[ViewPoint] Election 2010: Dold family remains true to its values

Although born and raised in our nation’s heartland, Bob Dold, president of Rose Pest Solutions, is at home in Washington, D.C. Having worked for Vice President Dan Quayle and as an investigative counsel for the House Government Reform and Oversight Committee, Dold understands that if you want to get something done — if you really want to make a difference in a large number of people’s lives — for good or ill, all roads lead to our nation’s capital.

Bright, politically savvy and naturally gregarious, it’s easy to see why this former high school quarterback and graduate of Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management would catch the attention of the Republican Party as it considered candidates for Illinois’ hotly contested 10th Congressional District. A fiscal conservative and social moderate, Dold had never run for public office, yet from the beginning his candidacy resonated with voters on Chicago’s north shore. Emboldened by his primary victory and supported by his immediate family, as well as an extended "family" of PMPs throughout the United States, Dold proved to be a formidable foe for Dan Seals, the well-financed Democratic candidate who had run unsuccessfully for Congress twice before.

The fact that a political novice would decide to run for Congress against an opponent with far greater name recognition and 15 months later find himself on his way to Washington, D.C. is truly remarkable. It is even more remarkable when one considers the manner in which Dold conducted his campaign. Early during his candidacy, I remember asking Bob’s mother, former NPMA President Judy Dold, if she was concerned that her son — given the rough and tumble nature of national politics — would need to alter his values in order to win. After all, there’s a reason mudslinging and negative campaign ads dominate the airwaves during every election cycle. They work. She assured me Bob — and the entire Dold family for that matter — would remain true to their values and focus on issues of importance to the electorate rather than rely on personal attacks or the politics of fear to prevail.

That’s all well and good, I thought, until the campaign approaches its final weeks when the debate inevitably becomes even more heated and the big money pours in for those races considered "toss-ups." Although I don’t live in Illinois’ 10th Congressional DIstrict, like many of you I monitored the campaign from afar throughout the summer and fall, taking particular note of the radio and TV ads periodically released by the Dold campaign. And, without exception, Bob Dold did indeed remain true to his values. From his frequently invoked "Let’s Get Back to Work" tagline to his memorable "Dold With a D, Not an E" network television ad featuring a catchy jingle written and performed by a high school classmate, Dold’s message remained largely positive, playing up his small business roots and promoting his economic vision for the district. "Dold’s bouncy ad is radically different from Seals’ network debut, an attack piece that hammered Dold for his stances on some issues and support he received during the primary from an anti-abortion group," wrote the Daily Herald, suburban Chicago’s daily newspaper. Even the late-breaking "Seals for Dold" ad — which featured a tongue-in-cheek interview with a live seal — while more aggressive than previous ads, was not mean spirited.

That, in the end, is what is most remarkable about Bob Dold’s campaign. He remained true to his values, values instilled in him by his parents, Bob and Judy Dold, despite the rigors of running for one of the highest offices in the land. That’s because the Dold family understands you can win an election, but still lose your soul if you’re not careful. It’s a lesson all of our political leaders — regardless of party affiliation — can take away from this race, and it’s why Bob Dold’s victory should be celebrated even if you don’t share his politics. Isn’t it appropriate, therefore, that as Dold accepted the applause of his supporters shortly before midnight on election night, victory now secure despite the inevitable calls to go negative late in the race, who should be asleep in the room oblivious to all the excitement but his youngest daughter "Honor." For that’s what Bob Dold did. He honored his family’s name — and all those who cast their ballot on his behalf — by focusing on the issues rather than engaging in the politics of personal destruction.

The author is publisher of PCT magazine. He can be reached at dmoreland@giemedia.com.