Naperville scientist announces bid for Congress
A Naperville scientist, Herman White, announced his intent to run for Congress from the 11th District during an appearance Monday morning on the steps of the Naperville Municipal Center.
"This is going to be an exciting race and I am well-prepared for it," he said to a crowd of about 30 supporters.
White joins two others already vying for the Republican nomination in the March 16 primary: DuPage County Board member Tonia Khouri of Aurora and cardiologist Dominick Stella of Darien.
Democrat Bill Foster, also of Naperville, has held the seat since 2013. He defeated former state Rep. Darlene Senger, a Naperville Republican, last year in his bid for re-election.
Like Foster, White has worked as a scientist at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory. In addition to his more than 40 years at Fermi, he has served on national advisory panels for the Department of Energy, the National Science Foundation, NASA and the U.S. National Academy.
Although White has never held an elected position, he said his 10-year term on the Edward Health Services Corporation's board of directors and his tenure on the boards for North Central College - where he works as an adjunct professor of physics - and the Teachers Academy for Mathematics and Science in Chicago have given him adequate experience.
"Many of my colleagues have actually asked me to go to Washington and advocate for science and advocate for innovation, advocate for health care and advocate for education," he said. "I have done all those things, not just a few weeks ago, but for years."
During his announcement, White said his campaign will focus on getting "back to basics."
"I will work for reforms on helping our government operate better, free up our economy to create jobs and match our revenues to our expenses," he said.
The winners of the spring Republican and Democratic primaries will face off in the November 2016 general election.
The 11th District covers parts of Cook, DuPage, Kane, Kendall and Will counties, including Aurora, Naperville, Bolingbrook, Burr Ridge and Joliet.