David Ratowitz
Encyclopedia
David Ratowitz is an American political activist, entrepreneur, former paratrooper
and Army Ranger
, and Republican congressional
candidate in the 5th district
of Illinois
.
attending Homewood-Flossmoor High School
. He went on to study anthropology
at the University of Iowa
on an Army ROTC scholarship, graduating as the Distinguished Military Graduate with a BA
in 1992.
and graduated from U.S. Army Airborne
and Ranger School
s, David served as an officer in the 82nd Airborne and 2nd Infantry Divisions from 1992 to 1997 while stationed in Korea
, Fort Bragg
, and deployed to Haiti
. He was honorably discharged in 1997 with the rank of Captain, Field Artillery
.
, where he lived for eight years. He earned concurrent MBA
and JD
degrees from Tulane University
in 2003.
After Hurricane Katrina
struck in 2005, David formed a companion construction company.
David and his family returned to Illinois in 2007, establishing The Ratowitz Law Firm, LLC in Chicago, which specializes in federal employment law and provides investor real estate services. A member of the Turnaround Management Association, David helps to provide professional services to companies that are suffering financial and operational setbacks. He also maintains membership in the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, Chicago Association of Realtors and the Young Professionals of Chicago.
. Green Party nominee Matt Reichel is also running.
As part of his campaigning, David has appeared at numerous venues, including an April 15, 2010 Tea Party protest at Daley Plaza in Chicago and on Fox News Network's Freedom Watch program.
David lost his congressional bid on November 2, 2010. Throughout his campaign, David received recognition for his tightly run grass-roots campaign. David gained the attention of state and national GOP leaders when it was reported that he had literally worn out the soles of his black dress shoes walking the district to obtain the requisite number of signatures to get onto the ballot.
David made a point of taking his campaign directly to the large Polish population of Chicago. In the past 20 years, IL-D5's significant Polish population has been on the sidelines and largely ignored by the District's leadership as new ethnic groups have increased within the District. David made sure the Polish community (David Ratowitz's family immigrated here from Poland in the early-mid 1900's) was included making a point of meeting with leaders in that community and appearing on Polish language radio.
Paratrooper
Paratroopers are soldiers trained in parachuting and generally operate as part of an airborne force.Paratroopers are used for tactical advantage as they can be inserted into the battlefield from the air, thereby allowing them to be positioned in areas not accessible by land...
and Army Ranger
United States Army Rangers
United States Army Rangers are elite members of the United States Army. Rangers have served in recognized U.S. Army Ranger units or have graduated from the U.S. Army's Ranger School...
, and Republican congressional
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
candidate in the 5th district
Illinois's 5th congressional district
The 5th Congressional District of Illinois was created as part of the 28th United States Congress, which first met on March 4, 1843; it was initially represented by Stephen A. Douglas, whose Kansas-Nebraska Act prompted the creation of the Republican Party...
of Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
.
Early life
David grew up in south suburban Hazel Crest, IllinoisHazel Crest, Illinois
Hazel Crest is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States. The population was 14,816 at the 2000 census. Despite being primarily located in Bremen Township, the village is also located in Rich Township south of 183rd Street and Thornton Township east of I-80/94 The Village is located in...
attending Homewood-Flossmoor High School
Homewood-Flossmoor High School
Homewood-Flossmoor High School is a public high school in Flossmoor, Illinois, in the Chicago metropolitan area. The majority of HF students live in Flossmoor and nearby Homewood, but the school also serves areas of Olympia Fields, Chicago Heights, Glenwood, and Hazel Crest serving school...
. He went on to study anthropology
Anthropology
Anthropology is the study of humanity. It has origins in the humanities, the natural sciences, and the social sciences. The term "anthropology" is from the Greek anthrōpos , "man", understood to mean mankind or humanity, and -logia , "discourse" or "study", and was first used in 1501 by German...
at the University of Iowa
University of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
on an Army ROTC scholarship, graduating as the Distinguished Military Graduate with a BA
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in 1992.
