CARBONDALE — Former-Lt. Gov. Sheila Simon, of Carbondale, tells the Southern she’s seriously considering a run for state Senate in 2016, and is eying the 58th Senate District seat being vacated by Okawville Republican Sen. Dave Luechtefeld.

Simon lost a bid for state treasurer this past year against Republican Judy Baar Topinka, who died in December.
While some have also encouraged her to run for the U.S. 12th Congressional seat held by Republican Rep. Mike Bost, Simon said she’s not as interested in that position.

She said the state Senate seat seems to be a “better fit,” given her interests in state-level issues and her frustrations with Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner.

Luechtefeld announced his decision earlier this month to not to seek re-election, since he currently lives outside of the 58th District and would have had to move by June 1 to qualify for the ballot in that district.

After representing the district for nearly 20 years, Luechtefeld’s home was drawn out of the district following the decennial remapping that followed the 2000 Census. He was allowed to run once under the newly constituted district, which he did in 2012.

The 58th District comprises all or parts of eight counties: Washington, Jefferson, Perry, Randolph, Jackson, Union, Monroe and St. Clair.