Eye on 2010

Boykin hasn't said much publicly about a campaign because he doesn't want to "get ahead" of Davis, who he says has been "like a father" to him. But Boykin also is aware there are less than seven months remaining until the Feb. 2, 2010, primary election, the nation's earliest.

"We've sort of been talking beneath the radar to a number of people, in preparation just in case he makes the announcement, given the fact that Illinois has the first primary in the nation on February 2nd," Boykin said.

An early start is essential for Boykin, who noted he doesn't have the name identification of some Chicago elected officials who might also seek the seat. But he does expect to secure the support of Davis and some "business entities that we were able to work with and help over the years."

"We have to gear up pretty quickly and just make our case to the people, and that's what we would do," Boykin said.

Boykin began working for Davis in 1997, the congressman's first year in office, as his legislative director. He became chief of staff about seven months later and served as Davis' top aide for nine years, leaving in late 2006 to join the firm Barnes & Thornburg.

Boykin hopes his campaign will help "change the perception of lobbying and lobbyists." Boykin, who lobbies mainly in Washington, D.C., and whose clients include municipalities, counties and nonprofit organizations, said that "people have this image of lobbyists as like [Jack] Abramoff," the convicted former lobbyist, but that the reality is that there are "not many in the field who are ripping clients off."

Boykin expects that political opponents will criticize his lobbying background. "We hope to change that perception that talk about the good things that we've been able to accomplish on behalf of the people," Boykin said. As examples, he pointed to his efforts to help secure a new train station for the Chicago suburb of Bellwood and $45 million for the village of University Park, located south of Chicago, to build a new interchange off Interstate 57.