GOP candidate in Weller’s district to drop out

New Lenox Mayor Tim Baldermann (R) said Friday that he plans to drop out of the race to replace Rep. Jerry Weller (R-Ill.).

Baldermann said that he had too much on his plate as mayor, police chief, father and candidate, and that he would file the correct paperwork Monday.

{mosads}“I am grateful for all the support I’ve received in the last few months from Republicans throughout this district, and I am confident the Republican Party will select a nominee who can win in November,” Baldermann said in a statement.

Baldermann won his party’s primary earlier this month but has endured some early problems. He expressed reservations about raising the amount of money needed for the race, recently parted ways with a campaign manager under federal investigation and was criticized for using a newspaper’s logo in a misleading way on his campaign literature.

One source said Baldermann was disappointed with the amount of fundraising support he was getting from the party, and party leaders were similarly disappointed with his output on that front.

State Sen. Debbie Halvorson, the Democratic nominee, has raised more than $400,000, while Baldermann raised jut $100,000 through mid-January.

Local GOP leaders will have to find a new nominee, since the primary was held Feb. 5. No name immediately rose to the top, but the district leans Republican and should draw a serious candidate.