GOP candidates in 8th District try to separate from pack
Six Republicans in the 8th Congressional District primary handled a variety of questions at a Sunday afternoon forum in Grayslake, including one on what they bring to the table beyond the party's standard mission statements.
Running in the Feb. 2 primary are the following Republicans: Dirk Beveridge of Barrington, John Dawson of Barrington, Chris Geissler of Barrington, Greg Jacobs of Mundelein, Maria Rodriguez of Long Grove and Joe Walsh of Winnetka.
In an effort to help voters choose between the six candidates, one of the written questions asked at Grayslake Central High School's auditorium was what they offer beyond repeating the GOP's traditional stances, such as reducing federal government.
Beveridge said he brings a desire to focus on spending issues if he went to Washington.
"If you take a look at what we're doing in Washington, we're spending money like it's going out of style," said Beveridge, a business owner. "It doesn't matter if it's Democrats or Republicans in office. Both parties are spending."
Rodriguez, the village president of Long Grove, said her municipal government experience separates her from the Republican pack.
"What I bring to this is some experience as an elected official and knowing you have to be a strong elected voice at the table for the discussion to move the agenda forward," Rodriguez said.
Jacobs, a retired Cook County sheriff's deputy, said he doesn't stray much from the Republican platform. Geissler, a consulting firm manager, said the 8th District has a range of views that must be represented that may not be in step with the GOP.
"One of the things I have a fundamental challenge with the Republican Party, is when the party decides to exercise the constitution at its discretion or not," Geissler said. "I think there are very, very strict rules in the 10th amendment that define when the government should be involved at the federal level and when the decisions should go to the states."
Walsh, a venture capitalist, said the Republican Party too often has strayed from its core beliefs. He said he's trying to stick to the GOP's original principals.
"This is a fight between those who want more government in our lives ... and the rest of us who are genuinely scared, anxious and angry about this," Walsh said.
Dawson, a business owner and former elected suburban school board member, said he's the only candidate with a background in the private and public sectors. He said that combination gives him an edge over his five Republican opponents.
Incumbent Democrat Melissa Bean of Barrington is seeking re-election, with Jonathan Farnick of Woodstock running against her as a write-in candidate for the primary. Neither Farnick nor Bean attended Sunday's forum sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Lake County, the Daily Herald and Grayslake High School District 127.
Green Party candidate Bill Scheurer of Lindenhurst also is competing to represent the 8th District, which includes parts of Cook, Lake and McHenry counties. The winners of the Democrat and Republican primaries will join Scheurer on the general election ballot in November.