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Lipinski to face Grabowski in 3rd District
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Updated: March 29, 2012 3:39PM
Richard Grabowski of south suburban Hometown emerged with a solid win Tuesday as the Republican nominee for the 3rd Congressional District to challenge Democratic incumbent Daniel Lipinski of Western Springs, seeking his fourth term.
Unofficial totals from precincts in Cook, Will and DuPage counties show Grabowski, a plant materials supervisor, capturing 20,716 votes over Western Springs attorney Jim Falvey with 10,365 votes in his first bid for office, and insurance salesman Arthur Jones of Lyons with 3,832 votes.
On the Democratic side, Lipinski easily glided to victory with 43,815 votes. His opponent, Farah Baqai of Chicago, who immigrated from Pakistan and became a Chicago police officer, had just 6,384 votes.
Both Falvey and Grabowski call themselves constitutional conservatives and have questioned the standing of Jones, an admitted neo-Nazi disavowed by the Illinois Republican Party.
Jones said he is running to inject a fresh viewpoint into American politics, because “we have a two party, Jew party, queer party system.”
Grabowski ran unsuccessfully two years ago against Kelly Burke for the 36th District of the Illinois House, but found the experience encouraging, capturing about 30 percent of the vote. He was endorsed in the 3rd District primary by Tea Party organizations in Homer-Lockport and Lemont, as well as the Worth Township Republicans.
During the campaign, Grabowski attacked the party loyalty of his chief opponent, noting Falvey voted in six Democratic primaries and only two Republican contests since 1996, but Falvey countered he is a “life-long Republican.”
Grabowski said he supports efforts to create jobs and help business by lowering taxes and easing regulations. Securing funding for projects in the district as Lipinski has done just increases debt, he said.
“I think there’s a very good chance of actually taking the 3rd District back for the ordinary citizens who are no longer living under the fear of machine rule,” he said. “I would be an honest voice, an outstanding advocate for ordinary citizens and taxpayers in Washington, D.C.”
Lipinski said during the campaign he strives to stay in touch with his constituents with frequent town hall meetings and other events and he made an effort to get to know new constituents.
“That’s why I’ve been re-elected by wide margins even two years ago when things were tough for Democrats,” he said, capturing 67.9 percent of the votes cast over Republican challenger Michael Bendas of Chicago.
The new 3rd District includes parts of La Grange, Western Springs, Indian Head Park and Burr Ridge and stretches from Chicago southwest to Romeoville and Homer Glen.
