Sure, even though Blagojevich failed to represent (since he is supposedly a Chicago democrat), I think I'd still rather have 4 more years of him than this clown. Perhaps Oberweis would bring business to the area, but he'd likely bring it all to the goddamn suburbs, where his own company is located. Not to mention that he probably doesn't give 2 shits about transit:
Oberweis says he's running for governor
By Don Babwin
The Associated Press
Published April 14, 2005, 3:32 PM CDT
Conservative businessman James Oberweis, who twice lost Republican primaries for the U.S. Senate, announced Thursday he is running for governor.
Speaking in downtown Chicago, Oberweis -- the owner of an Aurora dairy -- said he would work to make the state much more pro-business than it is today to attract companies and jobs. He said the economy could improve and jobs be created by reducing taxes for both families and businesses.
He drew a sharp contrast between his ideas for attracting companies and workers to the state and those of Gov. Rod Blagojevich, whom he said ``looks at business as though it is a cow to be milked for more and more taxes.''
During last year's Senate race, Republican leaders passed over Oberweis, 58, when Republican nominee Jack Ryan dropped out amid a sex scandal. Instead, they imported conservative commentator Alan Keyes from Maryland, who lost in a landslide to Democrat Barack Obama.
"The state central committee, when given the opportunity, did not follow the wishes of the voters,'' said Oberweis, referencing that he came in second in the primary to Ryan.
Oberweis is the first Republican to officially declare his candidacy. Others have indicated they are considering a run, including State Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka, who said last month she is talking to state and national Republican leaders, raising money and polling voters in preparation for a possible candidacy.
Oberweis offered something of an apology for a widely criticized television commercial that ran during his last Senate campaign in which he talked about immigrants taking American jobs.
"I think the commercial was too harsh and didn't communicate our position well,'' he said of the spot in which he was seen in a helicopter flying over Soldier Field, saying enough illegal immigrants were arriving in the country to fill the stadium every week.
"Many people took the commercial to understand ... that I am somehow opposed to immigration,'' he said. "I'm not. I'm opposed to illegal immigration.''
He said he has spent the last year talking to people, including Hispanic leaders, to clarify his position.
Oberweis is a millionaire who in addition to being chairman of the family dairy, founded a number of financial services companies.
He spent $3.01 million of his own money in his losing bid in the Senate primary. He said he would again be spending his own money on the gubernatorial campaign, but declined to estimate how much.
Besides Topinka, other Republicans who have said they are considering running for governor are DuPage County State's Atty. Joe Birkett, state Sen. Bill Brady, former State Board of Education chairman Ron Gidwitz and U.S. Rep. Ray LaHood of Peoria. State Sen. Sen. Steve Rauschenberger of Elgin is another potential candidate.
Oberweis indicated he was most concerned about Topinka.
"If there are three or four conservative males and one liberal female, that gives some advantage to the liberal female,'' he said.> |
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