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I called Bill Foster’s campaign yesterday and found myself having a good conversation with Foster’s new Campaign Manager Tom Bowen, who is a reader of this blog (with a name like mine you appreciate name recognition - if for no other reason than it saves explanation time). Tom has impressed at least one person I know who has worked with him, and comes to the Foster campaign with a strong Illinois political background. Below is a summary.

After graduating from Illinois Wesleyan, Tom Bowen began his political career with U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer as a staff assistant, followed by a year working at National Journal’s “The Hotline.” Then he came back to Illinois to work on Barack Obama’s 2004 campaign as a Press Assistant. He followed Obama’s run with a successful year in New Jersey, as a Campaign Manager in a State Assembly race that exceeded fundraising expectations. Then Tom returned to Illinois, spending a year as a Senior Associate with The Strategy Group working with Pete Giangreco on communications and direct mail for clients nationwide at the federal, state and local level. Next Tom managed Chicago Alderman Vi Daley’s successful 2007 re-election race. Now Bowen is breaking new ground in the 14th Congressional District, managing Democrat Bill Foster’s competitive primary race in a district where Republican Congressman Dennis Hastert has served for two decades and is, as Bowen describes, “very vulnerable to a challenge from a strong Democrat.”

The 14th Congressional Democratic Primary currently includes businessman and scientist Bill Foster from Geneva, Geneva attorney Jotham Stein, who was the first declared candidate, and last year’s Democratic nominee from Yorkville John Laesch. Additionally, Aurora State Representative Linda Chapa LaVia is considering entering the race as is businessman and former congressional candidate Joe Serra who also hails from Geneva.