I didn’t make it to Dundee when Cliff Surges announced his candidacy for State Senate in the 33rd District, but Jon Zahm did. He supplied his observations below, as well as the photos.
The 33rd District now has three candidates:
- Karen McConnaughay
- Chad Koppie
- Cliff Surges
Gilberts Business Owner/ Community Volunteer Declares for Illinois Senate
Flanked by a map of the 33rd State Senate District, Cliff Surges announces his candidacy.
Clifford T. “Cliff” Surges, 48, a lifelong resident of the Fox Valley, announced his bid for the newly created 33rd Senate District Saturday at 1 PM at historic Grafelman Park in West Dundee. An impressive turnout of 120 enjoyed the music, speeches, ice cream and ice water that was provided.
Pastor Bill Yonker of Immanuel Lutheran Church in West Dundee blessed the event and introduced Cliff to the crowd that basked in the sunlight on a comfortable autumn-like afternoon.
Among the supporters in attendance were
- Gilberts Mayor Rick Zirk,
- East Dundee Trustees Allen Skillicorn and Rob Gorman,
- Gilberts Trustee Nancy Farrell,
- Kane Coroner candidate Dr. Bob Tiballi,
- Kane Regional School Board Vice-Chairman Kevin Williams,
- Kane Auditor candidate Terry Hunt,
- East Dundee Village President Jerry Bartels,
- Fmr. East Dundee Village President Dan O’Leary,
- Dundee Twp. Park Board member Frank Scarpelli,
- Elgin Township Republican Precinct Committeeman Drew Veeneman, and
- Past President of the Kane County Regional School Board Jon Zahm.
Part of the crowd at Cliff Surges' announcement of candidacy.
Surges is a Hall of Fame agent for American Family Insurance who has built his agency from scratch to over 4000 policies and offices in Chicago and Gilberts.
Surges was elected twice to the Gilberts Village Board, is the current President of the Jacobs HS Sports Booster Club and coached youth soccer and football for many years.
He has been married to Audrey for 21 years and they are the proud parents of two sons and a daughter. Their oldest son attends Baylor University on scholarship after graduating as Salutatorian. Their middle son attends Jacobs, and their daughter is at Immanuel Lutheran School.
Surges grew up in St. Charles and graduated St. Charles HS in 1981.
The 33rd State Senate District.
Surges remarks focused on the feedback he has gotten from taxpayers since he began exploring this bid for office back in June.
He has been told, over and over again, that “enough is enough.”
People are frustrated with increased taxes, waste and corruption in government, and a lack of family-friendly and business-friendly policies in Illinois.
Surges told of his meeting Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker in August and having him explain that he was in town to try and lure Illinois business to his state due to the better business climate there.
Surges has promised to vote to repeal the 67% income tax and 46% business tax increases that passed the Illinois Senate earlier this year with the bare minimum 30 votes required.
Surges will face Kane County Board Chairman Karen McConnaughay in the Republican primary, who announced her bid for the office on the river in West Dundee in front of a much smaller crowd of 30 people several weeks ago.
Retired airline pilot and current farmer and Regional School Board member Chad Koppie is also a Republican candidate in the 33rd. No Democrats have declared for this office.
People can get in touch with the Surges campaign at senateinfo@cliffsurges.com.
Chad Koppie will win that primary, since he’s the conservative, who has the most political experience. He’s known as a conservative, statewide, since, in 1998, he was the only conservative who opposed George Ryan, in the governor primary. Chad is pro-tax cuts, pro-spending cuts, pro-life, pro-death penalty, pro-gun rights, pro-school vouchers, and anti-illegal alien. He’s been a school board member, a Rutland Township Trustee, and a member of the Kane Co. Regional Board of Schools, his current position.
Cliff Surges is the real deal and he is in it to win it. His message is sincere and his intentions are pure.
The media has yet to ask Karen McConnaughay two significant questions.
1. Do you intend to complete a full term in office without running for another one?
2. Will you be taking your second pension thereby being declared a ‘double dipper?’