Adam Andrzejewski
Encyclopedia
Adam Andrzejewski is a businessman and government watchdog from the town of Herscher, Illinois
and now resides in Hinsdale, Illinois
. Andrzejewski was the first announced candidate for the Illinois Gubernatorial election of 2010
, announcing his intent to run in March 2009.
to John and Janet Andrzejewski. His grandparents Andrzej and Teresa Andrzejewski came to the U.S. from Poland
in 1928 and settled in Evanston, Illinois
. During the Great Depression
the Andrzejewski family shared a small apartment and Andrzej Andrzejewski worked for over 14 hours a day. His father taught history and political science at Limestone Elementary School for 38 years until he retired in 2008. His father also ran for state representative in 1976, and again in 1978, attempting to unseat the then house majority leader
, George Ryan
. He lost both bids, however, and Ryan later became the Governor. His mother, a native of Sugar Grove, Illinois
, taught primary education for one year, and then stayed at home after the birth of Adam.
As a junior at Herscher High School
, Andrzejewski participated in Illinois Boys State
, a summer leadership program sponsored by the American Legion
, where he was elected Senator in the mock election. After he graduated from Herscher High School in 1987, he attended Northern Illinois University
where he graduated with a business degree in 1992.
Adam Andrzejewski also started a grassroots initiative to enable local county's and school boards to post their check register online.
, who was replaced by Pat Quinn
after he was impeached.
Andrzejewski was one of four Republicans
to file with the Illinois State Board of Elections to be placed on the ballot, submitting over 14,000 signatures. The other Republican candidates include Bill Brady, Bob Schillerstorm, and Kirk Dillard.
On 25 January 2010 Andrzejewski received an endorsement from Lech Wałęsa
, former Polish President and Nobel Peace Prize
Laureate
.
On 1 February 2010, Andrzejewski was endorsed by talk radio host Rush Limbaugh
.
On 2 February 2010 Andrzejewski was defeated by a significant margin in the Republican primary for Governor of Illinois.
, For The Good Of Illinois. For The Good Of Illinois is a citizen watchdog group that advocates transparency of public spending in Illinois. Andrzejewski was the director of the organization for two years, but resigned after his announcement to run for Governor.
He later relaunched the organization after his bid for governor and an associated PAC. He supported 4 candidates for election to the Illinois General Assembly in 2010: Sam McCann, Cedra Crenshaw, and Kyle McCarter for the State Senate and Dwight Kay for the State House. Of those, only Cedra Crenshaw lost.
Herscher, Illinois
Herscher is a village in Kankakee County, Illinois, United States. The population was 1,523 at the 2000 census, and 1,619 as of a 2009 estimate...
and now resides in Hinsdale, Illinois
Hinsdale, Illinois
Hinsdale is a suburb of Chicago, Illinois; it is located partly in Cook County and mainly in DuPage County in the U.S. state of Illinois. The population was 17,349 at the 2000 census. The town's ZIP code is 60521. The town has a rolling, wooded topography, with a quaint downtown and is a 30-minute...
. Andrzejewski was the first announced candidate for the Illinois Gubernatorial election of 2010
Illinois gubernatorial election, 2010
An election for Governor of Illinois was held on November 2, 2010. Incumbent Governor Pat Quinn, a Democrat, sought and was elected to a full term. Quinn was elected as the Democratic nominee, the Green Party nominee was Rich Whitney, the Republican nominee was State Senator Bill Brady, the...
, announcing his intent to run in March 2009.
Early life, family and education
Adam Andrzejewski, the eldest of seven children, was born in Herscher, IllinoisHerscher, Illinois
Herscher is a village in Kankakee County, Illinois, United States. The population was 1,523 at the 2000 census, and 1,619 as of a 2009 estimate...
to John and Janet Andrzejewski. His grandparents Andrzej and Teresa Andrzejewski came to the U.S. from Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
in 1928 and settled in Evanston, Illinois
Evanston, Illinois
Evanston is a suburban municipality in Cook County, Illinois 12 miles north of downtown Chicago, bordering Chicago to the south, Skokie to the west, and Wilmette to the north, with an estimated population of 74,360 as of 2003. It is one of the North Shore communities that adjoin Lake Michigan...
. During the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
the Andrzejewski family shared a small apartment and Andrzej Andrzejewski worked for over 14 hours a day. His father taught history and political science at Limestone Elementary School for 38 years until he retired in 2008. His father also ran for state representative in 1976, and again in 1978, attempting to unseat the then house majority leader
Majority leader
In U.S. politics, the majority floor leader is a partisan position in a legislative body.In the federal Congress, the role differs slightly in the two houses. In the House of Representatives, which chooses its own presiding officer, the leader of the majority party is elected the Speaker of the...
, George Ryan
George Ryan
George Homer Ryan, Sr. was the 39th Governor of the U.S. state of Illinois from 1999 until 2003. He is a member of the Republican Party. Ryan became nationally known when in 2000 he imposed a moratorium on executions and "raised the national debate on capital punishment"...
