Flamm announced as sole Democrat running for District 54
Palatine resident Matt Flamm announced his candidacy for State Representative in the 54th district Friday. Flamm, 56, will be the only democrat running for the seat next November.
“Voters here are educated,” Flamm said. “They make up their minds based on the issues. I think there is an opportunity to give the voters a choice.”
Current State Rep. Suzie Bassi, a Republican, ran unopposed in the 2008 general election.
“This is an area that has historically been very Republican, but that’s changed,” Flamm said. “Suburban voters are independent voters, they make up their mind despite party labels.”
Participation in the Democratic primaries has increased, according to Sue Walton, Palatine Township Democratic Committeewoman. When she started in 1996, she estimated approximately 3,000 voters registered in the Democratic primary. The number increased to 8,000 in 2000 and in 2008 there were 14,499 she said.
“It’s never been about having a candidate,” Walton said. “It’s always been about a candidate that’s viable and can really put forth a challenge, who’s quick on their feet and can raise money. This is a candidate that I believe has all that ability. He really earned this step of respect.”
Flamm, a business and real estate lawyer and senior partner of Flamm, Teibloom & Stanko, Ltd., describes himself as a centrist Democrat.
“I believe that there are many critical programs the government provides,” he said. “One of the first obligations of the state is that we have to maintain our public education system. It’s the bedrock of everything else we do. We also have to maintain our business climate. Most people work in the private sector most wealth is created in the private system. We need a healthy business sector to provide services.”
Flamm has served as a volunteer in the campaigns of Congresswoman Melissa Bean (D-8th) and in the 2008 Presidential campaign of Barack Obama.
He gathered 1,100 signatures—500 are needed to place a candidate on the ballot.
Flamm will face either Bassi or Palatine disaster clean-up franchise owner Tom Morrison, depending on election results from the February primaries.
“We have to get beyond some of the old clichés—Republicans for business and Democrats for government,” Flamm said. “I don’t think it’s an either-or proposition.”
—By Michelle Stoffel, Triblocal.com reporter
