6th District GOP Candidate: "Roskam is way, way outside what the district needs"

Is Peter Roskam too extreme for the 6th District?

Some DuPage County Republicans think so.

John Biemer has the scoop in your Chicago Tribune:

A real estate developer and Glen Ellyn School District 41 board president said Friday he is taking steps to challenge state Sen. Peter Roskam in the Republican primary for the congressional seat long held by retiring U.S. Rep. Henry Hyde.

John Vivoda, 47, said he is disappointed and frustrated with the way GOP leaders have rallied around Roskam, a Wheaton attorney, whom he described as too partisan and conservative and "way, way outside of what I think the district needs."

Vivoda said he is building an organization to support his run and collecting signatures to get on the ballot by the Dec. 19 filing deadline. He doesn't expect to get the support of the district's traditional Republican leadership, who he says "winked and nodded at George Ryan forever."

"There should be some choice, some contest on the Republican side rather than an anointing by all the same cast of characters," Vivoda said.

Roskam has been the sole Republican in the 6th District race since July, when state Sen. Carole Pankau (R-Roselle) and former DuPage County Recorder J.P. "Rick" Carney dropped out. That has allowed Roskam to rack up high-profile endorsements, including Hyde's, and $681,451 in campaign contributions as of the end of September.

Two Democrats are in the March primary -- Rolling Meadows software engineer Christine Cegelis and Wheaton professor Lindy Scott.

Patrick Durante, Addison Township GOP chairman and a longtime Hyde aide, said it was "infuriating" that Vivoda was looking to run as a Republican without contacting local GOP leaders in the district. He labeled Vivoda "a spoiler" who would force Roskam to spend money in the primary and hurt the GOP in the general election.

"It's selfishness. It's self-aggrandizement," Durante said. "The guy's going to get blown out."

Vivoda conceded it was "maybe an error" not to approach Durante, "but when I see that he's tied at the hip with Mr. Hyde and they've endorsed Peter Roskam, why bother? Why waste my time and tip my hand?"

Roskam's campaign spokesman declined to comment.

The C Comm Solutions, Inc. website informs us that Vivoda has more than 20 years of experience in the construction industry, and received his Bachelors of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Bradley University.

UPDATE -- Hiram has more.