Sara Feigenholtz is a candidate for Illnois’ 5^th Congressional seat in Northwest Chicago; the seat recently vacated by President Obama’s Chief of Staff, Rahm Emanuel.  The primary election is March 3, 2009 and the general election is on April 7, 2009.  Sara took a few moments off from the campaign trail to sit down with ElectWomen.com.

In just a few short months since she got into the race to replace Congressman Rahm Emanuel, Sara Feigenholtz has put together a top-notch campaign staff, secured the services of some of the best political consultants in the country and raised over half a million dolloars.  Sara is up against 12 candidates in the March 3^rd Democratic primary election.  Feigenholtz says she’s up to the challenge:

 “With a very crowded field and a short window of time, it’s a challenge,” said Feigenholtz who was recently elected to her eighth term in the Illinois House of Representatives. 

Sara say her fight to make health care a basic right was inspired by her physician mother, Dr. Florence Buky, an immigrant from Eastern Europe, who was widowed when Sara was a young child. 

“My mother was a kind of a pioneer, one of 14 women who entered her medical school class in 1932, but only two women finished.  She worked night and day to provide health care to people in rural communities and in the city, even treating people in our kitchen,” said Feigenholtz. 

Throughout her career in public policy and now as an elected official, Sara never forgot what her mother stood for. 

“Decent health care is the right of every American and I will continue the fight against insurance companies and special interest groups who want to deny basic health care services to families and children.”

But first she must be elected on March 3^rd.  Even in the dead of winter, Sara has been meeting and talking with voters, often early in the morning chatting with people at bus stops.  She is a tireless campaigner who has been going door-to-door and making phone calls non-stop.

 “I want to hear what issues are important to people, and without a doubt people are worried about jobs, the economy and losing their health care,” said Sara.

If elected, Sara will join a very small group of women in the halls of Congress.  Just 17% of the over 500 Representatives and Senators are women.  Sara believes “women possess a fabulous set of skills unique to gender; we are natural problem solvers.  Women are very focused on getting the job done and with strong mentors and resources, we can indeed elect more women.”

When asked about the total campaign experience and what advice she has for women, Sara offered “it is an invigorating experience, running for congress, and I encourage women to get involved, to use our voices so we can steer the agenda in a positive direction for families and women.”

For more about Sara Feigenholtz visit, http://www.saraforcongress.com

Watch Sara’s Commercial:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qswlhCDzKCE&feature=channel_page