By Susan Kuczka
Chicago Tribune staff reporter
Posted October 30, 2006
As he tries to become the first Democrat to represent the North Shore's 10th Congressional District in more than two decades, first-time candidate Dan Seals has raised over $1.2 million, aired pricey TV ads and met thousands of voters.
But with Election Day nearing, Seals hasn't achieved the one thing he wants most: more face time against three-term Republican Rep. Mark Kirk.
"Folks see him as being independent, and he talks a good game, but no one is able to sort of challenge him on his record," Seals said. "In general, Kirk is voting 90 percent of the time the party line, so we know he's not the centrist that he says he is."
Seals is hoping that anti-war, anti-Republican sentiment nationally will translate into a victory in a district that is shading more Democratic and that supported John Kerry over George Bush in 2004. But the campaign has been overshadowed by intense races in the neighboring northwest suburban 8th Congressional District and the west suburban 6th Congressional District.
Kirk is counting on his substantial campaign fund and a well-cultivated image as a Republican not beholden to socially conservative White House and House GOP doctrine to carry the day. "Thoughtful, independent leadership" is his catch phrase.
Seals, 35, of Wilmette, took a leave from his marketing job with G.E. Commercial Finance a year ago to campaign. He contends Kirk has avoided appearing with him to limit publicity.
Kirk said his campaign schedule has been limited by his congressional workload in Washington and on the North Shore.
Seals has "been running for Congress for a year, and while he's been running for Congress I have been the congressman," said Kirk, 47, a Highland Park resident who grew up in Kenilworth. "It takes a lot to save a hospital, clean up a harbor, to get a railroad expanded; but that's what I was elected to do."
District has independent streak
The 10th District is one of the nation's wealthiest suburban districts, but it is one also made up mostly of middle-class, well-educated residents with an independent streak at the ballot box.
The district runs north along Lake Michigan from Wilmette in Cook County to Waukegan in Lake County, and west to Arlington Heights in Cook and Libertyville in Lake.
John Porter, a fiscally conservative, socially moderate Republican, represented the area for more than 20 years, succeeding Democrat Abner Mikva. Kirk was Porter's chief of staff and succeeded Porter in the 2000 election, promising to be a lawmaker in his old boss' image.
In the first public face-to-face meeting of the general election campaign, an overflow crowd of more than 700 people packed a school auditorium in Lincolnshire last week for a League of Women Voters forum. But the polar views of the two candidates on such issues as the war, immigration reform and changing campaign-finance law became secondary to allegations of improper campaigning.
Seals tried to capitalize on recent reports that a Kirk congressional staffer had sent a threatening e-mail to the president of Tel Aviv University, requesting that a Seals supporter be asked to resign from the school's council. The staffer said Robert Schrayer's support for Seals "can have a very bad effect on the university," adding, "revenge is a dish best served cold."
Kirk said he reprimanded the staffer as soon as he learned about the incident last August.
"I told her if happens again I'll dismiss her," Kirk said.
Kirk accused Seals of using "Chicago-style" personal attacks by trying to twist his six-year record in Congress.
"[But] what my opponent does not want you to know is that he has never lived in our congressional district [and] he does not want you to know that there is now a Federal Election Commission investigation of his campaign attacks," Kirk said.
An FEC spokeswoman confirmed that the agency is looking into a complaint that Seals failed to properly disclose who was paying for a fundraising solicitation letter on his behalf that was written by Rep. Jan Schakowsky, an Evanston Democrat. Richard Ringer, Seals' campaign spokesman, called it "a minor staff error" that had been corrected.
Seals argues for the immediate withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq, saying the U.S could be out by next year.
"I don't think we should advance a new strategy for the defeat of the United States in the Middle East," said Kirk, a Naval Reserves commander who backs the Bush administration.
Seals also contends that Kirk's recent assignment as an assistant whip for the House GOP majority proves he can't be independent. Kirk, who backs abortion rights and embryonic stem-cell research, said the post is a way to advance his views.
$2.8 million raised
Kirk, who has raised more than $2.8 million for the race, points to his successful efforts to block the closing of the North Chicago Veterans Affairs Hospital, expand suburban commuter rail service and secure funds to help clean Waukegan Harbor.
Seals, a native of Chicago's South Side whose father, George, played guard for the Chicago Bears, worked on Capitol Hill after winning a Presidential Management Fellowship while at Johns Hopkins.
Seals, who would be the first African-American to represent the district if he wins, returned to the Chicago area to study at the University of Chicago, where the Boston University graduate got a master's degree in business administration.
Seals lives about a block outside the district, and his rookie campaign is backed by a group led by Lauren Beth Gash, the Democrats' unsuccessful 2000 nominee for the seat.
"If there's still voters out there who think he's the only candidate on the ballot, he'll win, but if we get our message out I win," Seals said.
Kirk said he heeds old advice.
"John Porter always told me, `Never take it for granted, and run like there's no tomorrow.'"
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