Franks, Stevenson to Co-Chair Robert Abboud Congressional Campaign

Back to the future was what hit me when I saw that Adlai Stevenson III was going to co-chair Barrington Hills Village Board President Robert Abboud’s congressional campaign against U.S. Representative Don Manzullo.

Joining him will be McHenry County’s State Representative Jack Franks (D-Bull Valley).

Stevenson was elected State Treasurer when I was elected McHenry County Treasurer…way back in 1966.

I’m not aware Stevenson lives in the 16th congressional district, but he does have a recognizable political name and his son ran unsuccessfully for state representative in its northwestern part. I met the son once in a tourism event in Galena, well before he ran. He told me he was a school teacher.

I remember meeting his father in his Springfield office and having discussed the possibility of linking Small Business Admninistration loans with state deposits. I also remember his radio comments about hunting turkeys in the area, including a broadcast of his turkey call, that, now that I have heard real turkeys, seems pretty good.

Abboud also announced that he had raised $77,089. His father, the former president of the First National Bank of Chicago and J.R. Davis President of Davis Bancorp, will co-chair his finance committee.

This first article on the race provides some strategic advice of how Abboud could win the contest, if you are interested in such things. His stand on some issues can be found here.

The press release follows:

State Rep. Jack Franks, Adlai Stevenson III to Co-Chair Robert Abboud Campaign for Congress in Illinois 16th District

Barrington Hills, IL,– Congressional candidate Robert Abboud is off to a running start in his bid to unseat Republican Congressman Donald Manzullo in November of 2008.

The campaign today announced the appointment of former U.S. Senator Adlai Stevenson III as co-chair of the Abboud for Congress Campaign Committee, Illinois State Rep. Jack Franks.

“These are among the most respected elected officials to serve our area, representing the best of the past and future of local and national leadership, and I am proud to have them serve and advise me,” said Abboud today.

Also accepting key spots in the campaign will be Finance Committee co-chairs J.R. Davis President of Davis Bancorp, and the candidate’s father, A. Robert Abboud, former CEO of First National Bank of Chicago.

“Support for my campaign has come from a wide spectrum of individuals and groups,” Abboud, 50, Village President of Barrington Hills said. “I’m gratified that people from both parties, the area’s most respected political figures and those from the business community have come together to support this important effort to effect real change and make a difference here and in Washington.”

The Abboud Campaign will show in its first quarterly filing made today with the Federal Election Commission that it has raised a total of $77,089. “We’ve are working hard to raise what is needed to run an effective campaign, and the amount we’ve raised so far – in only two months of the three-month period – shows we’re off to a good start.”

Previous Democratic candidates have only raised approximately $100,000 throughout the whole campaign period, one of several reasons Abboud is consistently referred to as the first serious challenger for the seat in over a decade.

The campaign website is www.robertabboud.com.


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