Dan Kairis decided to become an independent in the late 1970s after a failed run at office as a Republican.
“I went through the primary and found out that it was a good-old-boys network,” Kairis said. “They said ‘You can’t (challenge the incumbent). That costs our party money.’ Well, maybe it leads to better thought.”
Kairis, 59, a South Elgin resident, will run for the 14th District Congressional seat as a member of the Green Party. He has served on the bylaws committee of Ross Perot’s two presidential campaigns, was the owner of Video Impressions Plus in South Elgin and currently works a substitute teacher in St. Charles.
“The biggest issue I have is the corporate domination of the two major parties,” Kairis said. “We have so many policies that have been put forth onto the people of our country and they’re all basically put there because of the major campaign contributions.”
When asked what he thought about incumbent U.S. Rep. Bill Foster, D-14, of Geneva, and the five Republican candidates who have announced their run, Kairis simply said “follow the money,” and said he believes they could be easily bought as members of the two major parties.
“(The Green Party) isn’t controlled by corporations,” Kairis said. “I think that’s what makes us attractive. We are more attuned to the needs of the citizen and not necessarily the big-money people.”
Nationally, Kairis said he wants to see everyone covered for health care.
“How much money do Americans pay into health insurance every year, and if we were to take that money and put it directly into the health care system, could we afford coverage for everybody?” Kairis said. “I’m spending over $2,000 a year and I know people who pay in excess of three or four times that. Why not pool all of that money and put it in the health care system?”
Locally, Kairis wants to see a bigger focus on education, saying it’s an issue “close to my heart.” He said the current school system in the United States is “broken,” and he hopes for a revamping of school levels to do away with the grade-by-age system and instead move students along by level.
Kairis also seeks a more efficient energy plan for America.
“There are so many things that are wrong and need fixing,” Kairis said. “We have too many of these people in office right now who (bow down) to the big interests and aren’t fixing anything because that’s not where they get their campaign money.”
Kairis said he will not take corporate campaign contributions during this run.
He said his petitions have been challenged by a woman in Elgin, but that he isn’t worried about it as he believes her objection will not stand.
14th Congressional District election
The Republican primary will be Feb. 2, with the victor going on to face the Democratic and Green Party candidates in the general election Nov. 2, 2010. The following are the candidates who filed to run for the 14th District seat by the Nov. 2 deadline.
Democrat
Incumbent Rep. Bill Foster, D-14, of Geneva
Green Party
Dan Kairis of South Elgin
Republicans
Jim Purcell of Batavia
Mark Vargas of Elgin
Jeff Danklefsen of Geneva
Ethan Hastert of Elburn
State Sen. Randy Hultgren, R-48, of Wheaton
