Scott Kaspar announces candidacy for Congress in 6th District

The suburban lawyer and engineer entered the race for the Republican nomination for Congress in the Suburban Chicago 6th District in a press conference Tuesday Jan. 25, 2022.

Scott Kaspar announced he is a candidate for the Republican nomination for Congress in the Illinois’ 6th Congressional District in the June 28, 2022 Republican primary election. Kaspar made his announcement during a press conference with Bernard B. Kerik, 40th Police Commissioner of the City of New York, who served as Commissioner during the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Centers.

Kaspar announced formation of a much-needed, high-profile Public Safety Task Force. He also announced that Bernard Kerik will serve as an adviser on issues relating to public safety, crime prevention and deterrence. 

Kerik described the mission of the Task Force which is to advise on solutions to deter and prevent crime in suburban Chicagoland. Recent attacks at the Oak Brook Center Mall as well as the car-jackings and retail lootings reveal serious concerns about public safety.

Kaspar is taking a leadership role to create solutions to growing crime in the Chicagoland area as he announces his effort to become the next Congressman in the 6th Congressional district.

“The crime that is spilling out into the suburbs is because of the failed leadership in Illinois and Cook County and the unwillingness of elected officials to do their jobs and enforce the laws,” said Commissioner Kerik, the most decorated Police Commissioner to have served the City of New York.

 

“But this is nothing that I have not dealt with before.  Mayor Giuliani and I worked side-by-side to enforce the laws in New York City and to hold perpetrators accountable for their actions.  I look forward to working with Scott Kaspar and his campaign to craft the action plan that Scott will bring to Congress to deter and prevent crime on Day 1.” 

 

Kaspar echoed Commissioner Kerik’s sentiments, stating, “For far too long we have sat by idly as our elected officials have repeatedly let crimes go unprosecuted.  In Congress I will form a bipartisan coalition of similarly-situated Republican and conservative Democrat Representatives and with the advice of Commissioner Kerik and my Public Safety Task Force, we will force Blue State Governors, like J.B. Pritzker, to uphold the laws and prosecute all perpetrators of violent crimes.” 

About Scott Kaspar

 Scott Kaspar is an engineer, lawyer, father and husband who is worried the American Dream he has experienced is at risk and drifting away from future generations. 

A product of the wonderfully distinct communities within Illinois 6th Congressional District, Scott’s abiding respect of family, history, service, and the ways education and initiative shape a successful life is deeply rooted and begins in many ways in a blacksmith shop operated on 63rd and Halsted by a great-great-grandfather and founder of Englewood. 

Scott’s great-grandfather, Judge Thomas Ehler (an inaugural graduate of Chicago-Kent Law School in 1901) called Beverly home as he served for three decades as a Republican Chicago judge. During the Great Depression, Judge Ehler acquired the Claire Manufacturing Company on Vincennes. 

Grandfather Ray Evans, a University of Chicago Econ and Law graduate, employed world-class education when he founded Claire-Sprayway, in 1955, growing it into a leading manufacturer of aerosol products and supplier of heritage brands available at home improvement or grocery stores. 

Watch a video fo Kaspar discusses his reasons for running for office by click here or use the widget below.

Scott’s greatest inspiration is his father Val, a Latvian immigrant who along with his siblings, risked everything to escape the Soviet Union to arrive in America with only what he could wear or carry. 

In 1960, at the time he became a naturalized U.S. Citizen, Val took a job with Claire-Sprayway, and rose to run the company for decades. He also met Scott’s mother Ariel, and together they raised Scott, his brothers and sister in Oak Lawn, then later in St. Charles, where Scott went to high school. 

Publicly educated, Scott’s love for STEM disciplines took root in high school when he attended a physics course at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory. His continued interest in hard sciences drove Scott to attend the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where Scott won full scholarship to earn a degree in Mechanical Engineering. 

Upon graduation Scott joined Henry Pratt, where he designed and built the prototype of a positive lock for a butterfly valve (subject of U.S. Patent No. 6,598,850), an experience sparking his interest in patent law, and his decision to earn a Juris Doctor from Iowa’s Drake University. 

Scott is recognized as a top attorney in intellectual property counseling and litigation with a record of handling and winning hundreds of cases in federal courts across the country. His pioneering practice model – leveraging technology and relevant experience to provide comprehensive counseling to clients quickly and at a fair price – has inspired other boutique firms to follow suit and helping propel patent law as a top-growth field, especially for legal specialists with backgrounds in STEM education. 

