From Rockford, Illinois, hometown of Ginger Lynn comes this story about a mayoral candidate whose poster girl for his campaign is Chesty Morgan:

Rockford, Illinois- OK, you’ve heard the plans and visions Rockford’s three legitimate mayoral candidates have for the city’s downtown.

And now, here’s write-in candidate Leonardo Guzzardo’s vision, which is based on the premise that sleaze, like nature, loves a vacuum. City residents have seen the concept in action in recent years with the proliferation of massage parlors and gentlemen’s clubs featuring nearly nude dancers.

Somehow, all those businesses stayed a step ahead of city zoning regulations and managed to insinuate themselves into some pretty respectable neighborhoods. How did that happen?

At least Guzzardo is upfront about his ambition to transform downtown into “the most wide-open sexual district in the world.”

In essence, he’s saying, if you’re not using downtown for anything else, I’d like to borrow it.

A SELF-CONFESSED goofball who can’t seem to figure out how to file acceptable petitions to get on the ballot, Guzzardo can’t hope to win. He has absolutely no credentials, and most people would be embarrassed by his personal and business track records.

Shame is not Guzzardo’s long suit.

He boasts that he’s been visiting brothels since he was 15 and still does at 52. The poster girl for his campaign is an exotic dancer named “Chesty Morgan.”

Guzzardo made his mark in business downtown over the years. He and brother John ran the Naughty Lady Lounge at 218 E. State St. in the 1970s.

They kept losing their liquor license for violations, including employing under-age waitresses and keeping a “noisy, disorderly and ill-governed house.” Seems that the “ladies” were being a little too naughty in their dance routines.

During an ongoing prostitution investigation, John was charged with pandering and Leonardo was charged with soliciting for prostitution. The brother eventually gave up their liquor license.

For 15 years, Leonardo Guzzardo also owned and operated the Lincoln Hotel, a roach-infested flophouse on Church Street.

The city condemned the dump in 2002 and helped almost 30 displaced residents find other places to live.

Guzzardo already had filed bankruptcy on the business in 2000. He had a personal bankruptcy in 2002. So, high finance wouldn’t be his strong point, either.

GUZZARDO’S VISION FOR downtown makes Bedford Falls without George Bailey look like the Magic Kingdom.

He envisions a four-block stretch of East State Street as an adult district, which would offer legalized prostitution, all nude dancers and bars open around the clock.

He claims that such a district would create 3,000 jobs with high salaries and bring in $15 million to $20 million to city coffers every year.

He would give the adult businesses around town large subsidies to help them move to the adult district. And for those who don’t like adult entertainment, he says, just don’t visit downtown.

No, we don’t have to worry about Leonardo Guzzardo being mayor. But just knowing he’s out there sort of makes my skin crawl.