Dan Seals (politician)

Dan Seals
Democratic nominee for U.S. Representative for Illinois, 10th District
Election date November 4, 2008
Opponent	Mark Kirk
Incumbent	Mark Kirk
Personal details
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Mia
Residence	Wilmette, Illinois
Alma mater	Boston University, Johns Hopkins, University of Chicago
Profession	lecturer marketing
Website	Dan Seals for Congress

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

Early Life, Education and Family

Daniel Joseph Seals was born on June 19, 1971 in Chicago, Illinois. His father is a former Chicago Bears football 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 and his wife, Mia, 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 U.S. Representative campaign

Seals ran against Winnetka attorney Zane Smith for the Democratic nomination in the 10th Congressional district. Smith took issue with Seals’s relative lack of experience and drew attention to Seals’s house being one block outside the 10th district boundary.. 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 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 to Kirk 53% to 47%.

Post 2006 Election

After his 2006 loss to Kirk, Seals listed his occupation as "business consultant". He also taught a course in public policy at Northwestern University in the spring of 2008.

2008 U.S. Representative campaign

Time Magazine has rated the race among the top 15 House and Senate Races of 2008. CQ Politics rates this race as 'Leans Republican'.

Seals announced in June 2007 that he would be running for Congress in the 10th district again. In the primary election he faced Jay Footlik, a former Clinton administration official. Seals was endorsed by the editorial boards of both the Chicago Tribune and the Chicago Sun-Times newspapers, as well as influential politicians including U.S. Senator Dick Durbin. 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 , while Kirk raised $2,873,064.03 and had $2,252,039.82 cash on hand. By the end of June, Seals had raised $2,061,007, spent $920,759, and had $1,175,621 in cash on hand. Kirk had raised $3,852,640, spent $1,068,353, and had $2,856,960 in cash on hand.

Issue Positions

Healthcare

Seals states 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."

Seals'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."

Regarding Iran, 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"

Taxes

Seals supports changes to the tax system that would make it simpler, and flatter. 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. Seals 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 a speech he stated that he supports Rahm Emmanuel’s “Fair, Flat Tax Plan”. The bill would reduce the number of tax brackets from six to three and taxes all income, including capital gains at the same rate.

Iraq

Seals says that "The War in Iraq has been mishandled from the beginning." Seals says that a responsible redeployment from Iraq is the best chance to salvage American dignity and transfer control of Iraq to the Iraqi government. He 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

Seals is critical of the current US 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." He advocates pursuing energy independence, protecting the Arctic 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.

Controversies

Residency

Illinois election law requires that candidates for Congress be Illinois citizens, but does not specify that they reside in the district in which they are a candidate.

Seals’ home lies a block outside of the 10th district, in the 9th. He was criticized for it by both of his primary opponents, Zane Smith and Jay Footlik, as well as Mark Kirk. When his residency was questioned by Jay Footlik during a Chicago Tribune editorial board interview he replied: “If I was a millionaire I could certainly just pick up and buy a new home, [but] I'm not a millionaire, and if you want more millionaires in Congress, I'm not your man."

Gas Giveaway

On Thursday, May 22, 2008 Seals announced that from noon to 1 PM he would be selling gas for $1.85 a gallon at a gas station in Lincolnshire, Illinois. The intent of the event was to focus on the precipitous rise of gas prices. However turnout was much greater than the campaign planned for and traffic was jammed for miles. Only 50 people were able to get the reduced price gas. The Lincolnshire police chief was described as "fuming" over the stunt and the Seals campaign was fined $2,200 for police presence necessary to direct traffic. The Kirk campaign called it a "cheap stunt" and stated that they would be asking the US attorney to look into whether the event constituted vote buying. Seals defended himself, saying "We’re not buying votes, we’re buying gas."

Northwestern Class

Seals was hired by Northwestern to teach a night class on federal policy making starting in April 2008. Seals listed the position on his campaign website, calling himself a “professor”. Jay Footlik, his 2008 primary opponent, accused him of résumé padding as Seals had yet to actually teach a class at Northwestern. A Northwestern spokesman stated that Seals was not a professor, but a lecturer.

Dan Rostenkowski

Seals invited former Congressman Dan Rostenkowski to address his final class at Northwestern. The Illinois State Republican party swiftly attacked Seals for this, as Rostenkowski was convicted of corruption charges during his time as a congressman. Rostenkowski gave Seals an envelope at the end of the class. Although not illegal, Seals returned the financial contribution from Rostenkowski's wife.

Misuse of Illinois State Resources

On September 17, 2008, Dan Seals and Illinois Veterans Affairs Director Tammy Duckworth held a press conference questioning Mark Kirk's record on veterans. However, the press conference was overshadowed when it was revealed that Duckworth had driven to the event in a van owned by the State of Illinois. Using state resources for political purposes is illegal under Illinois law. Kirk commented on the snafu, saying "It is worrying to see a Blagojevich staffer showing up in a state of Illinois car, when it appears to be a direct violation of the law."

See also

• United States House of Representatives elections in Illinois, 2008
• Illinois' 10th congressional district

External links

• Dan Seals for U.S. Congress official campaign website

• Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission
• Profile at Vote Smart
• Campaign contributions at OpenSecrets.org
• Dan Seals at Curlie