As a Registered Patent Attorney, Mr. Kaspar has counseled clients with respect to a wide array of technologies, including communications; control systems and electronic devices; automotive and vehicles; banking and finance; hydroforming processes; food processing; consumer appliances and products; farm equipment and agriculture; and software and computer-implemented methods. 

Mr. Kaspar is licensed to practice in the States of Illinois, Iowa, Colorado, and California and before the United States Patent and Trademark Office. He is a member of the bars of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa, the U.S. District Courts for the Northern, Central, and Southern Districts of California, and the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas. 

Scott’s legal career spans matters before the U.S. Supreme Court, Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC), and dozens of federal district courts throughout the country, including the Eastern District of Texas, the Northern District of California, and the Northern District of Illinois. He served as defendants liaison counsel in the Central District of California in one of the largest multi-district patent litigations of all time. In addition to his multi-state practice, Scott is also president of a commercial real-estate company specializing in the fitness space, and owner of SPENGA, Geneva. 

A leader in his community, Scott is a Commissioner of the Orland Park Police Pension Fund Board, and the Orland Park Ethics Commission. Other organizations Scott supports include Sigma Tau Gamma where he serves as Director and Secretary of the Board, the Republican National Committee, the Heritage Foundation, Curetivity, a non-profit dedicated to pediatric cancer research, and Turning Point USA, which promotes youth leadership. 

Scott and his wife, Dr. Beth Damas, have called the wonderful community of Orland Park home since 2012, deciding to raise their family there because of its great schools, churches, sports, and youth programs. The Kaspar family is active in St. Michael Parish and School. 

About Bernard Kerik

BERNARD B. KERIK is one of the most dynamic, undisputed, controversial and accomplished leaders in law enforcement, correction, and national security in the United States. For more than thirty years, he served his country with distinction, honor, and valor, most notably as the 40th Police Commissioner of the City of New York.

Born in Newark, New Jersey, from unusually humble beginnings, at the age of 3, he was abandoned by his mother, who was beaten to death when he was 9 years old. A high school dropout, he later volunteered for the U.S. Army, earned his GED, and served in the Military Police Corps in Korea and at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. There he taught defensive tactics at the John F. Kennedy Unconventional Warfare Center to U.S. Special Forces and special operations personnel. After his military service, he spent four years in various security assignments in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. In 1981, he joined the Passaic County Sheriff’s Department in New Jersey, where he served as the Commander of Special Weapons and Operations and as Warden of the Passaic County Jail.

In 1986, he joined the New York City Police Department where his meteoric rise to the top was historic. Following uniformed patrol and plain-clothes assignments in Times Square, he was promoted to detective and assigned to the narcotics division’s major case unit. There he earned one of the department’s highest honors, the medal for valor, for a gun battle with a drug dealer who had shot and wounded his partner. In 1991, he was transferred to the U.S. Justice Department’s New York Drug Enforcement Task Force, responsible for overseeing one of the most far-reaching drug investigations in New York history.

For close to six years, Mr. Kerik served as First Deputy and later Commissioner of the New York City Department of Correction. He was responsible for overseeing the New York City jail system, including Rikers Island, one of the largest and most violent jail systems in the country. Under his command, the department achieved historic reductions in inmate-on-inmate violence, and earned international recognition for violence reduction, efficiency, accountability, andcorrectional excellence.

In August 2000, Mr. Kerik was appointed the 40th Police Commissioner of the City of New York, responsible for 55,000 civilian and uniform personnel, and a $3.2 billion budget. His term was marked by dramatic reductions in crime, enhanced community relations, and his unflinching leadership and oversight, as he led New York City through the devastating attacks on the World Trade Center on 9/11, overseeing the rescue, recovery and investigation. In 2001, he was one of the founding members of the Board of Trustees of the Twin Towers Fund, which raised and distributed $216 million to over 600 families related the emergency service workers killed on 9/11.

After retiring from the NYPD, and following the fall of Saddam Hussein, Mr. Kerik accepted a request by the White House to lead Iraq’s provisional government’s efforts to reconstitute the Iraqi Interior Ministry, which consisted of its national police service and intelligence, customs and immigration, and border police. He subsequently served as a national security advisor to His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan and President Bharrat Jagdeo of the Republic of Guyana.

Mr. Kerik has conducted security, threat and vulnerability assessments for various heads of state, and led crime reduction, national security, and management accountability assessments for the U.S. Justice Department, Trinidad and Tobago as well as Mexico City.

