John Tree became a military hero of sorts late last year, subduing an unruly passenger on United Flight 448. MSNBC’s Chris Matthews witnessed the incident and invited Tree on his program. He was slowly gaining notoriety as a candidate in Illinois’ 10th District, despite his late entry into the race in November--a family tragedy in August prevented him from entering the race when he wanted. Yet the “military man,” as he calls himself, has remained steadfast in his hope to represent the 10th District. Chicago Tonight spoke with Tree to learn more about him and his 10th District candidacy. And don’t forget to watch Tree alongside his three opponents for a special candidate forum on March 8, 2012, on Chicago Tonight at 7:00 pm. Excerpts:
1) What are the main issues in your district?
Jobs, by far. Jobs are the No. 1 issue. Job employment and job insecurity is the prevailing issue across the district. People are facing economic insecurity.
2) If you get to the general election, how do you think you’d match up against incumbent Robert Dold?
I think I would match up to the point of beating him, which I got into this race. I believe I match up the best with him from all the candidates in the Democratic field based on my years in the military and my business background. Also, my fortune 100 business experience and my experience in small business as well.
3) The Daily Herald reported that you have an inconsistent voting record, having only voted twice since registering with Lake County in 2006.
There have only been two general elections since I moved to Lake County. I voted in both. I voted in all the presidential elections since I turned 18. I’m 45 now. The article captured most of the right in being non-partisan in nature as a military officer, which is a strong military culture to be non-partisan. We have to be non-partisan because we serve any Commander in Chief, whether Republican or Democratic. I voted in all of them, and in Lake County in 2008 and 2010.
4) But you didn’t vote in the primaries?
That is correct. I have never voted in a primary before, specifically because that would be expressing a partisanship because you have to vote Democratic or Republican. Until I decided to run for Congress and declare myself as a Democrat, to express partisanship as a military officer is out there. Now everyone knows that. And I obviously am voting in the primaries next month.
5) Could that harm your status in the military, if they know your political party?
You know it could, so you have to just see. In general, there are more Republicans in the military than not. And it’s never been good military policy to have their senior officers talk politics with the military. And I am a senior officer, so before I was able to serve in a non-partisan way, everyone at the Pentagon, everybody there now knows I am a Democrat, so it affects the conversation. But it was a price worth paying. Running for Congress is a fight worth fighting because of the uncertainty of our county and the direction we’re headed in. So I basically could no longer sit on the sidelines and watch the Tea Party continue to shut government down.
6) You moved to the area not too long ago. Are you prepared to represent the district?
Oh yeah, I’ve been all across the 10th District, and have been very involved in the community. It’s extremely diverse, economically and racially. And I relate so well because it’s not just a high wealth, not just a Jewish district, or a white district or Hispanic district. It’s a very diverse district and I can relate to people in broad backgrounds. I lived internationally for nine years in my life—three years in France, Italy and Haiti. I speak French and Creole fluently. I worked in some of the biggest companies in the world, and in small startups. I’ve been able to see so many different things that it allows me to relate and understand people at different levels.
7) You were an officer serving at the Pentagon in the U.S. Air Force. And you’re still a colonel in the reserves. How does that contribute to your candidacy?
My 22 years in the Air Force have given me an incredibly strong background in foreign policy and national security. We need to reduce what we’re spending on the military, and as a colonel in the Air Force and a Democrat, I can ask them to take that money to invest it in education. I can make that call with credibility, compared to other Democrats in the race with no military experience.
8) In November, you helped subdue an unruly passenger on United Flight 448. Tell me about that.
That was unexpected and very stressful, but I was on my way to the Pentagon to do some work there. I was flying out in the evening in uniform. Thirty minutes into the flight, a flight attendant asked me to join her in first class because I was in combat boots and camouflage to subdue a passenger who had been extremely aggressive. It was because I was in uniform that she singled me out. I stayed with her for the remainder of the flight, standing between her and the passenger. The police arrested him for public intoxication and interrupting with fight crew. As a military man, I’m trained, but when you’re up in the air and a guy is kicking and extremely incapacitated, it was very stressful for all. The flight attendant gave me a big hug and passengers gave me applause, but it was because of her confidence in the military.
9) Apparently MSNBC’s Chris Matthews was a witness?
As a matter of fact, he was in the second row. I talked to him afterward when we deplaned. He said to me, “Great job. I want to get you on the show and help you out because that was impressive.”
10) Have you been on?
No, it has been a scheduling nightmare, but it was nice to meet him. I think at some point I will be on his show.
11) What experience do you have other than your Air Force experience that makes you qualified?
My business experience is a full career in and of itself. I have two careers wrapped into one life. I worked at Procter & Gamble, and Kellogg in Michigan. And I also worked at Keebler. I was the brand manager of Rice Krispies treats for the whole nation. I managed many and interfaced with thousands. I’ve been the president of a small granola company, where I was worrying about making payroll, providing benefits and cash flow for a small company. It’s a different set of experiences from a Fortune 100 company. I’ve seen the economy from many different angles.
12) How are your fundraising efforts going? The latest report based on federal records shows you in a distant third?
That’s right. I raised $101,000 in the fourth quarter. The other two main guys, Schneider and Ilya, raised more. The fact is that I got into the race in mid-November, which left me six weeks as opposed to three full months. In half the time, I raised $101,000. And those six weeks are tough with Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas and New Year’s. We got tremendous enthusiasm from local donors as well as national donors. People are excited because of my viability and beating Bob Dold. There’s no prize only to lose against Bob Dold in the fall.
13) Why did you enter late?
That’s the tragic part of the story. I had wanted to get in last summer, but on August 15th, my eldest daughter died of a drug overdose of prescription anti-anxiety pills mixed with alcohol. That’s what the toxicology report showed. And it took the life out of me. We spent the rest of the fall grieving and seeking out help to try to feel OK. It was devastating to the other children in our house, and my wife was pregnant. We have a baby now. It’s been a year of tremendous loss for our family. It’s unfathomable. And part of being a congressman would be to spread awareness about this.
14) What are three words you would use to describe yourself?
Leadership, integrity, and authentic.
This interview has been condensed and edited.
