College of DuPage faculty member seeking Democratic nomination for 6th Congressional District

College of DuPage adjunct faculty member Suzyn Price has announced she will seek the Democratic nomination for Illinois' 6th Congressional District in the March 2018 primary election for the chance to face U.S. Rep. Peter Roskam, R-Wheaton, in the November 2018 general election.

“Washington politicians like Peter Roskam are ignoring their constituents and forging ahead with a radical Trump agenda," Price said in her campaign announcement. "We need leaders in Washington that have a track record of listening to people, fighting for middle class families, and forging solutions."

Price, 50, is a former Naperville Community Unit School District 203 Board of Education member. She has lived in Naperville since 1996 with her husband, Derke Price.

Roskam was first elected to Congress in 2006. College of Lake County trustee Amanda Howland, who lost to Roskam in the November 2016 general election, has filed her intent with the Federal Election Commission to run in the 2018 Democratic primary. Lake Zurich resident Geoffrey Petzel also plans to run in the primary, along with Austin Songer of Chicago.

Roskam said he welcomed those seeking to run against him.

"Democracy is a great process," he said. "Everyone is welcome to run for office and express themselves, and that is one of the great strengths of our country."

Roskam has been criticized for not participating in town hall meetings with his constituents. He declined an invitation by seven League of Women Voters groups to be part of a constituents meeting Feb. 23 and did not attend a league candidate forum in fall 2016.

He defended his actions.

"I do dozens of round tables and discussions throughout the constituency and have made that a real priority," Roskam said. "My experience is that's a format that allows people to talk to one another and not shout past one another. My observation is that the large town hall meetings, 1,000 people in a high school gym, tend to be events where people come in angry and they leave angrier, and I don't think that's what we really need in our public life today. We need solutions, and that's how I've chosen to communicate."