Congressional Dem candidates on different parts of political spectrum
The two candidates seeking the Democratic nomination for the 14th Congressional District say they are located on different parts of the political spectrum.
Jonathan Farnick, a 43-year-old Woodstock resident, and Dennis Anderson, 61, of Gurnee, both agree Congress has done a poor job and that partisan gridlock is hurting the country. They also agree that because they've never held public office they don't owe any favors to special interests or campaign contributors.
Farnick first became involved with politics because he was disappointed with then-Congresswoman Melissa Bean's voting record of siding with Republicans when she represented the 8th District.
He describes himself as “left of center.”
“I don't put my party above my country, but I believe the country would be better served by Democrats,” Farnick said.
If elected, he hopes in the next two years to work toward preventing the government from defaulting on the debt ceiling, removing all troops from Afghanistan and getting rid of the federal Defense of Marriage Act, which defines marriage as a union between one man and one woman.
Anderson says he's not trying to make a career out of politics, and that he genuinely cares about helping people in the district and Illinois. “There are a lot of people in this district and this country that are hurting,” Anderson said.
Anderson describes himself as a “centrist” and does not equate that with the term “moderate.”
“To me, there's an implication of uncertainty in that (description),” he said.
If elected, Anderson hopes to work with local businesses and entrepreneurs to develop alternative energy and manufacturing in Illinois, see that the country has no more “foreign military adventures,” and help provide more people with more meaningful access to health care.
The winner of the March 20 primary will face U.S. Rep. Randy Hultgren in the November general election.
The district encompasses parts of Kane, DuPage, DeKalb, Will, Lake, McHenry, Kendall, Whiteside, Lee and Bureau counties.