Republican Oberweis courting votes in African-American community

CHICAGO (WLS) -- In the race for the Illinois United States Senate seat, Republican challenger Jim Oberweis is reaching out again to the African-American community in Chicago, which has traditionally voted Democratic.

State Senator Oberweis says he cannot win the U.S. Senate seat without votes cast by African Americans, so he's pulling out all the stops to get his share.

Some African American ministers and others have abandoned the Democratic Party to support Oberweis over three-term incumbent Senator Dick Durbin.

"Why not give Jim Oberweis a chance to produce the results that Dick Durbin has not," said Rev. Ira Acree

Dairy magnate Oberweis promised jobs as he opened his headquarters in Woodlawn on the black South Side.

"Creating jobs is something I have done for most of my life and I hope to be able to bring that experience here," Oberweis said.

"Buying a one-month storefront lease on the South Side does not represent a commitment to the people who live there," said Durbin.

After a ribbon-cutting at Northeastern Illinois University warned voters, including African-Americans, about Oberweis.

"He's one of the few candidates who's standing up and saying we shouldn't increase the minimum wage," Durbin said.

"We need someone who's going to visit our community, someone who's going to do for our community and not just at election time," said Reverend Corey B. Brooks.

Rev. Brooks, whose church owns the building the Oberweis campaign is subleasing, also supports Republican Bruce Rauner.

"These are individual decisions, they are not community based decisions," said Dr. Conrad Worill, Northeastern Illinois University.

Dr. Worrill, a black studies professor, suspects the new black Republicans have individual, financial motives.

"People don't get involved in politics without a quid pro quo," he said.

"I cannot be bought," Rev. Brooks said. "By Mr. Oberweis, Mr. Rauner, Mr. Quinn or Mr. Durbin, Republican or Democrat. We are not for sale."

The Reverend Brooks says his church leased the building to a consulting firm for $500 a month. The consulting firm, he says, is renting the space to the Oberweis campaign for an undisclosed amount.