Dave Westlake, of Watertown, has announced his candidacy for the United States Senate on the Republican ticket. Westlake will challenge three-term incumbent Sen. Russ Feingold in 2010.

"My family and I are excited about this campaign and the opportunity to potentially represent the good-hearted people of Wisconsin in Washington, D.C." Westlake said. "I believe that the reckless spending and big-government agenda of our current administration - particularly when it's unchecked by any party balance in Congress - is dangerous for us now and devastating for us in the long run. It directly impacts our homes and families, our jobs and some of the fundamental freedoms we're accustomed to - like choosing the types of cars we drive or partaking in the hobbies we enjoy."

Westlake is the owner of the business, High IQ, located in Watertown, which he started three years ago. High IQ sells high quality printer cartridges to businesses of all sizes all across the country. Its largest client is a nationwide technical school that has 30 different campuses. The company also works with over 30 school districts across the state.

Westlake said his experiences as a small business owner has also attributed to his interest in becoming a senator.

"I see the opportunities that were there for me when I started High IQ evaporate. The ability to grow High IQ and for others to start small businesses are threatened by larger government spending," Westlake said.

Westlake, son of David and Sybil Westlake, of Reeseville, grew up on a farm outside of Reeseville. He attended Lowell Elementary School and went to Dodgeland Middle School in Reeseville. He graduated from Madison Memorial High School. Westlake said he attended high school in Madison to continue his love of hockey and participate in an organized school hockey team. The family lived in Madison during the school year and spent weekends and summers at the farm outside of Reeseville.

"I love this area," Westlake said. "My family and I are all very close and we all live in the area. My wife and I and our three children have lived in Watertown for about five years. It has been a wonderful place for us."

After high school, Westlake attended the United States Military Academy at West Point and graduated in 1995. He served in the United States Army until he was medically discharged.

"The year before I was to start ranger school six soldiers died from hypothermia, so they took a closer look at everyone's medical records and determined I could not be on active duty," he said. "I was discharged for having asthma, as were several others. It was very disappointing to me because my goal was to become a career military officer. Becoming a senator is another way for me to fulfill my goal of serving my country."


In addition to his bachelor of science in environmental science from the United States Military Academy, Westlake also holds a master of business administration from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

"I realize that our current economy is challenging us all in a way that we haven't experienced in a long time. You and I are struggling each day to pay our bills and wondering if we'll ever see our retirement funds recover while the career politicians in Washington are insulated from the very things that threaten our existence. This campaign is about common-sense leadership - like researching low-cost, highly effective energy sources such as trash-to-energy technology - and preserving and protecting the American Dream," Westlake said.

Westlake said there are several other issues that are presenting themselves in this election cycle that show the incumbent U.S. senator has more in common with the ACLU and the "progressive" movement than with the citizens of Wisconsin.

"On a fundamental level, I believe that each individual makes better decisions for themselves and for their families than the government does. I believe in Wisconsinites, now I want to give Wisconsinites a reason to believe in themselves," he said.