Military service
After entering active dutyActive duty
Active duty refers to a full-time occupation as part of a military force, as opposed to reserve duty.-Pakistan:The Pakistan Armed Forces are one of the largest active service forces in the world with almost 610,000 full time personnel due to the complex and volatile nature of Pakistan's...
and graduated from U.S. Army Airborne
United States Army Airborne School
The United States Army Airborne School — widely known as Jump School — conducts the basic paratrooper training for the United States armed forces. It is operated by the 1st Battalion , 507th Infantry, United States Army Infantry School, Fort Benning, Georgia...
and Ranger School
Ranger School
The United States Army Ranger School is an intense 61-day combat leadership course oriented towards small-unit tactics. It has been called the "toughest combat course in the world" and "is the most physically and mentally demanding leadership school the Army has to offer". The course is conducted...
s, David served as an officer in the 82nd Airborne and 2nd Infantry Divisions from 1992 to 1997 while stationed in Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
, Fort Bragg
Fort Bragg (North Carolina)
Fort Bragg is a major United States Army installation, in Cumberland and Hoke counties, North Carolina, U.S., mostly in Fayetteville but also partly in the town of Spring Lake. It was also a census-designated place in the 2010 census and had a population of 39,457. The fort is named for Confederate...
, and deployed to Haiti
Haiti
Haiti , officially the Republic of Haiti , is a Caribbean country. It occupies the western, smaller portion of the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antillean archipelago, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Ayiti was the indigenous Taíno or Amerindian name for the island...
. He was honorably discharged in 1997 with the rank of Captain, Field Artillery
Field artillery
Field artillery is a category of mobile artillery used to support armies in the field. These weapons are specialized for mobility, tactical proficiency, long range, short range and extremely long range target engagement....
.
Private work
In 2000, David founded a real estate development and property management firm in New Orleans, LouisianaLouisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
, where he lived for eight years. He earned concurrent MBA
Master of Business Administration
The Master of Business Administration is a :master's degree in business administration, which attracts people from a wide range of academic disciplines. The MBA designation originated in the United States, emerging from the late 19th century as the country industrialized and companies sought out...
and JD
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
degrees from Tulane University
Tulane University
Tulane University is a private, nonsectarian research university located in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States...
in 2003.
After Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
struck in 2005, David formed a companion construction company.
David and his family returned to Illinois in 2007, establishing The Ratowitz Law Firm, LLC in Chicago, which specializes in federal employment law and provides investor real estate services. A member of the Turnaround Management Association, David helps to provide professional services to companies that are suffering financial and operational setbacks. He also maintains membership in the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, Chicago Association of Realtors and the Young Professionals of Chicago.
Political activism
David has been politically active in the Chicago area for a number of years, promoting the principles of limited government and individual liberty. He is a member and serves on committees of the Chicago GOP, Chicago Young Republicans and the Republican Jewish Coalition. David is also a leader in the Campaign for Liberty, formerly serving as the organization’s Region 5 Coordinator.Congressional bid
Davis is challenging Democratic incumbent Mike QuigleyMichael Quigley
Michael "Mike" Quigley is the U.S. Representative for , serving since the April 7, 2009 special election. He is a member of the Democratic Party. Quigley is a former member of the Cook County Board of Commissioners, where he represented Chicago's northside neighborhoods of Lakeview, Uptown and...
. Green Party nominee Matt Reichel is also running.
As part of his campaigning, David has appeared at numerous venues, including an April 15, 2010 Tea Party protest at Daley Plaza in Chicago and on Fox News Network's Freedom Watch program.
David lost his congressional bid on November 2, 2010. Throughout his campaign, David received recognition for his tightly run grass-roots campaign. David gained the attention of state and national GOP leaders when it was reported that he had literally worn out the soles of his black dress shoes walking the district to obtain the requisite number of signatures to get onto the ballot.
David made a point of taking his campaign directly to the large Polish population of Chicago. In the past 20 years, IL-D5's significant Polish population has been on the sidelines and largely ignored by the District's leadership as new ethnic groups have increased within the District. David made sure the Polish community (David Ratowitz's family immigrated here from Poland in the early-mid 1900's) was included making a point of meeting with leaders in that community and appearing on Polish language radio.
External links
- Campaign website
- Financial information at OpenSecrets.org