Congressman Kirk wins third term

News Sun Staff Report

Tenth District voters in Lake and Cook counties returned U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk, R-Highland Park, to Congress on Tuesday for his third term.

Kirk handily turned back Democratic challenger Lee Goodman of Northbrook, an attorney and professional mediator making his first run for public office.

Kirk received 64 percent of the vote, defeating Goodman in both Lake and Cook counties.

His vote total on Tuesday was about 176,000, with all but a handful of Cook County precincts unreported early today. He won Lake County with 102,271 votes. Goodman received 73,939 votes in Lake County.

Kirk, a Navy Reserve intelligence officer and former chief aide to Congressman John Porter, backed the Iraq war effort. Goodman, a peace advocate, opposed the war.

Kirk has portrayed himself, like Porter, as a moderate Republican, but Goodman blasted the incumbent for voting with President Bush "87 percent of the time."

Kirk won his seat in Congress and his first elected office in 2000 by edging out Democrat Lauren Beth Gash to replace the retiring Porter. He earlier won a GOP primary crowded with multi-millionaire candidates.

Kirk got 68 percent of the vote two years ago, crushing Democratic challenger Henry "Hank" Perritt.

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