Villa Park mayor to run for Congress
Villa Park Village President Deborah Bullwinkel will join the Democrats trying to replace U.S. Rep. Tammy Duckworth in Congress, she's set to announce today.
She's a first-term mayor of Villa Park and previously served a term as a trustee there.
"Every day, politicians in Congress zealously attack middle-class families and women," Bullwinkel said in a statement.
Bullwinkel is the first woman to join a race for the party's nomination that's already being run by businessman Raja Krishnamoorthi of Schaumburg and state Sen. Mike Noland of Elgin.
Bullwinkel becomes a relatively late entrant to the contest while the other two candidates have been raising money and wooing endorsers since starting their bids months ago. Her announcement suggests she's set to emphasize she has both local government and business experience. Bullwinkel works as a communications consultant.
Earlier this month, former Villa Park mayor and state Sen. Tom Cullerton left the race to run for re-election.
Republican Andrew Straw has said he plans to run for the seat, and DuPage County Board member Pete DiCianni has said he's considering it.
Duckworth is vacating the seat to run for U.S. Senate in 2016 and hasn't yet publicly backed a successor. Illinois' primary is in March.