Jerry Bennett

I've spent my life in this district. I grew up on Chicago's Southwest Side and currently live in Palos Hills. I own a small business and have been in business for 40 years. I'm also the Mayor of Palos Hills and have been mayor for 27 years.

During those 27 years, I've worked with my fellow mayors and other public officials to transform the town and our region. We've come up with innovative solutions for building infrastructure, improving law enforcement and securing a safer environment.

I'm proud to have worked with other public officials to serve our communities. I'm a co-founder of the Southwest Conference of Mayors, I chair the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning, and recently my fellow mayors from across the state elected me President of the Illinois Municipal League.

As a lifelong resident of the Third District, I can bring the representation we deserve to Washington. Our current Congressman says he's a Democrat, but he doesn’t represent the Democratic voters of our area. He opposes embryonic stem cell research. I believe health care decisions should be made by patients and doctors. The incumbent favors an open-ended military commitment in Iraq. I believe that we have to begin the process of ending our misadventure in Iraq.

In Washington, I will represent our Southwest Cook County values. I will get things done – working with local officials to get the resources we need to build an effective emergency response network, better roads, additional funds for community policing, and improved regional planning. I’ll be a Congressman who listens to my neighbors in the district and understands the needs of our communities.