Metro East Sun

Doug Jameson is accusing Rep. Jay Hoffman (D-Swansea) of trying to undermine him in the eyes of one of his most ardent groups of supporters in their 113th House District race.

“He knows I have the overwhelming support of veterans across the district and he’s trying to undo as much of that as he can before Election Day,” Jameson told the Metro East Sun. 

He described at least three mailers and an assortment of Facebook posts recently made by Hoffman’s campaign team blasting him for “standing by and doing nothing” while 13 veterans and wives died from Legionnaires’ disease at the Illinois Veterans Home in Quincy.

Rep. Jay Hoffman (D-Swansea)

At the same time, Hoffman has championed himself as the voice of veterans across the area.

“In general, I think Jay talks the talk while I walk the walk,” said Jameson, a lifetime member of the VFW and the American Legion who served in the Army and retired as a major. “The truth is I’ve drove up to Quincy, talked to leaders, drank the water and advocated for getting the job done. I challenge him to debate me on veterans’ issues at any VFW or American Legion Hall in the district.”

Jameson said it’s not surprising to him that Hoffman would lash out at this point in the campaign.

“This race is close, within the margin of error when you factor in all the undecided voters, and the momentum is absolutely on our side,” he said. “All this sleight of hands and misdirection on his part won’t work because people know the only way to hold off insolvency for this state is for us to have change in Springfield.”

The 113th House District includes Madison and St. Clair counties.