Scott Harper

Infobox Congressional Candidate
honorific-prefix =
name = Scott Harper
honorific-suffix =


state = Illinois
nominee = U.S. Representative for Illinois, 13th District
incumbent = Judy Biggert
opponent = Judy Biggert (R), Steve Alesch (G)
election_date = November 4, 2008
place of birth = Illinois
date of death=
place of death=
spouse =
party = Democratic
residence =
alma_mater = Wheaton College,
Oxford University,
University of Chicago
occupation = business owner
religion = Roman Catholic
website = [http://www.scottharperforcongress.com/ www.scottharperforcongress.com]

Scott Harper is the 2008 Democratic nominee for ushr|Illinois|13| ( [http://nationalatlas.gov/printable/images/preview/congdist/il13_109.gifmap] ) of the United States House of Representatives. The incumbent is Republican Judy Biggert.

Harper is a Naperville native and Chicago entrepreneur, founding a media, design and marketing business called "Closer Look" which is currently a 40-person operation with more than $5 million in revenue. His issue positions reflect his fiscal conservatism regarding low taxes, minimum regulation and the importance of attracting investment with his socially liberal positions on the evnironment, abortion rights and gay civil unions. He supported the Supreme Court's recent decision supporting the right of individuals to own handguns.Kristen McQueary [http://www.southtownstar.com/news/mcqueary/1063074,072008mcqueary.article Biggert's re-election: certainty or surprise?] "Southtown Star", July 20, 2008]

Once assumed non-competitive, the combination of Harper's successful fundraising and Barack Obama's coattails has attracted attention to the race. On July 25th, "CQ Politics" changed its forecast of the race from 'Safe Republican' to 'Republican Favored', pointing out contributions to Harper from Senator Dick Durbin and Representative Jan Schakowsky. [Greg Giroux, [http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=news-000002925691&parm1=5&cpage=2] "CQ Politics", July 25, 2008] Harper also raised more money than Biggert in the second quarter, but only because he loaned himself thousands of dollars to his campaign fund right before donation reports were due to the FEC. [Abdon M. Pallasch, [http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/1060722,CST-NWS-cong17.article Congressional candidates building up large war chests] "Chicago Sun-Times", July 17, 2008] [Paige Winfield, [http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/napervillesun/news/1058750,na16_biggert_s1.article Biggert's challenger has bigger war chest] "Naperville Sun", July 16, 2008]

ee also

*United States House of Representatives elections in Illinois, 2008
*Illinois' 13th congressional district

References

External links

* [http://www.scottharperforcongress.com/ Scott Harper for U.S. Congress] , Campaign website
* [http://opensecrets.org/races/summary.asp?ID=IL13&Cycle=2008 Campaign contributions] at OpenSecrets.org
* [http://www.closerlook.com/ Closer Look] company website