Kevin Burns bows out of U.S. House race

GENEVA -- In the beginning, Geneva Mayor Kevin Burns considered himself the best candidate to replace Rep. Dennis Hastert.

Even after announcing plans to "suspend" his campaign Thursday, Burns did not waver from that opinion.

"I still feel I'm the best candidate," Burns said.

Citing "cold, hard analysis" of his Republican bid for Congress, Burns pulled out of the 14th Congressional District race Thursday for a combination of reasons.

Those included limited resources -- the campaign raised approximately $60,000 according to finance reports -- but not because of anything Hastert said or did, Burns said.

"It's not just the endorsement," he said, referring to Hastert's announcement of support for dairy owner Jim Oberweis in the 14th District race. "I'm certainly not going go into personal debt for a campaign."

In a letter to Burns, Hastert said he was "impressed by the principled and positive manner" in which Burns conducted his campaign.

"I'm sure that at some point in the future you will have the opportunity to share your talents by representing even more of us," Hastert wrote.

"Humbled" by his friendship with Hastert, Burns said the former House speaker supported his candidacy in that "he encourages all good people to get involved in public service."

Burns entered the race the same August weekend Hastert revealed he would not seek another term as the area's representative in Washington. In the first two days, the Burns campaign bus hit 11 towns in eight counties across the vast district.

"The campaign started with extreme confidence," Burns said. "It's been a speeding train ever since. And now it's come to a screeching halt."

Using words like educational, eye-opening and humbling, Burns offered no regrets for a campaign approach that didn't shy away from engaging his opponents.

"I wanted the campaign to reflect my personality. I tried my damndest to stay above the fray," he said, adding he respects Oberweis and state Sen. Chris Lauzen, R-Aurora, the other Republican candidates in the primary race.

Noting a friendship between their families, Lauzen praised Burns' "charm and skill" and called him a good candidate. Lauzen said he would make "a diligent appeal" to the people of the Tri-Cities, hoping to attract Burns supporters.

As word of Burns' decision began to circulate, the mayor reported dozens of phone calls from disappointed supporters.

"That in itself is flattering," he acknowledged.

Burns then brought up his campaign slogan, "A new beginning."

"Today is, in essence, another new beginning."