Mr. Kerik is a 7th Degree Master Instructor in the martial arts, studying both Korean and Japanese Karate, and has been inducted into the Centurion Black Belt Hall of Fame, received the Joe Lewis Eternal Warrior Award and in 2019 he was inducted into the World Tae Kwon Do Hall of Fame. He holds a B.S. in Social Theory, Social Structure and Change from the State University of New York (ESC), has attended the John F. Kennedy School of Government’s Leadership Program for the 21st Century at Harvard University, and is the New York Time’s best- selling author of “The Lost Son: A Life in Pursuit of Justice.”

Mr. Kerik has served on the board of directors for Camelbak, MedAire, and TASER International, and served on the advisory board BMW’s special products division, focused on their armored car line, and presently serves on the Nine Line Foundation’s advisory board.

Considered one of the most decorated police commissioners in the history of the New York City Police Department, in the line of duty, he has rescued people from burning buildings, been stabbed, shot at, and saved his partner who had been wounded in a gun battle. He survived the terror attacks on 9/11, and a bomb plot in Iraq. He has been the target of numerous death threats, seized tons of cocaine and millions in drugs proceeds from the Cali Cartel, and brought cop killers, Colombian drug lords and Iraqi terrorists to justice.

His service to his country has been recognized in more than 100 awards for public and heroic service, including the New York City Police Department’s Medal for Valor, plus 29 other medals for excellent and meritorious service. He has been commended for heroism by President Ronald Reagan, and has also received the DEA Administrator’s Award from the U.S. Justice Department, two Distinguished Service Awards from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, The Ellis Island Medal of Honor, and an appointment as Honorary Commander of the

Most Excellent Order of the British Empire by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. He has served on the Terrorism Committee of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), the Criminal Justice Advisory Council of St. John’s University in New York City, and the Academe and Policy Research, and Emergency Response Senior Advisory Committees for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

On December 3, 2004, President George W. Bush nominated Mr. Kerik as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. One week later, Mr. Kerik withdrew his name from consideration, after admitting that he failed to pay payroll tax for his children’s nanny.

Five years of state and federal investigations followed. Mr. Kerik pled guilty to false statements and tax charges primarily relating to his children’s nanny and discounted apartment renovations.

He was sentenced to 48 months in federal prison. He surrendered to the U.S. Federal Bureau of Prisons at a minimum-security prison camp in Cumberland, Maryland on May 17, 2010, and was released from custody on October 15, 2013

His unparalleled achievements as New York City’s Police and Correction Commissioner, and his 30-year career in the criminal justice field, coupled with his later incarceration, which included time in solitary confinement, has provided Mr. Kerik with a unique and one-of-a kind perspective into the U.S. criminal justice and prison systems, prompting him to become an advocate for criminal justice and prison reform.

After his release, and at the request of the U.S. Government Accountability Office, Mr. Kerik briefed their directors on fraud, waste, abuse and corruption within the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP), and has testified before, and briefed numerous U.S. House and Senate committees, on sentencing reforms, mass incarceration, solitary confinement, programs, and the collateral consequences of felony convictions. He was one of the founding members of Law Enforcement Leaders to Reduce Crime and Incarceration, established by the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University School of Law, which consists of current and former leaders of the law enforcement community – police chiefs, sheriffs, district and state’s attorneys, U.S. Attorneys, attorneys general and other leaders focused on reducing crime, while also reducing unnecessary arrests, prosecutions, and incarceration. In 2015, he published his second book, “From Jailer to Jailed: My Journey from Police and Correction Commissioner to Inmate 84888-054,” which stresses his calls for national criminal justice and prison reform.

He remains an avid supporter of America’s war against terror, and advocate for our nation’s military, and local, state and federal law enforcement.

Bernard B. Kerik ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

Department of Correction – City of New York (Rikers Island)

• • • – Averaged 133,000 annual admissions, with a daily population of 20 – 22,000 inmates
    • – Managed $900 Million Annual Budget From 1995 – 2000
    • – 93% Reduction in Inmate Violence (Slashing and Stabbings)
    • – 72% Reduction in Serious Use of Force Incidents
    • – 33% Reduction in Overtime Spending
    • – 31% Reduction in Staff Sick Abuse
    • – 48% Reduction in Assaults of Staff
    • – 164% Increase in Searches Conducted
    • – 50% Increase in Weapons Seized
    • – Reduced medical waiting times, from up to six hours, down to one hour.
    • – Reduced attorney/client waiting times, from up to four hours, to under 45 minutes.
    • – Established TEAMS, a performance measurement and accountability system, a finalist in Harvard University’s Innovations in American Government awards program
    • – Eliminated through compliance, close to 100 federal court ordered consent decrees Police Department – City of New York
    • – Managed a $3.2 Billion Dollar Budget, and a staff of 55,000 (41,000) uniformed personnel
    • – 4.3% Reduction in Murder (66.7% In Mayor Giuliani’s 8 Year Term)
    • – 12.2% Reduction in Major Felony Crimes (62.5% In Mayor Giuliani’s 8 Year Term)
    • – 74% Reduction in Felony Shootings
    • – 16% Reduction in Response Times (First Decrease in 10 Years)
    • – 11% Increase in Gun Seizures
    • – 13% Reduction in Officer Shootings
    • – Re-Organized the Gang Division
    • – Revised a Stop and Frisk Policy to Flag Civil Rights Abuses
    • – Re-Organized the Criminal Intelligence Division, to merge NYPD and all federal intelligence databases
    • – Commanded the NYPD response, rescue, and investigative operations during and in the aftermath of the attacks of 9/11
    • – Enhanced Community Relations and Officer Morale

