Republican candidate Dan Gott, who is vying for the Illinois House seat in District 55, is going door to door to reach voters with his campaign message about the need to oust incumbent politicians who he says, are not doing their job for Illinoisans.
Gott, a retired engineer and technology expert, who is challenging incumbent Democratic representative Martin Moylan, said that during these next few months, he will walk the neighborhoods in his district to tell voters it’s time for a fresh start in the state House.
“It’s time to end one-party rule in Illinois by sending incumbent politicians a non-compliance vote,” Gott recently told North Cook News. “My plan moving forward in the coming weeks is to focus on running a grassroots campaign by walking the doors in my district. It is my hope that I can resonate with registered voters about important issues and get their support.”
The hot-button issue regarding the state’s budget woes is forefront in Gott’s campaign, and he has been critical of his opponent Moylan and House Speaker Mike Madigan’s policies for what Gott says does nothing but increase the state’s borrowing, taxing and spending.
“More often than not, they (Moylan and Madigan) both vote in agreement to continue spending money; money we don’t have," Gott said. "That puts Illinois in dire financial straits. I strongly oppose Madigan’s tax-and-spend policy without implementing needed reforms.”
The political newcomer is pushing hard for reform and is also making the mishandling of government services a campaign platform. Gott highlights the excess waste being brought about by the mismanagement of those services, as he pushes for reform.
“The most important campaign issue for me is to continue stressing how important it is to pass a balanced budget with structural reforms for state government,” Gott said. “Illinois has a spending problem and not a taxing problem. We have greater than 6,800 units of government with redundant services. Greater emphasis needs to be placed on serving the people of Illinois, rather than creating a bureaucratic political system weighed down by financial mismanagement and wasteful spending."
Gott has long been involved in the local community serving as precinct captain for downtown Des Plaines. He served as a board member for the Republicans of Maine Township and also worked as committee chair for the Republican Women of Park Ridge.
In an election year that has seemed to favor newcomers to the political arena, Gott hopes his message of change resonates with voters.
“I am a first-time candidate, not just another politician,” Gott said. “The March primary is behind me and I am pivoting toward the November general election.”
Alerts Sign-up