fˈɛlps wʌz hˈaɪɚd baɪ fˈɔːɹmɚ ɡˈɑːv. ɹˈɑːd blˈæɡoʊdʒvˌɪtʃ ˈæftɚ lˈuːzɪŋ ɐ bˈɪd fɔːɹ kˈɑːŋɡɹəs tə ɹᵻpˈʌblɪkən jˈuː.ˈɛs. ɹˈɛp. dʒˈɑːn ʃˈɪmkəs ʌv kˈɑːlᵻnzvˌɪl ɪnðə tˈuː θˈaʊzənd tˈuː ᵻlˈɛkʃən.
Phelps was hired by former Gov. Rod Blagojevich after losing a bid for Congress to Republican U.S. Rep. John Shimkus of Collinsville in the 2002 election.