Crowded Field Of Candidates Vie For Votes At B'nai Jehoshua

In the countdown toward their election night finales, area candidates for state and national offices had an opportunity to reassure supporters and woo undecided voters during a packed forum at B'nai Jehoshua Beth Elohim in Deerfield.  

A "great experience" was how Joel Pollak described the lineup of eight campaign opponents, his rival Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) was there as well. However, two Republican candidates were unable to participate. Congressional candidate Bob Dold was scheduled to appear on Sean Hannity's Fox News talk show and state legislative candidate Hamilton Chang was running late, according to event organizers.

But there were plenty of candidates in attendance at the Oct. 11 gathering who spoke to a crowd of approximately 400 about issues like Israel’s security, the economy, education and government spending.

"Israel can take a chance on peace because the United States will be there," Schakowsky said as part of her forum remarks.

That seemed to be the consensus among the other congressional candidates -- Pollak, her Republican challenger in the 9th District, and Dan Seals, the Democrat battling Dold in the 10th District. Though they echoed support for Israel, the candidates put their slant to Middle East issues.

Pollak kicked off his address in Hebrew, welcoming voters to the forum and saying he disagreed with the Obama administration's plan which focuses on Afghanistan, "We need to put Iran front and center," he said. 

When asked about Israel's safety and security, Seals said the best people to come up with a plan for a peace deal are the ones overseas, not those living comfortably on the North Shore. "We also have a lot of work to do back home," he said.

Not to be outdone, candidates for state seats brought the issues closer to home.

Richard Hamen said "jobs, taxes, education" were his top priorities and he would “not overpromise, not overtax and not overspend." The GOP nominee is trying to prevent Elaine Nekritz (D-57th District) from gaining a fifth term in the state House. 

Nekritz wanted to reassure voters she is the best person for the job, saying fixing the pension system is critical to solving the state's multibillion-dollar budget problem. "More solution-oriented leaders, that's what we need in Springfield," she added.

Daniel Bliss, a math professor turned Democratic state legislative candidate, also took issue with the state budget imbalance. Bliss is running against Chang for the state House's 17th District seat.

Rep. Karen May (D-58th District) delivered a more conciliatory message. "We must work together in a bipartisan fashion," she said about matters confronting the state.

The five-term incumbent’s challenger, Republican Lauren Turelli, put the focus on education. "We can't hold onto students in our own state," Turelli said. "Keep our students here, keep our people in Illinois."

The only comment that triggered a negative reaction from the audience came when Pollak answered a question about the health-care legislation signed by President Barack Obama.

"The sole intention was to increase government control," said Pollak, initially drawing applause then boos moments later about the same comment.

"He appeared to be a brain, but it seems like some of his ideas aren't going to work," temple member Susan Beslow said about the first-time candidate, who, like Obama, is Harvard University alumnus.

"His ideas aren't right for the country," added her husband, Fred.

Others such as Gabe Rubin were sold on Pollak’s platform. The Chicagoland Jewish High School senior told Patch he knew who to vote for on Nov. 2. "It is nice to see someone that gets it or seems to get it," Rubin said.

The Skokie native is president of the United States Politics Club at CJHS. He was ecstatic about his school's participation in the event.

"I could not be more pleased with how it went," Rubin said. "The candidates took advantage of the opportunity not to snipe at each other but to take on the issues."