Longtime 15th District Republican Congressman John Shimkus is closing in on retirement from political office, but says he is looking forward to the next chapter in his life-a return to teaching. Shimkus during a recent interview announced that he will be teaching at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIU-E) beginning next spring. Shimkus spent 24 years in the U.S. House of Representatives in Washington D.C. and now says he is excited to join the SIU-E faculty. Three generations of the Shimkus family attended school there. Shimkus did teach high school in his native Edwardsville prior to his political career. He will be replaced by either Republican Mary Miller or Democrat Erika Weaver in the election next week.