Vargas to challenge Hastert in the 14th

Chicago Daily Observer ^ | July 23, 2009 | Fran Eaton

[BillyBoy]

Vargas to challenge Hastert in the 14th

Illinois Review - 23 July 2009

[This article was syndicated via RSS from Illinois Review. The views represented do not necessarily represent those of the Chicago Daily Observer.]

A 27 year old graduate of Elgin's Judson College is close to announcing his intention to run in the 14th CD, taking on attorney Ethan Hastert for the Republican bid to regain Congressman Bill Foster's seat back from the Democrats.

Mark Vargas , who grew up in St. Charles, has been working for the past few years in Iraq for Defense Secretary William Gates. He says he's worked in tough combat conditions to turn around a devastated economy, and believes much of what he's learned in Iraq can be used to build back the economy in his home district. Vargas said while in Iraq, his job was to encourage private investors to bring in job opportunities. During his time nation-building with the Defense Department, he saw Iraqi's unemployment plummet from 50 percent to down to it's present 18 percent.

"When I talk to people here about how bad things were in Iraq and how violence decreased as unemployment decreased, their faces relax as they regain a vision and hope for their future," Vargas said. "We can get out of this economic mess if we can look to the private sector, rather than DC, for answers."

Vargas is well aware of the challenge in taking on Denny Hastert's son in the 14th. Vargas worked for a short time in Hastert's district office soon after he graduated from Judson, where he was a popular student body president in 2003.

"I appreciate all I learned while working for the Speaker, but there's a chance to gain back the 14th CD from the Democrats this election, and I'm ready to take on the challenge," Vargas said. "This was a tough decision to make, but grassroots leaders are telling me they're ready to get to work, and so am I."

Vargas said an official announcement will be coming within the next few weeks.

[BillyBoy]

The article seems to have a little typo about Defense Secretary "William Gates" (I'm pretty sure Robert is the Defense Secretary and William is the guy at Microsoft), but is otherwise informative.

Vargas is actually the second announced alternative to Hastert. The other is Jeff Danklefsen. He's pro-life, pro-gun rights, and anti-illegal alien. His site is www.jeff14.com.

IMO, both Vargas and Danklefsen deserve consideration from the GOP base and either would be preferable to nominating another politician's kid. There also might be a third non-Hastert in the race in the coming weeks. Conservatives need to settle on the one, best candidate to defeat Hastert in the primary.

Vargas

Danklefsen

Hastert

[BillyBoy]

PING. I’ve found some rather interesting headlines to post today.

[theFIRMbss]

Oh, sorry, I thought I thought this thread was about Alberto Vargas . . .

[Paine in the Neck]

You must be as old as....me.

[napscoordinator]

What is wrong with Hastert? We are trying to get rid of RINO’s. Let’s deal with those and not conservatives. I have not heard one negative word about Hastert Jr.

[theFIRMbss]

Damn punk kids today have internet porn. Would they even look at these?

[Impy]

No coronation for Prince Hastert? Good.

[fieldmarshaldj]

He’s a Combiner, and this is a deliberate attempt to bequeath the seat to someone who is utterly unqualified. Even “Conservative” Combiners are dangerous.