The Illinois candidate for the 13th District US House seat was arrested after he crashed his vehicle while driving drunk and then assaulted a police officer.
Mark Wicklund was arrested and charged last year for the crimes and is free on $10,000 bail — so he could go campaign.
The Democrat candidate did not receive the same attention for his crimes as Republican candidate Greg Giantorte received for body-slamming an aggressive reporter in Montana this past week.
The Herald Review reported:
Mark Wicklund, a former Macon County Board member and Democratic candidate for the 13th District U.S. House seat, is facing charges after police said he crashed a vehicle while driving under the influence and subsequently struck an officer at the hospital.
Wicklund has been charged with DUI in the April 18 rollover vehicle crash and is free on $10,000 bond.
He also faces a preliminary charge of aggravated battery against a police officer, with a special prosecutor having 30 days to determine whether to file a formal charge. The Macon County State’s Attorney’s Office typically makes formal charging decisions, but State’s Attorney Jay Scott filed a motion Thursday seeking the special prosecutor due to Wicklund’s former position on the county board. Wicklund served on the board from 2010 to 2013.
When reached by phone Friday, Wicklund declined to comment on the case. He is represented by attorney Paul Chiligiris.
Wicklund lost his race to Republican Rodney Davis in 2016.
