock - former southerner - Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 12:27 pm: The birth of the Renaissance Redneck. Things ARE looking up. - Arthur Andersen - Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 12:29 pm: Local 150 Seeking Experienced Copy Editor - Rich Miller - Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 12:34 pm: ===You might be a Yednock=== Perfect. Anybody else want to follow this lead? - Oswego Willy - Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 12:41 pm: If your van is actually trashed from working hard with your hands to make a living…. You might be a Yednock If you drink Stag beer because drinking Stag beer isn’t used to make any statement about you… You might be a Yednock If you wear a tie because of court, church, or ‘cause you know wearing a tie does mean you respect the audience… You might be a Yednock You drop Gs wheh you are buying farming equipment and not because you want people to think you’re simple… You might be a Yednock You know what an immigrant is, and are proud of your actual family roots and history… You might be a Yednock You tell the truth, even if it means taking on the blame yourself instead of blaming others… You might be a Yednock You know that respecting people who work and get dirt under their nails means talking with them like they’re adults… You might be a Yednock - Amalia - Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 12:41 pm: so. darned. hilarious. - Anonymous - Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 12:41 pm: If you wear a yellow vest and brown shoes, you just might be a Yednock. - Arthur Andersen - Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 12:45 pm: If you wear a Carhartt to hunt, fish, or work outside, not as a costume…You might be a Yednock - Oswego Willy - Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 12:45 pm: If you know and appreciate all the regions of Illinois and don’t pit those regions against each other… You might be a Yednock If you know growing up in Deerfield and going to private schools is a privileged upbringing…You might be a Yednock - Norseman - Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 12:47 pm: Wouldn’t dare to compete with Michelle’s gem. - Holy Grail - Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 12:49 pm: What is your quest? LANCE: To seek the Holy State House. What is your favorite color? LANCE: Bright Yellow What is your name? LANCE: My name is Sir Lance Redneck-No Yed - AUUUGH. - Ron Burgundy - Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 12:52 pm: If your vest is reflecting and doesn’t cost $200, you might be a Yednock. - Mouthy - Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 12:52 pm: Freudian slip? I once knew of an artistic woman who sold ladies slips under the label “Freudian Slips”. That’s all I got… - G'Kar - Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 12:53 pm: I work in the Illinois Valley. That might not be a Freudian slip! - Grandson of Man - Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 12:56 pm: If you wear work clothes for actually working, you might be a Yednock. - DuPage Bard - Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 12:58 pm: A little grease on a powdered donut, well that’s just flavor to a Yednock. - Anonymously Famous - Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 12:59 pm: Is it a coincidence that 150 has teamed up with Proft and immediately begin handing out sloppy work? - Oswego Willy - Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 12:59 pm: You wear work boots to work, not to avoid the fibs you tell… You might be a Yednock You don’t name dormatories after yourself, you actually use your hands with bricks and mortar to build those buildings… You might be a Yednock You own a working ranch you actually do work on 24/7/365… You might be a Yednock The only time you’ve been on Park Avenue is when you’ve played Monopoly… You might be a Yednock When you go to a cocktail party, it’s usually in someone’s barn after everyone put in 12+ hours of manual labor… You might be a Yednock - Huh? - Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 1:00 pm: If you wear a Carhartt jacket that is stained, greasy and patched with tear grease …You might be a Yednock. - Huh? - Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 1:03 pm: If you have a battered tool box that ain’t for show and know which end of wrench does what … You might be a Yednock - Huh? - Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 1:05 pm: If your every day shoe is a scuffed work boot … You might be a Yednock. - Oswego Willy - Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 1:05 pm: You’re so proud of your grandfather you’d never make up stories about who he was… You might be a Yednock - Really? - Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 1:07 pm: A Democrat coming from OE 150? Anybody else get a chuckle from this? - Huh? - Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 1:08 pm: If you know what it means to work hard, not afraid to get your hands dirty, and can point at something and say “I helped build that” … You might be a Yednock - Anonymous - Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 1:14 pm: I hope he reads George Wills column (to the right) he might be a better candidate and actually know something about the States problems. Be an informed Dem not a button pusher…could be independent with 150 $$$$. - A Jack - Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 1:16 pm: If you enjoying building Illinois, instead of destroying it… You might be a Yednock. - trollymctrollface - Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 1:16 pm: Bruce is no Yednock and to compare him to a redneck because of his fake harley, carhart, van, vest, whatever, is an insult to all the true rednecks out there, and an insult to republicans. - Man with a Plan - Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 1:18 pm: If you drop your g’s without the advice of a PR consultant, you might be a Yednock. - Anon - Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 1:39 pm: Rauner likes dropping Gs, 150 likes dropping Rs - Huh? - Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 1:42 pm: If you know why iron workers wear their hard hat backwards… You might be a Yednock. - Earnest - Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 1:45 pm: ===You might be a Yednock=== …if you think Rauner’s reach is to Long. - Anonymous - Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 1:50 pm: If you repair your motorcycle in your garage without a manual…you might be a Yednock If your tools include pieces that were owned by your father and grandfather and you regularly use them…you might be a Yednock If your fingers tend to curl in from years of picking up heavy stuff….you might be a Yednock If your boots are well broken in below the cuff line and smooth above the cuff … you might be a Yednock. - City Zen - Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 1:53 pm: If you belong to a union where only 4 of your 67 “Business Representatives” are female…You might be a Yednock. - Railrat - Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 2:21 pm: Sweeney should have checked with MJM before released, like he does with every other daily activity! I’m guessing a certain House GOP Leader is laughing ! - A guy - Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 2:38 pm: If Flaherty made you laugh so hard you passed gas, and maybe even worse…and your temporary dental implant ricocheted around the room, while they there’s no doubt about it. You’re a Yednock. - Commonsense in Illinois - Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 3:17 pm: Coming from LaSalle County, he might want to keep the name… - Mama - Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 3:24 pm: Good luck Mr. Yednock. - Rabid - Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 4:14 pm: lance rauneritis - Anonymice - Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 5:25 pm: === A Democrat coming from OE 150? Anybody else get a chuckle from this? === === Sweeney should have checked with MJM before released, like he does with every other daily activity! I’m guessing a certain House GOP Leader is laughing ! === So, is Local 150 pro R or D??? … or maybe they just look out for the interest of their members, like every other organization out there should. - Keyser Soze - Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 5:58 pm: Was Lance Riprock a character in the Flintstones, or was that the Beverly Hillbillies? - Fdr democrat - Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 8:00 pm: The valley is union country Should be an interesting race - Generic Drone - Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 11:50 pm: Now THIS is a great blog. Love it. Haha - Rabid - Tuesday, Nov 21, 17 @ 12:08 am: go long - Rabid - Tuesday, Nov 21, 17 @ 12:09 am: Long gone - Rabid - Tuesday, Nov 21, 17 @ 12:11 am: Can Jerry - Rabid - Tuesday, Nov 21, 17 @ 8:31 am: redneck white sox and blue ribbon beer Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.