(Promoted, as we do that to candidate diaries here. - promoted by BobB)
My name is Robin Kelly, and I am running to be Illinois’ next State Treasurer.
I’m writing today because, in the true spirit of this community, I want to engage in a thoughtful dialogue about the challenges facing Illinois. I’m looking forward to hearing your ideas, and I look forward to sharing my ideas and plans for the Treasurer’s Office.
As some of you may know, I am currently the Chief of Staff to State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias. But, before I began working in the Treasurer’s Office I was a state legislator and a community leader.
The economic stimulus bill generated a lot of talk about taxes. As we work our way out of this economic mess, we need innovative, effective solutions to taxes - not just short term band-aids. We need to move in a new direction. Here's a big idea: let's phase in a carbon tax, to protect our planet and reward productive investments.
How does this work? Raise the cost of carbon-based fuels through some form of federal tax on carbon emissions; these new revenues should be fully or partially offset by cuts in the income, payroll, or corporate income taxes.
In other words, let's tax the things we don't want and use the revenues to reduce taxes and costs on inventors, investors and innovative new businesses in the development of alternative energy sources. By permanently cutting taxes on workers and investors, we can help the economy recover through growth and higher employment- and have a cleaner, greener environment.
(As per our policy on candidate diaries. - promoted by wegerje)
Hi! I'm Charlie Wheelan and I am running to fill Rahm Emanuel's vacant congressional seat in the Illinois' 5th Congressional District. I am an expert in economics and a public policy lecturer at the University of Chicago. I'm also the author of Naked Economics, a lay-persons guide to economics!
Last month, my "Underwater" TV ad caught the nation's eye. Today, I'm launching my second TV ad, "Upside Down."
This time, instead of being underwater, I'm dangling from my feet, literally UPSIDE DOWN! Why? Because I wanted to show that I understand how many people's efforts to pay their mortgage, afford health care and college tuition costs have gone "bottom-up".
First of all, I want to congratulate John Laesch, Jotham Stein, Joe Serra and their campaign staffs and supporters for running a great campaign. John, Jotham, Joe and I were part of an historic Democratic turnout for a primary, and that should give all of us; candidates, staff, volunteers and voters and enormous feeling of pride and hope.
Now the primary is over, and I have been fortunate enough to come out ahead in the Special election voting by over 3000 votes. I know the vote count is small for the general, but we all should concentrate on what is before us over the next month.
(thanks from a candidate... - promoted by bored now)
I am so proud of our campaign for the 7th district State Senate. It was the right thing to do and it galvanized more friends and supporters than I could have ever imagined. All sorts of people who believe in the possibility of grassroots politics came together and said, "Go!"
Given the nature of my work, I've never meted much street-level visibility so this outpouring was a surprise. So, too, was Jeff Smith, my campaign adviser. He stood with me and because of his partnership I became a better candidate. Jeff is one of the smartest, funniest men I have ever known. He is gifted in ways that make me really glad I was not running against him.
(Because punks like us need to stick together. - promoted by Gary Kleppe)
Dear Friends -
We received a tremendous response again this morning from voters across the district. Our volunteers and I, as we have been for many weeks, were out early greeting commuters at Metra train stops as they headed into the city. I can't tell you how many people said, "You have my vote," or, better yet, "I early voted for you!"
I have a great feeling about tomorrow.
While we were working this weekend to get out the vote on Tuesday by running phonebanks and canvassing door to door, Dan Lipinski was trying desperately to make up for lost time by taking cheap shots at our campaign and our supporters, volunteers and staff.
(cross posted at DailyKos, MyDD, Booman Tribune and OpenLeft)
CHICAGO -- The Sierra Club of Illinois has endorsed political science professor and Democratic Metropolitan Water Reclamation District candidate Matthew Podgorski in the February 5th Democratic primary. As indicated by the Sierra Club, Podgorski stood out among eight candidates as someone who would be the best to protect the environment and enhance the quality of the Chicago River System. Podgorski has stood up to BP Amoco for their plans to increase dumping in Lake Michigan. Podgorski also supports disinfection of Cook County's waterways to protect against health risks and provide for safe recreational use.
