il_sen_FITZGERALD

PETER FITZGERALD

· Republican challenger, Peter Fitzgerald began his political career as an intern for Rep. Phil Crane. In 1994, Fitzgerald challenged Crane in the congressional primary, but was defeated.

· Fitzgerald is a sharp contrast to most top-level Republicans in Illinois. He was part of a group uncompromising conservatives in the IL State Senate dubbed, "The Fabulous Five" by more moderate colleagues.

· During his six years in the State Legislature, Fitzgerald has been outspoken on taxes and government waste. He promised to use every ounce of energy to defeat a proposed cigarette, casino, and telephone tax increase for more school aid.

· Fitzgerald is unabashedly conservative on social issues. He was the sponsor of legislation barring Illinois from recognizing gay marriages performed elsewhere and opposes gays in the military. Fitzgerald is pro-life and opposes abortion unless the mother's life is in danger. He also supports allowing IL citizens to carry concealed weapons once they've completed 50 hours of police training and certification.

· Fitzgerald is an intense campaign and is happy to be viewed as a party outsider. He challenged the gambling industry after revealing the state's practice of granting riverboat licences to politically-connected insiders who bypassed the bidding process.

· In the 1998 Republican primary, Fitzgerald defeated his more-moderate opponent, Loleta Didrickson with 52% of the vote. Didrickson had the support of the party establshment and was endorsed by Gov. Jim Edgar.

· His father, Gerald Fitzgerald, was a wealthy banker who made his fortune in banking. In 1994, Fitzgerald's Suburban Bancorp, Inc. sold for $246 Million.

· Illinois Republicans have not won a U.S. Senate race for 20 years, since the last victory of Sen. Charles Percy in 1978.