INCUMBENT'S PROBLEMS WITH DRUGS BECOME FOCUS OF STEPHENS-HURST CAMPAIGN

State Rep. Ron Stephens leans forward in the chair and steadies the cup of
coffee in his hand: "The truth is I'm a drug addict," he says.

Stephens, a Troy Republican who is seeking re-election to the House, spent
11 weeks last year at the Betty Ford Clinic in California. His pharmacist's
license has been placed on probation by the Illinois Department of
Professional Regulation. He still submits to periodic drug tests - part of
the punishment imposed because he "diverted controlled substances from his
pharmacy employer and for habitually using controlled substances," the
department of regulation found.

Stephens won't say what drugs he used, though the department lists it under
a category that includes codeine and morphine. He doesn't blame his drug
and alcohol addiction problems on his wounds in Vietnam or on the death of
a grandson last year.

"It has nothing to do with my using drugs," he said. "I'm telling you
that's all bull."

The drug problem has emerged as a central issue in Stephens' re-election
campaign. His opponent, Alhambra Mayor Jeffrey Hurst, doesn't fault
Stephens so much for the drug problem as simply missing a critical chunk of
the legislative session. Hurst, a Democrat, ran against Stephens
unsuccessfully two years ago.

"He ran around last time saying he would give 110 percent," Hurst said.
"And then three months later he was gone from January until almost May."

Actually, Stephens checked into the rehab center on March 5 and returned to
the Illinois House on May 21.

Hurst said Stephens could have a relapse and wind up in rehab again,
leaving the district's 100,000 or so people without a representative.

"If you can't represent people because of something, maybe you should
resign," Hurst said.

Stephens said he isn't working as a pharmacist, though he remains a part
owner of two Prescription Plus pharmacies, one in Troy and the other in New
Baden.

Hurst also faults Stephens for helping secure a $250,000 state grant to buy
land for a park across the street from Stephens' Troy home. Stephens said
it was a legitimate deal and that the city supported the purchase.

The new 102nd House District might better be called the Interstate 70
district. The district stretches along the interstate corridor from Troy to
the western edge of Effingham. The 102nd also takes in O'Fallon, Lebanon,
Highland, Greenville, Vandalia, Aviston, Trenton, Marine, St. Jacob and
part of Shelbyville.

Even with the ready-made issue of drugs, Hurst is still a challenger
battling an incumbent in a district that is believed to have a slight edge
in Republican voters. In the election two years ago, Stephens defeated
Hurst by nearly a 2-to-1 margin, though that was a different district. The
new 102nd District was drawn during reapportionment, which takes place
every 10 years. Stephens has a sizable fund-raising edge, according to the
State Board of Elections: $141,326 versus $26,190.

Hurst, who has won many honors for his work as a Jaycee, is employed by the
Madison County Housing Authority. Before that, he was a route salesman for
the Dolly Madison Bakery and had worked for QuikTrip as a supervisor
overseeing nine stores.

Both candidates agree that education and jobs are key issues in the
campaign. Stephens said education funding needs to be reformed and the
state Department of Education needs to be revamped so that it is more
responsible to local school district needs. A particular problem, Stephens
said, is the system for selecting the state schools superintendent. The
state's Board of Education picks the superintendent.

"Anything is better than the way we do it now," said Stephens, adding that
he's willing to go along with a statewide election for the post. He even
said that he would support Paul Vallas, a Democrat who used to be the head
of the Chicago Public Schools. Vallas ran unsuccessfully for the Democratic
nomination for governor earlier this year.

Hurst said the district's overriding need is more jobs.

"Jobs have got to come first," he said. "We've got to do everything we can
to bring jobs to Southern Illinois."

The key, he said, is to build on the area's agricultural base. About a
quarter of the jobs in Illinois are related to agriculture.

THE CANDIDATES

Ron Stephens

Age: 54

Home: Troy

Occupation: Legislator, pharmacist, part owner of two Prescription Plus
pharmacies

Education: Bachelor's degree from St. Louis College of Pharmacy

Military service: Vietnam veteran, awarded Bronze Star and Purple Heart

Political Experience: State representative from 1985-91; 1993-present

Family: Wife, Karen, and five children

Jeffrey A. Hurst

Age: 42

Home: Alhambra

Occupation: Housing manager for the Madison County Housing Authority, mayor
of Alhambra

Education: Attended Wichita State University

Military Service: None

Political Experience: Village Board trustee in Alhambra, 1994-1997. Mayor
of Alhambra, 1997-present

Family: Divorced, two boys