Politics & Government
Grundy Board Member Wants 11th District Congressional Seat
Chris Balkema announced Tuesday he's running as a Republican in the March 2014 primary and hopes to replace incumbent Bill Foster.
A Grundy County Board member wants to unseat U.S. Rep. Bill Foster as the Congressman representing Joliet and the rest of the 11th District.
“America’s financial situation is deteriorating quickly," Balkema, 42, said in a news release on his announcement. "Small business owners and companies are unwilling to take risks and hire more people in our current economic climate that is riddled with uncertainty.
"That is why I'm setting my career aside to go work for the people of District 11, if the voters will give me the opportunity. There is a lack of courage in Washington to get the job done – I will change that.”
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He has worked at Caterpillar since 1993, and has held positions in logistics, purchasing, operations, environmental health and safety, and human resources. He is currently a hydraulics purchasing manager.
Balkema is an Indiana native who received a bachelor's degree in business systems from Taylor University in 1993 and an MBA from Bradley University in 2002.
Find out what's happening in Jolietwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
He and his wife, Jill, have two sons, ages 8 and 10.
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