. He lost both bids, however, and Ryan later became the Governor. His mother, a native of Sugar Grove, Illinois
Sugar Grove, Illinois
Sugar Grove is a far west suburban Chicago village in Kane County, Illinois, United States. The population was 3,909 at the 2000 census. The population was 6,016 in the 2003 special census. The population was 7,958 in the 2005 special census...
, taught primary education for one year, and then stayed at home after the birth of Adam.
As a junior at Herscher High School
Herscher High School
Herscher High School is a public coeducational high school in Herscher, Illinois. The school nickname is the Tigers and the school colors are gold and black.- Athletics :...
, Andrzejewski participated in Illinois Boys State
Boys/Girls State
Boys State and Girls State are summer leadership and citizenship programs sponsored by the American Legion and the American Legion Auxiliary for high school students between their junior and senior years. Boys and Girls State programs both began in 1937 and are held in each of the U.S. states ,...
, a summer leadership program sponsored by the American Legion
American Legion
The American Legion is a mutual-aid organization of veterans of the United States armed forces chartered by the United States Congress. It was founded to benefit those veterans who served during a wartime period as defined by Congress...
, where he was elected Senator in the mock election. After he graduated from Herscher High School in 1987, he attended Northern Illinois University
Northern Illinois University
Northern Illinois University is a state university and research institution located in DeKalb, Illinois, with satellite centers in Hoffman Estates, Naperville, Rockford, and Oregon. It was originally founded as Northern Illinois State Normal School on May 22, 1895 by Illinois Governor John P...
where he graduated with a business degree in 1992.
Career
In October 1997, Adam Andrzejewski founded an independent publishing business with his brother, Abram Andrzejewski. The publishing company, HomePages Directories, employs nearly 150 people and has an annual revenue of nearly $20 million.Adam Andrzejewski also started a grassroots initiative to enable local county's and school boards to post their check register online.
Campaign for Governor of Illinois
On March 1, 2009, Adam Andrzejewski announced his intent to run for the office of Governor of Illinois. Andrzejewski was the first to announce his campaign to run for the office which had previously been held by Rod BlagojevichRod Blagojevich
Rod R. Blagojevich is an American politician who served as the 40th Governor of Illinois from 2003 to 2009. A Democrat, Blagojevich was a State Representative before being elected to the United States House of Representatives representing parts of Chicago...
, who was replaced by Pat Quinn
Pat Quinn (politician)
Patrick Joseph "Pat" Quinn III is the 41st and current Governor of Illinois. He is a member of the Democratic Party. Previously elected three times to statewide office, Quinn was the sitting lieutenant governor and became governor on January 29, 2009, when the previous governor, Rod Blagojevich,...
after he was impeached.
Andrzejewski was one of four Republicans
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
to file with the Illinois State Board of Elections to be placed on the ballot, submitting over 14,000 signatures. The other Republican candidates include Bill Brady, Bob Schillerstorm, and Kirk Dillard.
On 25 January 2010 Andrzejewski received an endorsement from Lech Wałęsa
Lech Wałęsa
Lech Wałęsa is a Polish politician, trade-union organizer, and human-rights activist. A charismatic leader, he co-founded Solidarity , the Soviet bloc's first independent trade union, won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1983, and served as President of Poland between 1990 and 95.Wałęsa was an electrician...
, former Polish President and Nobel Peace Prize
Nobel Peace Prize
The Nobel Peace Prize is one of the five Nobel Prizes bequeathed by the Swedish industrialist and inventor Alfred Nobel.-Background:According to Nobel's will, the Peace Prize shall be awarded to the person who...
Laureate
Laureate
In English, the word laureate has come to signify eminence or association with literary or military glory. It is also used for winners of the Nobel Prize.-History:...
.
On 1 February 2010, Andrzejewski was endorsed by talk radio host Rush Limbaugh
Rush Limbaugh
Rush Hudson Limbaugh III is an American radio talk show host, conservative political commentator, and an opinion leader in American conservatism. He hosts The Rush Limbaugh Show which is aired throughout the U.S. on Premiere Radio Networks and is the highest-rated talk-radio program in the United...
.
On 2 February 2010 Andrzejewski was defeated by a significant margin in the Republican primary for Governor of Illinois.
Organization
In 2007, Andrzejewski sold his share of the company he founded with his brother, when he then founded the non-profit organizationNon-profit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
, For The Good Of Illinois. For The Good Of Illinois is a citizen watchdog group that advocates transparency of public spending in Illinois. Andrzejewski was the director of the organization for two years, but resigned after his announcement to run for Governor.
He later relaunched the organization after his bid for governor and an associated PAC. He supported 4 candidates for election to the Illinois General Assembly in 2010: Sam McCann, Cedra Crenshaw, and Kyle McCarter for the State Senate and Dwight Kay for the State House. Of those, only Cedra Crenshaw lost.