Gov. Bruce Rauner will be endorsing U.S. Rep. John Shimkus, the 15th district Congressman, at 1:45 p.m. Monday at Mid America Motorworks in Effingham.

Community members are invited to ask questions regarding their concerns on the 2016 election in a town hall style question-and-answer session.

According to an article in the Belleville News-Democrat from March 6, Rauner has already made several remarks in favor of Shimkus, a Republican from Collinsville, and on Monday Rauner will give his full support.

The Republican primary is on March 15, and Sen. Kyle McCarter is running against Shimkus.

McCarter said he is running a more conservative campaign unlike Shimkus, according to the article.

However, according to the article, Steve Tomaszewski with Volunteers for Shimkus said the Congressman is in good standing.

According to his website, Shimkus is endorsed by National Right to Life Committee, the National Rifle Association, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Illinois Farm Bureau, which all served to help Shimkus establish more credibility and help his name become more recognize to the public.

Tomaszewski said in the article that Shimkus was incorrectly portrayed.

Shimkus said he supports agriculture, energy and efforts to reduce the number of taxes and end the federal estate tax, according to his website.

Shimkus has been in Congress since 1996, first representing Illinois’ 20th district. Between 2003 and 2013, Shimkus served as the representative for Illinois’ 19th district and is now currently serving as the 15th district representative.

According to his website, McCarter is leading by example on term limits, which he says are necessary for public servants at all levels.

On his website, McCarter said he is in favor of reform and is a supporter for the second amendment and creating jobs.

In an article the News Gazette, McCarter said he reached out to his opponent, inviting him to participate in “town hall debates” before the March 15 primary.

Shimkus’ campaign staff said they never received the invite, according to the article, and called the town hall meeting misleading.

McCarter said he will still be at the town hall debates regardless and said Shimkus could use Skype to participate in the debates, according to the article.

Shimkus and McCarter will be a part of an in studio debate at Vandalia stations WKRV and WPMB on March 12.

Analicia Haynes can be reached at 581-2812 or achaynes@eiu.edu