THE JOURNAL & TOPICS NEWSPAPERS | WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2008
Elect Seals As Next Congressman
The eyes of the nation are on the 10th Congressional District in a race that could swing the balance of power in U.S. Congress.
The Journal & Topics Newspapers endorses Democrat Dan Seals over Republican incumbent Mark Kirk in the race. The district includes a small part of northern Des Plaines and larger sections of Mt. Prospect, Arlington Hts., Glenview and communities to the east and north.
Very early on in this race, Kirk said he believed there was little chance that voters in the district would throw out of office the incumbent---him. We knew from that comment that his chances of reelection might be in jeopardy. And they are.
Kirk should know that both Barack Obama and John McCain have adopted "change" as their mantra in this year's election and that re-election is not something to be taken for granted.
During the grueling contest, the usually moderate and thoughtful Kirk has resorted to negative advertising to get his message out. He has also limited his availability to the public, we guess, having made the decision to rely on TV ads and mailings. This oftentimes happens when an incumbent fears that he might not be reelected. If Kirk is not engaged and responsive to his community while campaigning, it is unlikely he would do so while in office. If Seals becomes the next congressman, he would do well to remember that lesson.
Kirk should be given credit for delivering to the district, having recently secured increased military impact aid to Glenview schools and arranging a meeting between top Pentagon and U.S. Dept. of Education brass and local school and village officials to discuss implementation of the aid. He also saw the opening of a veterans' hospital in North Chicago---a stellar accomplishment.
Seals is young, articulate, energized and has engaged the community. His experience as an aide to the assistant secretary of Commerce and as an Economics Fellow in the U.S. Senate during the Clinton Administration gives him solid government background
On the issues, Seals is more specific and has good ideas on green infrastructure to weaning the U.S. off foreign oil and creating jobs locally.
Kirk voted against a recent bill that would guarantee equal pay for women.
At a recent debate Kirk defended the vote saying it would benefit trial lawyers. That argument did not fly at the debate with the crowd and it does not fly with the Journal.