North Shore Republican Joins U.S. House Race In 10th

Journal & Topics, 9/17/2009

The race for U.S. House in the 10th District is heating up on the Republican side with the announcement Friday by Northfield businessman Robert Dold that he is throwing his hat into the race.

While the Democrats have a crowded field of candidates, including well-known names such as State Rep. Julie Hamos (D-18th) and perennial candidate Dan Seals, the only other Republican to announce since incumbent U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk (R-10th) said he was running for U.S. Senate has been moderate long-time State Rep. Elizabeth Coulson (R-17th).

"I have three small children, seven, five and two years old. They will have an America vastly different than you or I have," Dold told the Journal. "Washington is going sideways and people are frightened and upset."

Dold described himself as more of a fiscal conservative than Coulson and said he has a different perspective from career politicians who are "bankrupting future generations."

"If I ran my business like the federal government I'd be out of business in a week," said Dold.

Dold runs Rose Pest Solutions in Northfield but worked in Washington in the White House and on Capitol Hill as council to the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.

He has a law degree from the University of Indiana University and an MBA from Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Business.

He said creating jobs is the most important thing currently needed and said that will not happen while employers hesitate waiting to see what is coming from Washington.

Reform of banking regulations is also needed, Dold said, especially in the area of short selling of stocks where needed "speed bumps" in the system were stripped from the law in 2007.

Dold said DC Republican insiders have told him the 10th District general election race would be one of the most watched in the country.