Republican Congressional candidate Jim Oberweis visited the NIU Campus Wednesday night.

Oberweis, who previously ran for the GOP nomination in the 2002 and 2004 Senate elections and has declared his candidacy for the 14th congressional district seat, previously held by Dennis Hastert.

Oberweis said he chose the NIU College Republicans because they have always been a very active republican group.

“I’m hoping that after they hear some of the things we are concerned about and care about and will work for, we will get some folks involved who will help us with our campaigns,” said Oberweis.

Oberweis said his experience as an entrepreneur and his business management experience turning his family dairy business into a successful corporation would help him in the position as a congressman.

He also said his humble beginnings as a farmer’s son, and the fact that at one point in his life he his net worth dropped to zero would help him recognize the needs of the middle class despite his wealth.

Oberweis said he had a better understanding of agriculture than any other candidate “because of not only my involvement as chairman of Oberweis Dairy, but also as part owner of my mothers farm in Newman, Ill. I have an understanding of the corn and soybean side of the agriculture business as well.”

Kevin Chambliss, President of the NIU College Democrats, was in attendance of Oberweis’s visit.

“I wanted to start the year off with the first political meeting of the year being a bi-partisan meeting,” said Chambliss.

Oberweis previously garnered attention in 2002 due to his controversial campaign advertisements on illegal immigration. The campaign included ads that cited a 2002 Washington Times article stating 10,000 illegal immigrants crossed American borders every day.

Mike Milner, sophomore pre-law major and legal immigrant from Canada asked Oberweis what would be the first thing he would do about illegal immigration.

“I will enforce our laws, especially against companies that are taking advantage of illegal immigrants,” said Oberweis. The candidate sought to penalize companies which used illegal immigrants as ‘low cost labor.’

Oberweis said he wants to work with Mexican leaders to open their economy and end corruption economically benefiting the country resulting in a true middle class.