Batavia man joins GOP race

BY HAL CONICK

St. Charles, IL -

Even with the large slate of people running on the Republican side of the 14th District Congressional race, Jim Purcell didn’t think any of the candidates were for him.

“I didn’t feel like the candidates reflected the fight for me, my neighbors and for my friends,” Purcell said. So Purcell decided to take the run at office himself.

A Batavia resident and father of three children, Purcell, 41, said his 20 years of experience as a business owner and consultant will help him in his bid for office.

“There’s a big difference between being a career politician and working for constituents,” Purcell said. “I’ve worked with hundreds and thousands of customers over my business career in public and private companies, seeing what their issues are. ... I’m not tied to any special interest.”

Purcell said the biggest issue he sees in the 14th District is jobs and how to create more.

“Small and mid-sized businesses create 80 percent of the revenue (in America),” Purcell said. “Yet we continue to choke the golden goose that creates that revenue.”

Purcell said he wants to see less taxes on small business, including eliminating certain mandates in the health care bill passed by the House of Representatives over the weekend.

“Continuing taxes and fees on a wounded group doesn’t make a lot of sense to me,” Purcell said.

The incumbent, U.S. Rep. Bill Foster, D-14th District, of Geneva, voted to pass the Affordable Health Care for America Act. Foster has said he will run for reelection.

Purcell will take on Mark Vargas of Elgin, Jeff Danklefsen of Geneva, Ethan Hastert of Elburn and State Sen. Randy Hultgren, R-48th District, of Wheaton, in the Republican primary Feb. 2. The general election will be Nov. 2, 2010.

Purcell said while he’s met all of his opponents and thinks they each have a unique background, he doesn’t think any of them are the man for the job.

“We’ve got a unique set of circumstances. The country is at a tricky spot right now. I’m not sure it’s time for a career politician or a famous name to represent us,” Purcell said. “The time is right to not serve special interest and recycled career politicians. We’ve got to take on both parties and their out-of-control spending. I’m not tied to that past history.”

Purcell said he has been extremely disappointed in Foster’s time as the 14th District’s representative.

“He (was moderate) to get elected,” Purcell said. “There was a lot of frustration with the Republicans at the time. He immediately (became more liberal). ... I’m very disappointed in a district like ours that he’s left us.”