Winnetka attorney Bill Cadigan enters GOP race for Kirk seat

Citing the need to eliminate the culture of corruption in Illinois and provide a stable voice on health care reform and economic issues, Winnetka attorney Bill Cadigan on Saturday became the eighth candidate to jump into the race for the 10th District Congressional seat being vacated by Rep. Mark Kirk.

Cadigan announced his bid at Olive-Mary Stitt School in Arlington Heights, the elementary school he attended from 1969 to 1975. He cited his principal, Mary Stitt, in attendance Saturday, and the community for instilling in him "a strong ethic of service to others; these are qualities we need more of in Washington."

While he's not held elected posts, Cadigan served from 1999 to 2005 as a commissioner of the Illinois Medical District and during his tenure fought for the removal of a politically connected employee. After that, he said, then-Gov. Rod Blagojevich dismissed him from the commission.

"I'll continue to fight for reform ... for an honest environment and one where the taxpayers' interests come first," Cadigan said.

His reform-minded platform already has won support from former state Sen. Steve Rauschenberger and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Collins.

"Bill has a streak of independence that we need in this day and age," Collins said. "I do think we need fresh faces in Washington ... not someone who is in it for a career, but someone who is in it to make a difference."

An endorsement from Collins, the prosecutor who put Gov. George Ryan in prison and also headed Gov. Quinn's reform commission, is a feather in Cadigan's political cap as he faces a primary battle against business owner Robert Dold of Kenilworth, Winnetka businessman Dick Green, state Rep. Elizabeth Coulson of Glenview and business owner Patricia Bird of Mount Prospect.

Kirk's decision to run for the U.S. Senate seat now held by Democrat Roland Burris has led to the flurry of interest in the 10th District, which includes much of the North Shore and some of the Northwest suburbs.

Three Democrats are running for the post, too. They are state Rep. Julie Hamos of Evanston, two-time candidate Dan Seals of Wilmette and Highland Park attorney Elliott Richardson.

The primary elections for the seat are scheduled for February 2010. The general election is in November 2010.