News-Info-Alerts

Re: Ex-POW Runs for Senate

From: POW-MIA InterNetwork

Date: September 05, 2003

"September 5, 2003

General uses lofty method to declare bid for senate

Mike Frey , The Daily Journal, Journal Metro editor

John Borling brings wealth to his bid to become a U.S. senator, but his personal fortune relates more to experience than dollars and cents.

Borling, a retired Air Force Major General, has a record of public service that can't be matched among the crowded field of Republicans vying for the Illinois senate seat being vacated by Peter Fitzgerald.

The general used a manner befitting his background to announce his campaign Wednesday. He personally flew a small airplane around the state, making numerous stops before ending the tour with a 6:30 p.m. landing at the Greater Kankakee Airport.

It was a stop some advised him to avoid, but Borling ignored the advice.

"The media people said 'fly over Kankakee, it's not a major market,' '' Borling said. "But Kankakee has been good to me and I want to show the people proper respect.''

Borling, who was born in Chicago and raised on the city's south side, now lives in Rockford. But his roots here are firmly established. His family has vacationed along the Kankakee River since the turn of the 20th century, and he visited two years ago when the traveling Vietnam Veterans Memorial came to the Perry Farm.

His tour of duty in Vietnam was difficult, but ultimately rewarding. A fighter pilot, Borling was shot down by ground fire over North Vietnam. Seriously injured, he was captured while trying to evade and spent more than six years as a prisoner of war in the infamous "Hanoi Hilton.'' Fellow prisoners included U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., former U.S. Sen. Jeremiah Denton, R-Ala., and U.S. Rep. Sam Johnson, R-Texas. Borling consulted with McCain before announcing his run.

"Those of us who managed to get out with our honor and some semblance of physical well being have a greater appreciation of our democratic system,'' he said.

A Silver Star, Bronze Stars with V for Valor and two Purple Hearts were among the decorations Borling earned for his sacrifices. He remained in the Air Force after gaining freedom, and his military career spanned 37 years before he retired in 1996. He now works as chairman of an energy services company.

While in the Air Force, Borling commanded the famed "Hat in the Ring'' squadron, and was head of operations for the Strategic Air Command during the 1991 Persian Gulf War.

His service also included three different tours in Washington, where he worked at the White House, the Pentagon, the National War College and Capitol Hill.

While Borling has never held public office and only recently declared himself a Republican, he believes this background makes him an ideal candidate.

"Experience and tested leadership, everybody talks about it, but few have it,'' Borling said.

However, Borling does not consider himself a politician.

"Politicians think about the next election, and statesman think about the next generation,'' he said.

Borling has already adapted some characteristics that are atypical of politicians. He wrote his own press release that was handed out during the statewide tour, and he schedules his own appointments.

"I asked another candidate out to lunch and he said he had to check with his advisors,'' Borling said with a laugh.

Fitzgerald, a multimillionaire, spent a chunk of his fortune to get elected four years ago. James Oberweis, another Republican candidate, owns a dairy business, and also has a fortune at his disposal.

Borling, who believes a tax-and-spend philosophy is a recipe for disaster, also vows to bring fiscal restraint to his campaign. He plans to raise $1.3 million and believes that figure will be enough to win the March 16 primary.

"We have no fear we can compete on the budget we have established,'' Borling said.

Borling also has confidence he can claim victory in the November election, and plans to stress a national renewal process if he lands in Washington.

"We need to do a lot of tuck-pointing on the institutional pillars that support those (American) values and experiences,'' he said.

Borling has established a Web site, www.borlingforsenate.com.

©The Daily Journal, Kankakee, IL 6090"