Bernard B. Kerik AWARDS AND HONORS:

Police Department – City of New York (30 medals for excellent, meritorious and heroic service)

• • • • 1 Medal for Valor – For acts of outstanding personal bravery intelligently performed in the line of duty at imminent personal hazard to life under circumstances evincing a disregard of personal consequences.
    • • 1 Honorable Mention – For an act of extraordinary bravery intelligently performed in the line of duty at imminent and personal danger to life.
    • • 5 Commendations –For an act of grave personal danger in the performance of duty.
    • • 10 Meritorious Police Duty – For acts of intelligent and valuable police service demonstrating special faithfulness or perseverance, highly creditable acts of police service over a period of time.
    • • 13 Excellent Police Duty – For intelligent acts materially contributing to a valuable accomplishment, or the submission of a device or method adopted to increase efficiency in an administrative or tactical procedure.
    • • U.S. Presidential Letter of Commendation, (Heroism – President Ronald Reagan)
    • • Appointed Honorary Commander of the Most Excellent Royal Order of the British Empire (CBE), by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
    • • The Ellis Island Medal of Honor
    • • Appointed Knight Commander, Military Constintenian Order of St. George
    • • Golden Star Leadership Award, Los Angeles, California
    • • Special Achievement Award, Special Narcotics Prosecutor’s Office, City of New York
    • • Man of the Year Award, Honor Legion, Police Department – City of New York
    • • Man of the Year Award, Detective’s Endowment Association, Police Department – City of New York
    • • The Liberty Award, New York State Senate
    • • Brooklyn Law School, LELSA – “Man of the Year Award”
    • • DEA Administrator’s Award, U.S. Department of Justice, Drug Enforcement Administration
    • • Distinguished Person of the Year, NYC Correction Captains Association
    • • Distinguished Service Award, New York Shields
    • • Distinguished Service Award, New York City Retired Detective’s Association
    • • 2 Distinguished Service Awards, US Department of Homeland Security
    • • Dedication and Commitment Award, New York City Correction Officer’s Association
    • • NYC Correction Guardians Association, President’s Appreciation Award
    • • International Association of Chiefs of Police (member and former member of Terrorism Committee)
    • • Criminal Justice Advisory Board, St. John’s University (Former Member)
    • • Detective’s Endowment Association, NYPD (Member)
    • • Mayor’s Medal of Honor (Heroism – City of Paterson, New Jersey)
    • • Mayor’s Meritorious Commendation (Heroism – City of Passaic, New Jersey)
    • • Medal of Merit, New Jersey State Police Benevolent Association (PBA – Heroism)
    • • Medal of Valor, International Narcotics Enforcement Officers Association
    • • New Jersey State PBA Silver Card (Life Member)
    • • Honor Legion, Police Department – City of New York (Member)
    • • Honor Legion, State of New Jersey (Member)
    • • National Council of Columbia Societies in Civil Service, Honorary Member
    • • Narcotics Enforcement Officers Association of New York (Former Member and 2nd Vice President)
    • • International Narcotic Enforcement Officers Association (Member)
    • • Vice Chairman, Boy Scouts’ Greater New York Council Law Enforcement Exploring Division
    • • Michael John Buczek Foundation (Former Chair – Awards Committee)
    • • Honorary Doctorate, Michigan State University
    • • Honorary Doctorate, New York Institute of Technology
    • • Honorary Doctorate, Manhattanville College
    • • Honorary Doctorate, College of New Rochelle
    • • Honorary Doctorate, Iona College
    • • President’s Medal, Hunter College
    • • A 7th Degree Master Instructor in the Martial Arts, Korean and Japanese Karate
    • • The Centurion Black Belt Hall of Fame
    • • The Joe Lewis Eternal Warrior Award
    • • World Tae Kwon Do Hall of Fame