Dan Proft

Illinois Republican Dan Proft wants a career change from consulting for and commenting about politicians to becoming one of them.

Proft on Tuesday announced his campaign for the Illinois governorship, augmenting a crowded Republican field that is vying for the office currently held by Democrat Pat Quinn and formerly held by disgraced Democrat Rod R. Blagojevich.  

“I am running for governor so that others like me, who might have lost faith in their party and their state, know that a choice exists and know that their fight has been joined,” Proft said in a campaign speech that was posted to his campaign Web site .