New: Oberweis in running for Hastert seat

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NORTH AURORA – Oberweis Dairy chairman Jim Oberweis on Sunday attacked the Democratic-controlled Congress as an “underperforming asset” as he announced his bid to fill Rep. Dennis Hastert’s seat.

“You name the issue, Nancy Pelosi and her liberal Democrats are out of touch with mainstream America,” said Oberweis, who also  is chairman of Oberweis Asset Management.

Oberweis, 61, of Sugar Grove, made his announcement in front of the Oberweis Dairy plant in North Aurora. He is the second Republican candidate to jump into the race after Hastert’s recent announcement that he will not seek re-election.

Geneva Mayor Kevin Burns announced his candidacy hours after Hastert’s announcement. He followed the announcement with a two-day, 11-city tour of the district.

In prepared remarks, Oberweis said he would work to control illegal immigration, keep taxes down, and reign in “wild” federal spending.

On the local level, Oberweis said he would work on transportation initiatives such as the Stearns Road bridge and expansion of suburban Metra rail service.

This is not Oberweis’ first run for office. Last year, he lost the GOP nomination for governor to then-state treasurer Judy Baar Topinka.

He also ran unsuccessfully for the Illinois Republican nomination for U.S. Senate in 2002 and 2004.

“We are not viewing his previous runs as anything other than an asset,” campaign spokesman Bill Pascoe said. “He knows this area very well.”

Oberweis did not field questions from the press. But Pascoe said Oberweis was prepared to spend $2.5 million of his own money in the February primary.

Joyce Patrick and her husband, Jim, drove from downstate Carterville to hear Oberweis make his announcement. They have worked on his past campaigns.

“He’s conservative, pro-life and pro-family,” Joyce Patrick said. “He treated us as equal to him.”

Burns and his campaign team said they anticipated Oberweis getting in the race.

“It is clear that Jim plans to outspend the field on advertising and automated phone messaging,” Burns’ campaign manager Mike Donahue said in a press release. “Our campaign will continue to be fueled by the energy and enthusiasm we found on our 11-city announcement tour last weekend.”

Another Republican is expected to soon get into the race. State Sen. Chris Lauzen, R-Aurora, said he will make an announcement in the next couple of weeks.

So far, on the Democratic ticket for the February primary are Fermilab physicist Bill Foster of Geneva, St. Charles attorney Jotham Stein and former Navy intelligence analyst John Laesch. Laesch ran unsuccessfully last year against Hastert.

“Another millionaire trying to buy the race,” Laesch said after hearing that Oberweis would run for the seat.