Why I am Running
For years, I have listened to candidates and politicians repeat the same message and political jargon; "support small businesses, invigorate the middle class, and create jobs." Yet, when they get into office, it's more of the same; small businesses get ignored, the middle class gets taxed, and the wealthy prosper. I am not going to be that candidate. I will not regurgitate the same lines as every politician and offer no solutions to fix the problems our state faces. On the contrary, if I am speaking about a particular issue I will propose a feasible solution.
I don’t come from a rich family or have roots ingrained in politics. From my first job at 15, I knew what it meant to work for your money and how hard people work to keep theirs. I am running for office to represent those people. To give the middle class a seat at the table. Because like most people living in this state, I am tired of a legislature no longer working for the people.
I don’t come from a rich family or have roots ingrained in politics. From my first job at 15, I knew what it meant to work for your money and how hard people work to keep theirs. I am running for office to represent those people. To give the middle class a seat at the table. Because like most people living in this state, I am tired of a legislature no longer working for the people.
Quick Bio
Daniel grew up in Blue Island, spending summers playing his favorite sport, baseball. In 1996 his family moved to Homer Glen and Daniel has lived in the area ever since. From a young age, Daniel showed an interest in finance, specifically securities markets. He was probably the only one in grade school watching stock market news programs and listening to finance shows on AM radio. Those early years learning about how money functions formed the foundation of fiscal responsibility that continues to guide him as he looks to serve Illinois as State Representative of the 37th District.
Daniel comes from a middle-class Italian family that instilled in him strong moral principles and work ethic. Early in his education, Daniel began following politics more closely. He studied international relations, political theory, and economic policy. He was the first in his family to attend college and graduated from Lewis University in 2008 with a bachelor’s degree in political science. As most know, 2008 was just the start of the financial crisis that ripped through global markets. Seeing the devastation of reckless investment practices Daniel began studying the causes, effects, and institutional failures that lead to the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. Understanding the financial crisis is important because the events can guide how states and municipalities can better prepare for economic downturns and evaluate the risk of costly projects according to market conditions.
After graduating from Lewis University, Daniel spent time working in a variety of different fields, such as sales, hotel administration, seal coating, and warehouse administration; before beginning his career in the banking industry. Daniel spent seven years with JPMorgan and its subsidiaries. He started as a personal banker before working his way up through the company to achieve his goal of becoming an analyst within JPMorgan’s investment bank. Understanding the need for additional education in order to remain competitive Daniel began graduate studies. He worked full time while in graduate school, commuting after work from Chicago to Romeoville where he earned his MBA from Lewis University.
Today, Daniel works as a financial analyst at the Argonne National Laboratory helping the lab solve complex financial challenges and ensuring scientists have the resources necessary to keep creating marvelous inventions that will serve our country and humanity.