Congressman-elect Phil Hare, D-Rock Island, is fulfilling a campaign pledge by maintaining an office in Decatur.

He also has announced his senior staff for his Washington, D.C., and 17th District offices.

Hare will take his oath of office Jan. 3 and replace U.S. Rep. Lane Evans, D-Rock Island, his former boss who bowed out of a re-election bid for health reasons due to Parkinson's disease after 12 terms in Congress.

Patricia Dawson will continue to staff the Decatur office, Suite 765 of the Barnes Citizens Building, 236 N. Water St. The telephone number is 422-9150.

Dennis King, who was Evans' chief of staff during his entire tenure in Congress, and Eda Robinson, Evans' office manager for more than 20 years, will retain their roles in Hare's Washington office.

Joining them as communications director will be Tim Schlittner, a Syracuse University graduate who has degrees in broadcast journalism and political science. Schlittner most recently worked in the press office of U.S. Rep. Steny Hoyer, D-Md., the House majority leader-elect. Prior to that, he was deputy press secretary for U.S. Rep. Jane Harman, D-Calif.

University of Oregon graduate Janna Bergquist will be Hare's legislative director in Washington. She has been a legislative assistant for Evans since 2005.

Pat O'Brien will serve as Hare's district director. A Moline resident for more than 27 years, O'Brien was field director for Hare's election campaign. He served two terms as alderman in Moline Ward 2 and is a member of Laborers Union Local 309.

Andrew Rowe, a Rock Island native, is the district economic development director. He earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Illinois and a master's of business affairs degree from the University of Iowa.

Rowe is director of community rehabilitation for Trinity Regional Health System, a post he has held since 1995.

"I am proud to have assembled a smart, creative and experienced team that will serve the people of the 17th Congressional District well," Hare said. "I am absolutely committed to being a dedicated, thoughtful member of Congress that is responsive to the needs of my constituents. This fine group of professionals will help me achieve that goal."

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STATE SEN. Bill Brady, R-Bloomington, has been named to the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability by state Sen. Frank Watson, R-Greenville, the minority leader.

Brady replaces state Sen. Steve Rauschenberger, R-Elgin, who is leaving the legislature after making an unsuccessful run for governor.

The commission reviews public policy issues ranging from the state budget to public pension systems. It provides the legislature with research and information regarding state and national economies, revenue projections and Illinois government operations.

The four legislative leaders appoint three members each to the 12-member commission. Brady served on the body for eight years when he was a state representative.

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DRAFTOBAMA.ORG, the online movement to encourage U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., to run for president in 2008, unveiled its first television ad last week, but only folks in New Hampshire and Washington, D.C., will get to see it starting this week.

The 60-second spot is entitled "Believe Again."

"We want to show Sen. Obama that there is a rapidly growing movement out there ready to support him if he runs for president, so the organization commissioned a TV ad conveying Obama's message of hope," said Ben Stanfield of Rockville, Md., founder of DraftObama.org.

The spot shows pictures of Obama at rallies and events and the voice over is composed of clips from his speeches, including his acclaimed address to the Democratic National Convention in 2004. It can be seen online on YouTube.com or the group's Web site at www.draftobama

.org.

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FORSYTH MAYOR Harold "Hap" Gilbert has proclaimed Monday as Trojan Pride Day in Forsyth.

The Maroa-Forsyth high school football squad recently won the Class 2A state championship. Team members are invited to the village board meeting at 7 p.m. Monday to receive a certificate commemorating their achievement.

Ron Ingram can be reached at ringram@herald-review.com or 421-7973 and Mike Frazier can be reached at mfrazier@herald-review.com or 421-7985.