By DOUG WILSON

Herald-Whig Senior Writer

Adams County Republicans applauded a U.S. Senate candidate, a lieutenant governor candidate for 2010 and a list of local incumbents during the annual Lincoln/Reagan Day gathering Thursday night.

Senate candidate Steve Sauerberg said he faces an uphill battle to defeat Sen. Dick Durbin in the November election.

"It may be hard, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't try," Sauerberg said.

The physician from Oak Brook said Democrats are proposing socialized medicine programs for the nation. He shared a brief overview of his "Your Healthcare -- Your Choice Plan."

Sauerberg said Americans should each be able to own a health care policy tailored to their own needs. With personal ownership of these insurance policies, fraud and abuse would be cut. Protection would not lapse when someone leaves a job or moves to a new location.

Pastor Randy White of Hamilton told about his second run for lieutenant governor. White ran as an independent candidate for the statewide position in 2006 and feels God's call to seek the office again.

"I'm going to church voters first. I have worked with a bunch of pastors from north to south in this state, working on other campaigns ... and several of them said 'you need to be running yourself,' " White said.

His most recent pastorate was at Hamilton's Golden Point Christian Church. He resigned there on Dec. 25, 2005, to focus more on getting Christian people elected.

State Rep. Jil Tracy, R-Mount Sterling, got one of the better laughs when she unveiled a foam hand, holding up a forefinger and proclaiming that Illinois Democrats are No. 1 in tax and spend policies.

"Democrats won this because Chicago now has the highest sales tax in the country ... at 10.25 percent," Tracy said.

"What business wants to be there? What person wants to live there and pay that tax?"

Circuit Clerk Randy Frese, Coroner Gary Hamilton and State's Attorney Jon Barnard each spoke about their re-election campaigns.

Republican chairman Larry Ehmen said there's a clear difference between what Democrats and Republicans want for the nation.

"I don't believe the bulk of the country is ready for those extremely socialistic programs that both (presidential) candidates on the other side have," Ehmen said.

-- dwilson@whig.com/221-3372