Normally, we obviously wouldn't care about some stupid state race but this election season, one wanna-be House representative in Illinois is trying to lay the smack down on his funeral director opponent in the 46th District GOP primary using his accounting education and the CPA exam as his weapon.
Daniel J. Kordik is a 52-year-old lawyer out of Villa Park, Illinois and got his bachelor's in accounting from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, which he followed up with a law degree from University of Illinois College of Law in 1984. He's battling a 29-year-old funeral director named John “Chip” Humes with tons of endorsements – and a measly two-year mortuary science degree from the Worsham College of Mortuary Sciences.
Understandably, Kordik is questioning whether some guy who plays with dead bodies all day can possibly offer the same level of intellect and expertise to Illinois state government that he can. Nevermind that Kordik isn't nearly as popular as Humes, he's got the CPA exam on his side!
“I think I have the community service experience and the education to carefully analyze all expenditures to help get at the financial situation that we unfortunately have in the state,” said Kordik, who was on the Villa Park-Lombard Elementary District 45 board from 1991 to 1994.
While on the school board, Kordik said he voted to end free bus service for some students, diverting the money to education needs, which he said demonstrates his philosophy of emphasizing the fundamentals.
“It was not a popular decision, but it freed up more money for direct education in the classroom,” he said.
Kordik also questioned whether Humes’ post-secondary education would sufficiently prepare him for the complicated issues facing a legislator. Kordik has a bachelor’s degree in accountancy from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a law degree from the University of Illinois College of Law in 1984. He passed the CPA exam as well.
Humes isn't having it, telling the Sun-Times that he feels he's perfect for the position due in part to his experience as a business owner. Dare we say Humes is implying that two degrees from renowned educational institutions are irrelevant?
Kordik may not be as popular as the young funeral director but he sure isn't going down without a fight.
Good luck, buddy!
