Congressman Mark Kirk --- Thoughtful Independent Leadership ---

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Daily Herald,
Nov 15, 2003

Kirk ready to launch bid for third term

BY Eric Krol
Daily Herald Political Writer

Congressman Mark Kirk will kick off his bid for a third term Monday with a pledge to bring more money home for special education and to push for a new Northwest suburban commuter rail line and mercury cleanup in Lake Michigan.

But next year's election also might see the Republican lawmaker from Highland Park defending himself from Democratic criticism over his support for the war against Iraq.

Democratic candidate Lee Goodman, an anti-war activist from Northbrook, discounted the notion that he's running against Kirk's strengths - foreign policy expertise picked up working for the State Department and through military background as a Naval Reserves officer.

"Anyone who has backed the invasion of Iraq and continues to back the president doesn't have a level of expertise we ought to be paying attention to," said Goodman, 50, a self-employed mediator and political newcomer.

Kirk pointed out that the majority of Democratic presidential candidates support continued U.S. involvement in Iraq.

"It's important not to cut-and-run," Kirk said.

The candidates will be running in the 10th Congressional District, which includes eastern Lake County and parts of Arlington Heights, Wheeling, Mount Prospect, Rolling Meadows and Palatine.

Besides opposing the war, Goodman listed health care as his top issue. Goodman suggested a health-care plan for all Americans based on the Medicare model, but was unclear on how to pay for it.

Goodman also acknowledged that while he is gathering voter signatures to secure a place on the ballot next month, he might step aside if an informal committee of Democratic leaders requested it.

Leading that committee are Kirk's first two Democratic foes, former state lawmaker Lauren Beth Gash and law professor Hank Perritt. Both Gash and Perritt described Goodman as a terrific candidate and said their committee's interview process continues.

Democratic North Shore trial lawyer Clint Krislov, who has mulled runs for several offices over the years, also is considering a run.

Kirk will formally announce for a third term Monday in Winnetka. Kirk said Friday that if re-elected, he'd work on getting the federal government to meet its 40 percent responsibility to pay for special education instead of the current 25 percent. He also wants to secure federal money to start the suburb-to-suburb commuter rail line proposed to connect Schaumburg to Joliet.