Chris Dargis: Illinois' 8th Congressional District Candidate

PALATINE, IL — Ahead of Illinois' June 28 primary elections, Patch distributed questionnaires to candidates running in contested races in the Democratic and Republican parties, including the eight candidates seeking a two-year term in the United States House of Representatives, representing Illinois' 8th Congressional District.

On the Democratic side, incumbent Raja Krishnamoorthi is facing a challenge from Junaid Ahmed. For the Republicans, Chris Dargis, Karen Kolodziej, Chad Koppie, Peter Kopsaftis and Phillip Wood are seeking the nod. Mohammed Faheem is running as an independent.

The congressional district covers parts of Cook County, DuPage County and Kane County. All or parts of Addison, Barrington Hills, Bloomingdale, Carol Stream, Carpentersville, East Dundee, Elgin, Elk Grove Village, Glendale Heights, Hanover Park, Hoffman Estates, Lombard, Palatine,Roselle, Schaumburg, South Elgin, Streamwood, Villa Park and Wood Dale are included.

Name

Chris Dargis

Campaign website

https://www.votedargis.com

What county do you live in?

Cook

City or town of residence

Palatine

Office sought

US Congress - Illinois 8th Congressional District

Party affiliation

Republican

Education

MBA - University of Maryland; BA Economics, Russian Studies - UCLA

Occupation

Businessman - 23 Years

Family

Married 27 years to my wife Victoria. We have 3 children (2 boys, 1 girl). My sons are in college, my daughter is in 8th grade.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No.

Age

51

Previous public office, appointive or elective

No

Why are you seeking this office?

I am seeking the honor of serving the people of the 8th Congressional District of Illinois because I recognize the past few years have been tough on Illinois families. Inflation and high gas prices are eating into budgets, hurting our senior citizens, and placing a severe burden on those who are already struggling to make ends meet.

My background as a retired Naval officer and nuclear engineer, and as a businessman give me the necessary experience, understanding, and credibility to solve the challenges we face today and will face tomorrow. I served our country in uniform for 20 years, and will be a voice that unites the people of the 8th District in a shared vision of American principles, fairness, and opportunity. As a nuclear engineer I understand how to lower high gas prices today while ensuring a clean, energy-independent future for our country. As a businessman I know how to bring down inflation through fiscal responsibility while still solving problems and delivering results for Illinois families. As someone who grew up in this community I care deeply about our families, friends, and neighbors and will fight for them every single day I’m in office.

Please complete this statement: The single most pressing issue facing my constituents is ___, and this is what I intend to do about it.

The single most pressing issue facing our community is inflation. Inflation and high energy and gas prices are eating into budgets, hurting our senior citizens, and placing a severe burden on those who are already struggling to make ends meet.

The most impactful thing we can do to ease this burden is to increase energy production in our country. Completing the Keystone pipeline, reducing regulatory hurdles for all energy types, and supporting oil and gas production will create high-paying American jobs and lower fuel and energy costs. This will ease the burden on Illinois families at the gas pump and on their energy bills while powering economic growth. This will also lower inflation, as production and transportation costs are lowered with more abundant energy supplies and cheaper energy costs.

What are the major differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

My background as a retired Naval officer and nuclear engineer, and as a businessman give me the necessary experience, understanding, and credibility to solve the challenges we face today and will face tomorrow. I am the only candidate in the race who has this record of service and experience, as well a record of delivering results.

If you are challenging an incumbent, how would you perform differently if elected?

My wife, Victoria, and I have been blessed to realize the American dream, but we know it is about freedom and opportunity not just for ourselves but for our friends, our family, our neighbors, and our community. And unfortunately too many are seeing opportunity fall farther out of reach, in large part because of the extreme policies coming out of Washington, rubberstamped by the current incumbent.

Unlike the current incumbent, I will work to solve the problems facing our community. I will support an all-of-the-above energy policy, including drilling for oil and gas, to lower fuel and energy costs burdening Illinois families. I will work to lower inflation by halting reckless spending and special interest giveaways. I will support our law enforcement professionals to ensure we once again have safe communities. And I will continue the ethos of service I embraced as a Naval Officer, putting my country and the men, women, and families of Illinois first.

What other issues do you intend to address during your campaign?

I took an oath when I joined the US Navy, to fight to defend our Constitution and the American values of freedom and opportunity. I knew that service meant putting my country and my fellow citizens ahead of my own needs.

I’m stepping up to serve our country again, now as a Congressman, and will always put the working men, women, and families of Illinois first. As Congressman I will:

• Oppose wasteful government spending that increases inflation and lines the pockets of the politically connected while doing nothing to help working Americans.
• Increase domestic energy production to lower costs of fuel and energy and remove one of the largest factors driving inflation.
• Exempt Social Security payments from taxes to protect our seniors from high inflation.
• Encourage job creation by eliminating unnecessary regulatory hurdles.
• Secure our border to fight the Fentanyl crisis in our country and protect the wages of those at the lower end of the economic spectrum.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

I served my country for 20 years as a Naval Officer--6 years on active duty as a Surface Warfare Officer and Nuclear Engineer, and 14 years in the Reserves as a Naval Intelligence Officer--before retiring as a Lieutenant Commander.

For the past 23 years I've built a successful business career, including roles such as General Manager of GNC.com, Senior Vice President of Ecommerce at Talbots, and Chief Ecommerce Officer at Pizza Hut.

My long record of service and accomplishment make me the most qualified candidate in this race.

What was your first paying job, and what did you learn from it?

My first paying job was delivering newspapers in my neighborhood in Schaumburg when I was in 4th grade. It taught me grit and determination, the value of a job done well, and that hard work is behind even the simplest thing we see in our lives.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

The best advice I ever received came in the form of a question. As a teenager I was talking to a family friend about how unfair some episode of teenage life had been to me. I was expecting a sympathetic ear, but the only reply I got was "Yes, but what are you going to do about it".

It made me realize that it was up to me to make a difference not just in my own life but in the lives of others. It fueled my commitment to service that led to my 20-year career in the Navy, to a successful business career, and now to a run for Congress to help better the lives of the men, women, and families of Illinois.

Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I took an oath 33 years ago when I joined the US Navy, to fight to defend our Constitution and the American values of freedom and opportunity. I knew that service meant putting my country, my fellow sailors and soldiers, and my fellow citizens ahead of my own needs.
It seems many of our politicians in Washington have lost sight of what service means. But I have not, and I am stepping up to serve again and fight for the men, women, and families of Illinois. As a naval officer, nuclear engineer, and businessman I have the experience and credibility to lead and solve the problems facing our friends, our families, and our community, to lower gas prices, lower inflation, and make our community safer. I appreciate the support and votes of the community, and will work every day as Congressman to earn them. Thank you.