Thomas Castillo of Elmhurst isn’t a Daley or Madigan, doesn’t have much political clout, and has never even run for elected office before.

But the 32-year-old unemployed electrician hopes to shock the state with his run for lieutenant governor.

Castillo grew up on the south side of Chicago before studying psychology, early childhood education, and architecture at Michigan State University.

His sophomore year, his parents had trouble with mortgage payments, so Castillo left school and came back to Chicago, where he became an electrician. Four years ago, he moved with his wife to Elmhurst.

Castillo said he’s always been involved in politics, and decided to have a crack at it himself when President George W. Bush approved the $700 billion bank bailout in October 2008.

“I was outraged on so many levels by the first bailout,” he said. “The consumer is equally as important ... they didn’t do anything for the consumer in the first bailout, it was all to the banks.”

After doing a little research, Castillo decided he could best pursue the office of lieutenant governor, a 2010 race he says is less expensive than other statewide races, with no clear front-runner. He registered for the election in November 2008, just before former Gov. Rod Blagojevich was arrested.

As a Democrat, Castillo’s platform is to invest in green technologies and infrastructure throughout Illinois, eliminating state income tax on unemployment benefits, and imposing term limits on state elected officials.

Perhaps his most interesting proposal is to encourage a fee of 10 cents per transaction on all trades on Chicago’s major Commodity Stock and Option Exchanges, an idea he said will bring in nearly $1 billion in state revenue.

“I think that’s a very creative way to generate revenue without raising taxes on the middle class,” he said. “We need to come up with new and creative ways to generate revenue ... we can’t tax children’s candy, and we can’t generate revenue on the majority of the people that can afford it the least.”

Castillo said his plan would not hinder the Chicago Stock Exchange or the people who work for it.

“This is a lot cheaper than if we were to raise their income tax,” he said.

Castillo’s ambitious platform as a candidate for lieutenant governor is interesting, considering the few specific duties the office has.

“When the 1970 state constitution was written, they really didn’t create a (lieutenant governor) office that had any major powers,” University of Illinois-Springfield political science professor Kent Redfield said. “In other states like Texas, the lieutenant governor actually does preside over the senate, but in Illinois there aren’t really any specific duties. ... Generally it doesn’t make any difference at all, the governor and lieutenant don’t run as a team, (the lieutenant governor) is rarely part of the inner circle of the governor.”

Redfield may doubts its relevance, but with the ascension of former Lt. Governor Pat Quinn after Blagojevich’s impeachment, the office has gotten more attention.

The current 2010 field is crowded, with each party boasting five candidates for the primary election in February.

Redfield said the race has no clear front-runner with name recognition or significant organizational backing.

Castillo, a card-carrying member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local No. 134, reported $19,805 of contributions and loans in the first seven months of 2009. He hopes that as the lone labor member in the Democratic field, he can get $500 from 1,000 statewide labor locals to finance his campaign.

Castillo also prides himself on his working-class background, stressing that he will collect the 5,000 signatures needed to get on the primary ballot himself. In an attempt at transparency and informing voters, Castillo has also linked to each of his opponent’s Web sites on his own.

“I just want people to know that I’m an open and honest guy,” he said. “A goal of mine is to revolutionize what is expected out of politicians.”