Could someone tell me about Jack Ryan?

[coloradodem2005]

I have been getting so much info today about him. I know who his wife is and I know he is running for Illinois senator and I know he is in deep shit with a scandal. I also know that he has the same name as the protagonist in Tom Clancy stories. But I am curious, was he a congressman or any other political office before this?

[flamingyouth]

1. Thank you

That's all I heard too and can't get any more info. Help the lonely woman out here, please :D

On edit: boring-ass story from the Trib:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-040621ryan,1,2197053.story?coll=chi-news-hed

[TSIAS]

2. He'd never run for office before

He was an investment banker before winning the GOP nomination.

[salin]

3. Visit his website

particularly... this item: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x1833308 LOLOL!

on edit... OOPS I stand corrected ... too many elected Ryans in Illinois (who are gop and get embroiled in scandals) to keep track...

(earlier I incorrectly wrote:) He was previously elected, statewide (Sec of State??).

(back to being correct...) He shares the name with another controversial statewide GOPer... former Gov Ryan - best known among DUers for his stand on the death penalty (when it was found that a substantial proportion of those serving on death row were later exonerated, he placed a moratorium on carrying out the penalty... and shortly before his term was up commuted the death penalty for those prisoners. But, he was also involved, I believe, with a big, messy Driver/Moter/Vehicle/Bureau type scandal involving payoffs to get commercial licences... and somewhere donations to the party... was woven into the story.

This current Ryan, I believe, has foolishly chosen the family values mantle underwhich to campaign - making his whole predicament that much more deliciously funny.

[Erika]

4. The Guy's Kinky

And it is FUNNY!

[tcfrogs]

5. Here's some detail

He's a pretty boy who made a ton of money as an investment banker. Quit his job to become a school teacher in the inner city of Chicago.

That was his hook, and that I believe got him the R-nomination.

As mentioned in another post here, the Ryan name is mud here in Illinois. Even though, none of the Ryans are related.

George Ryan (former Gov., license for bribes scandal, among others) goes on trial next year. Jim Ryan ran for Gov. against Blago & lost.