Nearly two years ago, Daniel Biss suffered what most people would consider heartbreaking defeat to incumbent Elizabeth Coulson in the race for the 17^th District Illinois House of Representatives seat: He was just shy of receiving 49 percent of the vote while his opponent took in the rest. 

But rather than being dispirited by the loss, Biss and his campaign staff were inspired to make another bid for the seat, this time against Wilmette resident and Republican candidate Hamilton Chang.

On the afternoon of July 25, the tall Biss (who resembles a young John Kerry) spoke to a group of about 40 voters at the home of Skokie Voice member Lisa Lipin on the 4300 block of Davis Street.

"I think we need to work much harder to encourage innovation and entrepreneurship in Illinois," Biss said. "As we talk about moving to a clean-energy economy, I think there is no reason why Illinois shouldn't be the Silicon Valley of [this] century."

The candidate, a former assistant math professor at the University of Chicago, outlined his plans to rid Illinois government of waste and corruption. He also wants to create job opportunities for Illinois residents by incentivizing businesses that engage in "robust hiring practices" as well as those that lead the way in the development and implementation of renewable sources of energy.

Joel Farber, a longtime Skokie resident, said he thinks Biss "has all of the characteristics that [he] looks for in someone running for office."

"Biss is committed to being an independent Democrat," Farber said. "The Illinois legislature is in dire need of one at the present."

Yet his opponent's campaign manager, Joe Woodward, feels that Biss isn't cut out of the legislature.

"Newly-elected legislators need to work hard to reverse the fiscal irresponsibility within Illinois government by eliminating wasteful spending and holding the line on state income tax," Woodward said.

If elected, Chang would be the first Asian-American ever elected to the Illinois General Assembly, according to Woodward.