State Rep. Mike Bost, R-Murphysboro, has been beaten before and can be beaten again. That’s the scenario being spun by Democrats in the 115th District as they prepare for war against the two-time Republican incumbent.

The man carrying the flag for the Democrats is Carbondale Police Chief Don Strom, who at the last minute was persuaded to step into the crossfire of politics in attempt to resurrect a sleeping Democratic majority.

Strom accepted the challenge and met it head on, as evidenced by his ambitious announcement speech Dec. 15. But now that the initial fireworks have subsided, Strom and his campaign team must develop the right recipe for an upset of the seemingly popular Bost, who has enjoyed bipartisan support for two terms.

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The task is not insurmountable in the eyes of Strom’s veteran campaign chairman Gene Dybvig, an SIUC professor emeritus in radio and television. Dybvig, a former Paul Simon aide, contends the secret of success lies in the opponent’s end. Bost’s record, he says, is vulnerable not so much because of what’s on it, but what’s not on it.

Democratic activist Mike Harty calls this strategy the failure of omission strategy. He, like Dybvig, argues if voters are shown what Bost has failed to accomplish, the margin can be narrowed and Democratic victory claimed. However, Harty said Bost’s ineptness in leadership ability may serve as an advantage to the Murphysboro legislator.

Bost is not an easy person to attack because there’s not much there, Harty said. The bottom line is, and this will get said over and over again, he works for the Republican leadership, not the district.

Harty also argues that Bost’s support lies on shaky ground because of his appeal in the past to weak Democrats. It is this group that Dybvig believes will migrate back to the party if its members are given a viable alternative.

Bost’s support is very shallow, Harty said. This is a Democratic district and Bost has succeeded in pulling Democratic votes.

A lot of those voters can be pulled back the other way if they’re given an attractive candidate. Strom can do that.

Democrats also plan to capitalize on Strom’s personality and character, which to this point have bolstered his reputation as police chief among Carbondale community members. Moreover, Dybvig says, Strom’s articulateness and knowledge of the issues will provide a strong counterpunch to what Harty refers to as Bost’s inoffensiveness and inarticulateness.

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The issue that looks to become the focal point of the campaign is education spending, which Strom is hoping will propel him into the General Assembly. Harty said Bost’s major failure was to transfer leadership in the education debate to Chicago powerbrokers, who in turn, ignored Southern Illinois lawmakers and rammed through the legislature an inane plan primarily benefiting northern schools. Strom has said the bill, which provides increased funding for Illinois schools through hikes in cigarette and casino taxes, does not provide adequate reform. Strom said he will push for further efforts, including property tax relief.

Bost is unfazed when confronted with the strategies being touted by Democrats. In fact, he not only expects them, but welcomes them.

I’ve heard all this before, he says.

Bost argues his undying love for the 115th district and his dedication to representing its residents will continue to sway voters into his corner. The Murphysboro Republican predicts he will win a third term in November and insists the failures described by Democrats are the result of the inevitable compromises of politics. Bost said he deplores the notion he has sold out to his northern colleagues.

And I will continue to be the representative of the 115th District.

Bost admits the education bill was not the cure-all of education legislation. He said he supported it because at least more money had been apportioned. Bost bemoans the legislative process, conceding its imperfections. But reality dictates negotiation and compromise, he said, and it is within these parameters he commits to work.

The reality is that we have to work with this legislative process to get a majority of those 118 legislators that will agree with us, Bost said. Does that mean we’re always going to get a perfect bill? No, but we’re going to get the best bill we can.

Bost was defeated in his first run for state representative by then-incumbent Gerald Hawkins. In the ensuing election, he bested Hawkins and then went on to defeat John Rendleman in 1996. Strom and Bost will run uncontested in their respective primaries, meeting in November during the general election.

[Bost’s] won two and lost one, Harty said. He’s definitely beatable.