Dan Seals (politician)

Daniel Joseph Seals (born June 19, 1971) is the Democratic nominee for Congress in Illinois's 10th congressional district (map).

Early Life, Education and Family

Daniel Joseph Seals was born on June 19, 1971 in Chicago, Illinois. His father is a former Chicago Bears player and his mother a social worker. They divorced while he was young and Seals was primarily raised by his mother in Hyde Park. He graduated from Kenwood Academy High School in 1989. He holds a bachelors degree in Journalism from Boston University, a masters degree in International Economics and Japan Studies from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies and an MBA from the University of Chicago. He has been married to his wife Mia for 10 years. They live in Wilmette with their three daughters.

Employment prior to Congressional run

After receiving his bachelors degree Seals taught English in Japan from 1993 to 1995. from 1997 to 1998 he was a Presidential Management Intern (PMI); working as an aide to the Assistant Secretary of Commerce and as an aide to Senator Joe Lieberman. He worked in marketing at Sprint from 2001-2003 and was Director of Marketing with General Electric Commercial Finance from 2003 until he took a leave of absence to run for Congress in 2005.

2006 Congressional run

Seals ran against Winnetka attorney Zane Smith for the Democratic nomination in the 10th Congressional district. Smith took issue with Seals’ relative lack of experience and drew attention to Seals’ lack of residency, saying “I think that if you’re going to represent the Tenth, you should live in it, Dan doesn’t” . Ultimately the better financed Seals prevailed, winning 70%-30%

Following his primary win Seals faced the sitting Congressman, Mark Kirk. He focused on popular dissatisfaction with the Iraq war and numerous Republican scandals. He also claimed Kirk was a partisan Republican who voted with the Republican majority 80% of the time. Kirk focused on local issues and argued that that he broke from the Republican Party on several issues such as gun control, stem cell research and abortion. Seals came closer than previous Democratic candidates, but ultimately lost with 47% to Kirk's 53%.

Post 2006 Election

Currently, Dan is a business consultant and public policy lecturer at Northwestern University.

2008 Election

Seals announced in June of 2007 that he would be running for Congress in the 10th district again.

In the primary he faced Jay Footlik, a former Clinton administration official. Footlik focused on Seals’ lack of residency in the 10th district. He also contended that Seals was not strong enough on Israel and that Seals didn’t deserve another chance because he lost to Kirk by six points in the best Democratic year in recent memory. Seals argued that he had come closer to defeating Kirk than any other candidate and he deserved a second chance. On February 5, 2008 Seals beat Footlik with over 80% of the vote.

Kirk and Seals have both raised considerable sums of money. Seals raised $1,411,153.38 through April 1st with $745,275.11 cash on hand . He is at a considerable disadvantage, however, as Kirk raised $2,873,064.03 through April 1st, more than double Seals, and has $2,252,039.82 cash on hand, more than triple what Seals has.

Issue Positions

Healthcare

Seals believes that “it is unconscionable that the world's richest nation allows so many people to go without health insurance” and that “we need to develop a national program of health insurance that provides a basic level of health care that is portable and affordable. Making the investment in a national health insurance program will pay dividends in the future, because Americans will be healthier, worker productivity will increase, and our businesses will be more competitive globally.”.

Israel

Seals states on his website that “I am absolutely committed to the safety and security of Israel." Dan Seals' Israel policy includes the notion that "the special relationship between the United States and Israel is founded upon the shared belief in democracy and freedom" and that "the United States and Israel are partners in the struggle against terrorism. The United States can best promote peace by supporting Israel, not by pressuring Israel to make unwise concessions or to negotiate under what Israel believes are conditions not conducive to peace."

Regarding Iran, Dan Seals argues that "Iran has threatened both Israel and America, and we must stand firmly and unequivocally with Israel against Iranian aggression." However in 2006 when he was asked if there was a war between Israel and Iran he stated that he would come down on the side of "peace"

Dan's stance on the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict is that "The United States must send a clear and unmistakable message — leading the international community — that we cannot support a regime that is dedicated to the destruction of Israel, our strategic ally. As a member of Congress, I will unequivocally support Israel’s efforts for peace, stability and security. I will fight to hold the Palestinian leadership accountable for their actions."

Taxes

Seals supports changes to our tax system that would make it simpler, flatter and fairer. He supports reducing the number of income brackets to reduce its overwhelming complexity. Seals also supports reducing the impact of the Alternative Minimum Tax on the middle-class, a measure originally designed to serve as a minimum tax on the super-wealthy.

Dan pursues a taxation system that encourages investment, saying he is, "opposed to double taxation, as in the case of dividends and capital gains. While it may not be politically or fiscally prudent to eliminate these taxes, I would be against an increase in these taxes."

In an address to the city club he stated that he supports Rahm Emmanuel’s “Fair, Flat Tax Plan”. It would reduce the number of tax brackets from six to three and taxes all income at the same rate. The rates are 15%, 25% and 35% with anyone making over $60,000 paying the 35% rate, including on capital gains.

Iraq

Dan believes that "The War in Iraq has been mishandled from the beginning." Dan Seals believes a responsible redeployment from Iraq is the best chance to salvage American dignity and transfer control of Iraq to the Iraqi government. Seals is an opponent of the the Surge stating on his website that "the Surge has not worked.

He believes that, "We have heard the recommendations time and time again – the best approach is a responsible and resolute timetable for redeployment from Iraq. Our redeployment should not further destabilize the country and should allow the Iraqi government time to prepare. Most of all, a redeployment must be accompanied by clear, measurable goals that enable our troops to leave as soon as possible. Our troops deserve nothing less."

Environmental Policy

Dan is critical of our current administration's handling of the environment, saying "President Bush and his backers in Congress have presided over nearly six years of reduced federal funding of important environmental protection programs, as well as a weakening of pollution standards." His policy initiatives include Pursuing Energy Independence, Protecting the Artic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR), Restoring Lake Michigan, Defending the Clean Air and Water Acts, Reducing Mercury Contamination, Supporting the Clean Water State Revolving Fund, Addressing Global Warming, and a renewed Commitment to Environmental Stewardship.