Former Defense Department worker eyes 14th Congressional seat

Mark Vargas of Elgin has joined the Republican race to unseat Democratic Congressman Bill Foster of Batavia.

Vargas, 28, joins Ethan Hastert of Elburn and Jeff Danklefsen of Geneva in seeking the 14th District seat that used to be held by Hastert's father, Dennis.

Hastert resigned in 2007; Foster was elected in a special election in March 2008, and re-elected that fall.

Vargas, who worked until last month for the Defense Department, has earned the Global War on Terrorism Civilian Service Medal for his work on rebuilding Iraq's economy. He quit to concentrate on his run for Congress.

"I think that unique experience" and foreign-policy expertise "resonates with the voters today," Vargas said. "... We cannot forget we are still a country at war."

But job creation should be the country's No. 1 priority, he said.

In 2005, the St. Charles native was elected chairman of the Kane County Young Republicans, serving for a year. He believes his candidacy represents the next generation of leadership, dedicated to rebuilding the Republican Party at the grass-roots level.

And he's not scared of taking on Hastert, who had already amassed $87,000 in campaign contributions within two weeks of announcing his candidacy in July.

"For one thing, historically, primary elections are won by the message, the organization you've built and the money, in that order," Vargas said.

The Federal Election Commission campaign finance Web site does not list any contributions for Danklefsen, as of the July 15 quarterly report. The next quarterly financial report is due Oct. 15