Lake County Gazette

Blasting partisanship as the blade slicing the country in half, Jeremy Wynes, a leader in the Chicago offices of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) and the Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC), has announced his candidacy for a U.S. House of Representatives seat in the 2018 election.

Wynes describes himself as socially moderate and fiscal conservative who says this is an opportunity for the 10th Congressional District to be represented by its interests rather than a political party.

“You and I live in a place unlike any other in American politics,” Wynes said in a video on YouTube. “It’s a true swing district: one of the few in America traded back and forth between a different Republican and Democrat every election year this decade. We deserve effective representation in Washington based on our shared values – someone who isn’t there to play follow the leader, but who can lead themselves. Someone to push fresh ideas instead of the same old, same old.”

Wynes argued that the country is more divided than it has been in a generation and called on voters to elect a candidate with a history of bipartisan leadership. He said that he is frustrated with politics as usual, wherein elected officials bow to the extreme members of their parties and toe the party line rather than fight for what their constituents want.

Wynes grew up, went to college, and works and lives in Illinois. His father ran a farm and worked as a laborer while his mother taught preschool. Wynes worked alongside his father and uncles and went to Illinois State University and DePaul University College of Law. He worked as a lawyer for two years before transitioning to a career in public policy with AIPAC. He later opened the Chicago office of the RJC. In his time with both organizations, he had a part in shaping U.S. foreign policy.

“In addition to growing threats from ISIS and North Korea, the disastrous nuclear deal with Iran now threatens American’s safety and our ally Israel’s existence,” Wynes said. “I worked alongside Republicans and Democrats for close to a decade to try and prevent a nuclear Iran. ... It opened my eyes to the lack of courage and cooperation in Washington. We need bold independent leaders there who will never let party politics dictate how we react when our security and that of our allies is at stake.”

Wynes also prioritized a change to tax policy. He is critical of the bulk and complexity of the country’s tax code as and is pushing for simplification and relief to drive economic growth.

“Rather than a booming economy creating 21st century jobs and growing wages, both parties have delivered a booming tax code, creating winners and losers and shrinking opportunities,” Wynes said. “In place of explosive economic growth, we’ve seen our national debt explode. We need to work together to overhaul the tax code to provide relief and opportunity where it will do the most good. And make sure our schools are preparing our children for the jobs of today and tomorrow.”

Wynes is married with three children, all under the age of 8. His wife, Lesley, is also an Illinois native and an assistant dean at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. Wynes put his family first in explaining why he is running for Congress, saying that he is worried about the future they will have without significant changes to American policy.

“I’m a husband; I’m a father of three,” he said. “Their safety and prosperity, and yours, is what I care about. The time is now to fix this mess.”