THE JOURNAL & TOPICS NEWSPAPERS | FRIDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2008

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Atanus Joins 9th District Race

By BOBBY CHILVER

Journal Reporter

While you won't see her name on the November ballot, Des Plaines resident Susanne Atanus has announced plans to run for the 9th Congressional Dist. as a write-in candidate.

Atanus will be up against Republican challenger Michael B. Younan and long-time incumbent Democrat Jan Schakowsky.

But Atanus says she has the strong voice needed in today's government to set things straight.

"I decided to run because the constituents need a strong leader in Congress who will get the job done," she said.

"I don't have confidence the other people will get the job done."

Atanus said she first decided to run after gas prices continued to rise on consumers.

She explained that she began petitioning for signatures this spring and received a good response, however she did not get the necessary number of people to sign by the June deadline.

"We have to do something," Atanus said. "I'm going to be the strong voice in Congress we need."

Describing herself as a "conservative Democrat," Atanus added that she will work to keep taxes down, fix the economy and end the Iraq war.

She explained that large corporations need to bail themselves out of the economic mess and not make taxpayers help.

She also said there must be a cease-fire in Iraq as soon as possible.

She said the process should be a quick and simple message.

"The war is over, go home," she said. "Enjoy your freedom but live at peace as responsible citizens."

For now Atanus is concentrating on the election and says she has 45 signs ordered and about 12,000 leaflets to pass out.

Atanus received her B.A. from Northwestern University with a major in Political Science and has an MBA with Distinction with a major in accounting, finance and management.

She has worked at the General Services Administration and believes the work in a federal government agency will be a benefit in Congress.

She currently works as an insurance and annuity agent with Life Sales.

Atanus will continue to walk the district and try to get the word out as she knows winning as a write-in won't be easy. But she does believes the effort will all pay off in the end.

"It's really exciting," she said. "I feel confident I'm going to win."