As the Dec. 15 filing deadline approaches, Democrats in the 115th District appear to be lining up in support of Carbondale Police Chief Don Strom to run against Murphysboro native and two-time Republican incumbent Mike Bost, R-Murphysboro.

Since Bost announced in September his intentions to run for re-election, widespread speculation and uncertainty about who would fill the void left by Carbondale attorney John Rendleman in 1996 filtered through the district’s political channels.

Several names have been dropped by party leaders and community activists, including John Davis, executive director of the Southern Illinois Orthopedic Health Clinic; Nick Dolce, Perry County city clerk; Karl Maple, political science professor at John A. Logan College; and Strom. Each have been reluctant to jump in the race, or even discuss his political ambitions.

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However, since Strom has told local media that he is considering a run for the House, the bandwagon has been gaining momentum.

Strom says he does not want to jump the gun in announcing his candidacy, but has talked to a variety of party leaders in the district and in Springfield about the possibility.

I don’t want to make any statements now, Strom said. But, we’ll be making a decision by next week.

We’re still trying to evaluate the possibilities.

Rather than looking at poll numbers, Strom has been consulting his family for inspiration. Any decision, he says, will be made collectively.

We’re a close-knit family, Strom said. We look at everything like this as a family project.

Shirley Booker, Jackson County Democratic County chairwoman, said that whomever decides to launch a campaign will run uncontested in the March primary. She also indicated that only two people remain in the candidate search, Maple and Strom. But, Booker said she has not heard much from the Maple camp, which may suggest Strom has the edge.

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I’m not sure about Karl, Booker said. I haven’t heard much.

But, we’ll have one good candidate next year and everybody will support that person.

Booker said Strom would present a formidable challenge to Bost who, for the last few years, has enjoyed immense popularity throughout the district. Booker said that though Strom has a proven record as a law enforcement officer, it is his strong character that will propel him into the General Assembly.

He’s a very intelligent man, she said. I think he would do very well against Bost. And I’m not saying that because he’s a police chief, I’m saying that because he’s a good man.

Though Hays is not familiar with Strom’s ideas, he says Strom would bring much-needed name recognition and experience to the Democratic ticket. He also said Strom maintains the civic-minded, family-man persona that has made Bost so popular.

The perception is that Strom is the good community member, family man, nice guy, firefighter-police man, Hays said. I don’t know that Maple has that going for him.

Strom may scare Maple away.

Maple was unavailable for comment.

Though Strom has not outlined any issues, Hays is confident that Strom’s image as a liberal Democrat with a career in crime-fighting will position him well among the voters of Southern Illinois.

There’s the perception that he’s liberal, and he’s got that reputation as being a fairly respected law enforcement man, Hays said. So, he’s got his foot in both camps.

A lot of people are excited about him.

Hays is dubious about the amount of student support Strom will receive next year. Strom’s tough stances on bar entry, underage drinking, Halloween Strip festivities, fake I.D.’s and off-campus parties may not resonate well with student voters, who showed their disfavor with hard-line city council members in 1996.

He might lose there (in student precincts), Hays said. Students and the police aren’t best buddies.

Strom has been the Carbondale police chief since 1990 when he was promoted to the position from sergeant an unusual jump as he skipped the rank of lieutenant. Strom graduated from SIUC with a double major in political science and radio and television.