D.C. CONSERVATIVE TO JOIN GOP RACE FOR ILLINOIS SENATE

CHICAGO SUN TIMES | 08/16/03 | FRANK MAIN

[chicagolady]

D.C. conservative to join GOP race for Senate

August 16, 2003

BY FRANK MAIN Staff Reporter Advertisement

The already-crowded race for Illinois' open U.S. Senate seat has attracted a candidate who doesn't live in the state.

Antonio Davis-Fairman, an African-American conservative, announced Friday he's joining the contest to succeed Sen. Peter Fitzgerald.

The 37-year-old self-described entrepreneur said he would run in the Republican primary that has drawn 11 announced and potential candidates.

Davis-Fairman said he would fight to privatize Social Security and support federal funding for church-based social programs. He said he recently signed a pledge with Americans for Tax Reform that he would not raise taxes if elected. He said he would push for a federal "flat tax" and a third regional airport at Peotone.

Davis-Fairman lives in Washington, D.C., but is in the process of moving to the Chicago area, said a spokesman, Richard Pirovano. He has not yet filed his candidacy with the Federal Election Commission, Pirovano said. Davis-Fairman has never run for office, but he said he was a consultant for Ike Kelley, an unsuccessful candidate in a City Council race this year in Denver.

He attended Gordon Tech in Chicago and Northern Illinois University at DeKalb but did not graduate from the college, Pirovano said.

In a news conference at the Chicago Athletic Club, Davis-Fairman said he received encouragement to run from "folks," but would not say who they were.

Davis-Fairman released a resume saying he was a "former senior managing partner of a private investment firm." The name of the firm is Kane, Pirovano said. In his resume, Davis-Fairman said he led the formation of a $50 million merchant banking portfolio.

Davis-Fairman said he will need to raise at least $2 million to compete for the race and is starting from scratch.

At his news conference, he mentioned that his father was president of Public Benefit Corp. and ran D.C. General Hospital in Washington. John A. Fairman was fired amid allegations of mismanagement and fraud as his facility went bankrupt in 2000, according to the Washington Post.

Davis-Fairman also mentioned in his resume that his uncle is J.W. Fairman, who resigned in 1996 as head of Cook County Jail after being questioned about alleged improprieties there.

"I know my dad's a great man and my uncle is a great man, as well," Davis-Fairman said. "They passed through all those problems."

[chicagolady]

JUST WHEN YOU THOUGHT THE NUMBERS WERE GOING TO THIN OUT!

[goldstategop]

He's a good choice. Its priceless just for the look on Jesse Jackson's face! :)

[Pubbie]

Funny how people are lining up for the GOP nomination - even though the GOP is almost certain to loose this seat. :(

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

Black conservative heads-up!!! (Ping time?! ;-)

[mhking]

Black conservative ping

If you want on (or off) of my black conservative ping list, please let me know via FREEPmail. (And no, you don't have to be black to be on the list!)

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[Pubbie]

We'll see, but Crook County is VERY powerful!

[Dan from Michigan]

He'd be a disaster, at least right now. The dem can paint him as 'not one of us'.

I'd rather see him move to Maryland and run there if he's running, or wait 6-12 years before running in Illinois if he moves there.

[chicagolady]

Now THIS is what I call interesting!
Our aswer to Barack Obama

[Kuksool]

{Crook County is VERY powerful!}

Not only that. The once solid GOP Collar Counties (Du Page, Kendall, Will, Kane, McHenry) are trending Democrat. A lot of Chicago people are moving to the suburbs, and taking their RAT voting habits with them.

[chicagolady]

Thanks! You do not live in Illinois but you want to tell us who to vote for. duh

[Born Conservative]

Our country needs more black conservatives. Good luck, Antonio!

[bluelowrider57]

God remembers Illinois! This state has become nothing but Liberal until now! I think this state has only 1 Republican in office (correct me if wrong).

[chicagolady]

You have heard of the pit of Hell? This is it! DemocRats heaven.

[chicagolady]

Amen!

[RonDog]

I live in California, and do not have a CLUE about the political environment in Illinois...

...so, based upon the input that we have been getting on our California gubernatorial recall election from non-Californians...

...that makes me SUPREMELY qualified to comment on YOUR election, right? :o)

[JustPiper]

It's just why can't we have a really strong candidate we know? I like the way Senator Jim Thompson sounds.

[lawdude]

"...to succeed Sen. Peter Fitzgerald. "

Yes, and Gerald Fitzpeter. Sthilly.

[BillyBoy]

I think he should run for Congress against Rush or Davis. If he got 30% of the city black vote but 80% of the suburbs (a simply majority in each town), he'd win. Both Davis and Rush are waaaaaaay too liberal for their suburban electorate, and only have so many suburban consitutents so Illinois can squeeze in three black districts.

The U.S. Senate is a much harder prospect, although it is good to see more black conservatives moving here. A Fairman-Obama race WOULD be interesting though, except it's doubtful either would win his party's nomination.