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SCHAUMBURG, Ill.
Raja Krishnamoorthi, 41, announced March 31 his campaign to seek the 8th Congressional District seat, which includes the northwest suburbs of Chicago. U.S. Rep. (D) Tammy Duckworth, who currently holds the seat, had announced the previous day her plans to run for the U.S. Senate instead. He explained to Desi Talk what he can do for voters, especially South Asians.
How would you assess Duckworth’s initiatives during her tenure?
Having lost to Duckworth in the Democratic primary for 8th District in 2012, I worked on her election victory over incumbent Republican Joe Walsh. Tammy has done an excellent job and I want to continue her advocacy for working families, helping more people succeed in the new economy, by providing education, job opportunities and affordable child care.
Tell us about your professional background.
I earned a bachelor’s degree summa cum laude in mechanical engineering from Princeton University, graduated with honors from Harvard Law School, clerked for a federal judge in Chicago and became partner at an Illinois law firm. As Deputy Treasurer for Policy and Programs from Sep. 2007, one of the highest ranking Indian-Americans to serve Illinois, I helped revamp the state’s unclaimed property system using technology to increase the amounts returned to taxpayers while cutting costs. I helped run the state’s technology venture capital fund to create hundreds of good-paying jobs. In 2006, Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan appointed me to serve as Special Assistant AG in her Public Integrity Unit. I served the Illinois Housing Development Authority as Chairman of its Audit Committee.
What business experience and skills would you bring as congressman?
With successful experience in both public and private sectors, I have a unique understanding of the challenges facing the U.S. economy and their implications for families and future workers. Since September 2010, I’ve been President of Sivananthan Labs and Episolar, Inc., small businesses that sell products in national security and renewable energy industries. I’m a co-founder of InSPIRE, a nonprofit organization that provides training to Illinois students and veterans in solar technology, and was vice chairman of Illinois Innovation Council, whose mission is to promote innovative technologies that support economic growth and job creation. We need people in Congress who understand the opportunities provided by the New Economy and how to make sure more Americans are prepared to seize them. But if you look to Washington for answers, you’ll just find politicians who don’t care, don’t understand, or don’t want to stick their necks out to fight for the middle class. That requires practical, pragmatic ideas and far less partisan politics. I want to ensure that the same opportunities that my family had to escape tough economic times exist for other working families.
Tell us about your Indian roots, endorsements and commitments.
Born in New Delhi, I was only three months when my parents immigrated to the U.S. I was raised in Peoria, where I attended public schools and graduated as a valedictorian of my high school class. I am very involved with the various Desi charitable, cultural, sporting, civic and religious institutions. I have been on Duckworth’s advisory committee on Asian-American affairs. My campaign to become Illinois Comptroller, to be the first Asian-American elected to statewide office, broke fundraising records for the primary election for the Comptroller’s race, garnered endorsements from more than 100 elected and community leaders, launched a statewide television advertisement, and earned the endorsement of both major Chicago newspapers, Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times. Winning over 380,000 votes, I came within 1 percent of winning the Democratic nomination and was among a list of candidates considered for Lieutenant Governor of Illinois.
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