My name is Matthew Podgorski and I am running for the MWRD this year. I am running because I truly do want to do my part to help the environment and I think I have some pretty solid ideas on how to change the MWRD's role.
But I know in the bottom of my heart, the real reason I am running for public office in the first place is because of my hatred of wasteful, corrupt, arrogant bureaucracy.
I have been studying politics and public administration my whole life. In fact, I currently serve as adjunct professor of public administration at NEIU. When I see how a private company, like my company -- Kraft Foods, operates and treats its customers, I can't help but become angry at the way the government operates and treats its customers.
I'll try to post myself as well, later. - promoted by BobB)
I'm happy to take my turn, and I applaud Suzanne's desire to "facilitate an open conversation about issues that are important to the 7th district residents." In that spirit, I would like to introduce myself as a candidate for the race. I've had more than one friend ask "Why would you want to do this?" with disbelief, citing the ugliness of politics, so it's a question I'm becoming quite comforatable with.
As I was collecting signatures for my petitions I became even more convinced of my answer -- because I care about the people and the future of this district. I was energized, excited, and humbled by the people I met and the exhilaration of mobilizing 60 friends, family members and neighbors and working 12 hour days.
As many Prairie State Blue readers know, Senator Carol Ronen announced last week that she was resigning. There are questions about the timing of this announcement, whether others have benefited from advance knowledge of the Senator's plan, and what the near-term career plans are for Senator Ronen.
These questions are, on their face and within the context of the 48th Ward's culture of appointment, worthy of our attention and our concern. However, at least for now, I'd like to leave these questions for others to examine and answer.
My plan in the future is to post on this site and facilitate an open conversation about issues that are important to 7th district residents.
(Promoted because she's just been endorsed by NDFA and the Trib. - promoted by BobB)
Hi, my name is Mariyana Spyropoulos. I am a candidate for Commissioner of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District and friends of mine have suggested that I post here to introduce myself to the progressive movement in the state.
I have been involved in various campaigns both as a volunteer and with financial assistance. I have been part of Alexi Giannoulias's State Treasurer's campaign and both John Kerry and Barak Obama's campaigns.
As I have watched the direction our country has been heading in over the past six years, I gradually came to feel that I needed to get more involved and help change how our government actually interacts with us. In addition, I have witnessed the depletion of our natural resources, and some corporation's willingness to put their profits ahead of our area's resident's health and well being. BP and US Steel dumping into Lake Michigan and the fact that our Lake will be at an all time low level in December has given rise to my concern for the state of our most important resource in Illinos, Lake Michigan.
(Thanks Mark. We look forward to more reports from your campaign to complement our reports on your campaign. - promoted by wegerje)
This has been cross-posted, but I want you all to see it here. PSB has been a tremendous supporter of my growing campaign and I'll be updating all you readers regularly ...
It's been quite a week for our campaign here in IL-03.
The coverage we've received on DailyKos, FireDogLake, DownWithTyranny, Open Left, ArchPundit, The Booman Tribune and other sites has been tremendous. I want to thank you, the authors and readers, for your time and effort. That kind of writing has awakened the Netroots and it's rallying people from across the country to our campaign.
For all of us, it's inspiring to see bloggers hitting their stride five months before the Feb. 5 primary in Illinois and one of my goals is to keep you all engaged as we move forward.
Some of you have heard a lot from us this week and you should expect to hear more because this is a crucial campaign.
It's also been quite a week for my opponent, Congressman Dan Lipinski, and not in a good way.
On Monday and Tuesday, just as the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee announced the start of a public information campaign to counter Republican propaganda such as the Freedom's Watch TV $1 million Chicagoland ad campaign, Congressman Dan Lipinski was sitting alongside targeted Republican Mark Kirk, IL-10, parroting Republican talking points, looking to the 10-month-old Iraq Study Group Report (ISG) for solutions to the current crisis in Iraq.
What does that say to voters when real Democratic leaders are on the Hill asking tough questions of our military and diplomatic leaders and Dan Lipinski is on the air providing political cover for the Republicans?
