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The Beacon News reports today that Geneva millionaire businessman and long-time Fermilab scientist George William “Bill” Foster announced that he is running for the Democratic nomination in the 14th Congressional district. Foster joins announced Democratic candidates Jotham Stein and John Laesch, and probable candidates Linda Chapa LaVia and Joe Serra in the race. Foster also becomes the second (or third) Genevan in the race, joining Jotham Stein and (possibly) Joe Serra. As for the non-Genevan candidates, John Laesch hails from Yorkville and Linda Chapa LaVia is a State Representative from Aurora.

According to Eric Krol of the Daily Herald, Bill Foster is a “blue dog Democrat” who plans to seed his campaign with money and raise most of the five million he anticipates the race will cost (it’s likely to be an expensive primary race - not to mention the general election). Bill has hired prominent political direct mailer The Strategy Group, media consultant Squier Knapp Dunn and pollster Global Strategies - and is hiring local campaign staff.

Bill Foster recently gained campaign and government experience volunteering with the campaign of suburban Philadelphia Congressman Patrick Murphy. Foster worked to elect Murphy in an upset victory last election in a variety of roles, including working on campaign events and designing software/materials for campaign voter contact. He has worked since the election as a Murphy legislative assistant in Washington, D.C.

I plan to have a comparison of where the Democrats stand on the issues in the 14th District soon - but for now you can read Bill Foster’s positions on the issues, Jotham Stein’s positions on the issues and John Laesch’s positions on the issues on their websites (which is where these links take you). The 14th is shaping up to be one of the most exciting Democratic congressional primary races in DuPage - and possibly Illinois.