Ted Dabrowski, a gubernatorial candidate for Illinois, addressed the Polish American Chamber of Commerce Annual Christmas Party, emphasizing that his experience in Poland’s post-communist transformation informs his commitment to reducing government size and restoring power to the people.
“In 1998, I jumped at the chance to take part in Poland’s remarkable transformation from communist backwater to one of the most dynamic, rapidly-growing countries in the world,” said Dabrowski. “For nine years at Citibank Poland – Handlowy I found myself living and working feverishly alongside Poles who were determined to liberate the country’s people and its economy from government’s iron grip. As governor I pledge to do the same: shrink the size of government and return power to where it belongs: the people.”
The Polish American Chamber of Commerce Annual Christmas Party is an event that gathers business owners and professionals from Chicago’s significant Polish community. The Chamber, a not-for-profit business association based in Illinois, aims to foster its members’ commercial interests and strengthen U.S.–Poland economic ties, particularly in the Chicago area. According to Dabrowski, his years in Poland’s financial sector demonstrated that market liberalization and limited government intervention can stimulate growth. He pledged to implement similar reforms in Illinois if elected.
Poland is often highlighted as a successful example of post-communist economic reform. Following the fall of communism and subsequent market reforms, analyses by the World Bank and others indicate that Poland’s per-capita GDP increased by approximately four percent annually over an extended period. This growth enabled Poland to transition from middle-income to high-income status in less than two decades. The country achieved this through rapid liberalization, privatization, and integration into European markets, culminating in European Union membership which bolstered export-driven growth and improved living standards.
Foreign-owned banks significantly contributed to Poland’s shift towards a market economy. Citibank’s operations in Poland serve as a notable example; it opened during the early transition period and later merged with Bank Handlowy w Warszawie. This historic trade bank became part of Citigroup’s global network under the Citi Handlowy brand. Official histories describe Bank Handlowy as pivotal in international trade both before and after communism, with its role evolving alongside banking sector reforms that included liberalization, privatization, and strategic investment openings. Studies on Poland’s banking reform underscore how such institutions facilitated knowledge transfer, credit expansion, and private-sector growth during the nation’s economic transformation.
Dabrowski is a conservative policy analyst and Republican gubernatorial candidate who previously led Wirepoints, an Illinois-based research organization recognized for its detailed analysis of taxes, pensions, migration, and economic competitiveness. Before heading Wirepoints, he was vice president of policy at the Illinois Policy Institute and spent over ten years in international banking with Citibank in Mexico and Poland during their market transitions. His campaign advocates for revitalizing Illinois’ diverse Midwestern economy—anchored by Chicago along with major industrial, agricultural, and logistics hubs—by reducing taxes, limiting government influence, and empowering families, entrepreneurs, and local communities.
