Robert Dold acknowledged that he's got a tough race in front of him, but he's confident that he can win the support of 10th District voters.
The North Shore Republican on Monday announced his candidacy for the state's open 10th Congressional District seat, the spot currently held by Republican Mark Kirk. Dold joins a growing list of candidates.
Dold of Kenilworth described himself as fiscal conservative and a product of the Ronald Reagan era.
He said he was a firm believer in minimizing the federal government's role in local issues and would run on a platform of limiting federal spending while promoting small businesses.
Dold is president of his Northfield-based company, Rose Pest Solutions. He said he's aware of the pains associated with running a small business.
Business owners, he said, have faced crippling obstacles during the downturned economy — such as higher taxes and rising health care costs. Washington lawmakers have done little to protect them, he said.
“Our economy is still driven by small businesses,” he said.
Dold argued that not enough federal stimulus money was making its way to struggling shops.
At his Monday announcement in Northfield, Dold said that the public is growing frustrated with Washington spending policies and pointed to nationwide health care town hall meetings as proof.
Dold previously worked in Washington, D.C., as an investigative counsel to the House of Representatives' Government Reform and Oversight Committee.
He is among a growing list candidates eyeing the seat Republican U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk is leaving to run for U.S. Senate in 2010.
State Rep. Elizabeth Coulson, R-17th, announced her candidacy Aug. 24. Other Republican hopefuls include Renee Thaler of Northbrook, owner of a small business in Northfield; Winnetka attorney Bill Cadigan; businessman Dick Green of Winnetka; and Patrica Bird, a Mount Prospect business owner.
On the Democratic side are state Rep. Jule Hamos, D-18th, of Evanston and Dan Seals of Wilmette, who ran against Kirk in 2006 and 2008.
