Purcell wants to bring business eye to 14th Congressional District

As Batavia resident Jim Purcell watched Republican candidates flood into the race to unseat Democrat Bill Foster from the 14th Congressional District seat, he couldn't help but feel a little out of place.

"I quickly realized I didn't see anyone in the field who would fight for my interests," Purcell said.

Purcell has been a Republican as long as he can remember and has volunteered for party activities when he's had the chance, but he's never held elected office.

"I'm 41, married with kids, not tied to any special interests, and I'm not a career politician," Purcell said. "I think I'm pretty typical for the person in the district."

Purcell said he also believes most people in the district are like him in being concerned with the direction of the country regardless of the party making the decisions.

"Both parties have had spending problems," Purcell said. "They have spent money and put us in the ditch. There's blame on both sides."

Purcell said he's not going to pull any punches in the primary or against Foster if and when he makes it through the Republican primary in February. He plans to use the experience interacting with customers as a businessman to create the connection with the voters he believes is key for the race and as an elected official.

"Now is not the time to go along to get along," Purcell said. "If you're a career politician, or new in your business life, you haven't had the experience of sitting with customers and helping them make a decision about what's best for them. As a businessman you get a pretty good feel for what's common sense and not rocket science."

Purcell recognized the rocket science comment as a subtle jab at Foster, who is a physicist by trade.

Voters will get a chance to see more of that personality firsthand when local Republicans host a candidates forum at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Eagle Brook Country Club in Geneva. Purcell will be joined by the four other Republican candidates: Jeff Danklefsen, Ethan Hastert, Randy Hultgren and Mark Vargas.

Foster's lone Democratic challenger, Jim Pistorius of Aurora, withdrew Thursday, according to the state board of elections.

There is also a Green Party candidate running for the seat, Daniel Kairis of South Elgin.