Issue 23 IDCCA NEWSLETTER December 2017 IDCCA December 2017 Newsletter

Issue #23

NEWS FROM AROUND THE ASSOCIATION IN THIS ISSUE

President’s Message Presidents Message —Pg. 1 The Power of Facebook—Pg. 2 By: Doug House, President IDCCA How to Run For Office—Pg. 3 Chairman, Rock Island County Democratic Party The Candidates for Attorney General— Pg. 4—9

There is a lot to be excited about! the forefront within the IDCCA. • Aaron Goldstein—Pg. 4 Last month I called upon the I want to share with everyone all that has • —Pg. 4 County Chairs to form our first ever been going on and all that is coming up! • —Pg .5 IDCCA Sexual Harassment Task • Nancy Rotering—Pg.6 • This month we are excited to Force. This Task Force will be • —Pg. 7 announce that we have added two developing a long-term value • Renato Marriotti—Pg. 7 fantastic Staff members to our team statement for the IDCCA and a • Sharon Fairley—Pg. 8 to build out our IDCCA organization reporting process for individuals to for the 2018 election cycle. The first is come forward within the IDCCA. our new Assistant Executive Director, Mercer County Chair Jan Occhi and Jillian Hawkins. She is a veteran of Sangamon County Chair Doris several campaigns and, along with Turner are the Co-Chairs this Task her duties as Assistant Executive Force. State Senator Melinda Bush Director, will lead our women’s and State Representative Jehan outreach. The second individual is our Gordon – Booth will also serve on new Communications Director, Toby this Task Force. Precinct Committeeman Recruiting Trimmer. Toby is a media veteran We are recruiting Democratic Precinct • With limited time before the and will lead our message Committeeman statewide to assist with Democratic Party, the IDCCA is development as we proactively go on the grassroots effort to build the Demo- doing our part to raise Democrats cratic Party in . If you are interested the attack against the Republican awareness of our excellent field of in being a part of this grassroots effort, Party. Attorney General candidates. please email [email protected] with you • I am proud to say that we have begun name, address, phone, email, county and precinct. Your County Democratic Party [Continued on pg. 2] an effort to bring women’s issues to Chairman will contact you immediately!

The Illinois Democratic County Chairman’s Association is a state wide, grassroots Democratic political organization. It is made up of the elected Democratic County Chairman in all 102 counties in Illinois. The mission of the IDCCA is to help elect Democrats in each county while continuing to grow the Democratic Party in the State of Illinois. Rock Island County Chairman Doug House is the President of the Illinois Democratic County Chairman’s Association.

Paid for by the Illinois Democratic County Chairman’s Association. A copy of our report is (or will be) available for purchase from the Illinois State Board of Elections, Springfield IL

Printed in house. Labor Donated

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[Continued from pg. 1] The Power of Facebook think to yourself, "Would I be boosting this This month we have chosen to focus By Jessica Ellison Thomas, jthomas@ad- post if Facebook weren't encouraging me to the IDCCA Newsletter on each of the stl.com do it?" candidates. Please take some time Many of the questions candidates have about Instead of just boosting a post without to read their articles to get to know their advertising strategy revolve around rhyme or reason, you can add targeting to them. We have also begun the Facebook. There’s no doubt that the power of your boost or you can create an entirely process of planning two candidate Facebook is tremendous, but so are the separate targeted ad. Does this message forums for the Attorney General questions that come with best utilizing the all- resonate well with moms but may not go candidates. More information will be too-confusing platform. quite as far with other constituents in your released once these have been district? Then let's target the ad to the lower finalized. Where to start? Many people don't realize that hanging fruit and not waste our hard-raised there is a difference between a personal dollars on the people who don’t care about • We have begun planning our 2018 Facebook page and a business Facebook page. Precinct Committeeperson and this message. The main difference between As a political candidate, having a business a boosted post and an ad is that the post will Votebuilder trainings. Please contact Facebook page for your campaign will provide “live” on your business Facebook wall. If Executive Director Kovats if your you with many insights and capabilities that a someone scrolls down far enough, they will county is interested in co-hosting personal Facebook page does not. If you find that post on your page. In contrast, an one of these trainings. We have also haven't done it already, the first step to kicking ad does not appear on your wall, so the only begun planning our expanded 2018 off your political campaign on Facebook is to people who will see it are those who fit our Candidate Boot Camp that will set up a business Facebook page. (If you don't targeting criteria. Whether creating an ad or include advanced candidate training, know how to create a business page, you can boosting a post, it is always a good idea to first time candidate training and get started here: https://www.facebook.com/ add in targeting, even if the targeting is as County Chair training. pages/create/?ref_type=logout_gear.) basic as the geography you’re reaching. After all, you wouldn’t want to pay to reach • We have been actively working with There are basically two different ways that you people who can’t vote for you! and endorsing candidates across can use your page: organic posts and paid Illinois. We have recently endorsed advertising. Organic posts work in the same Now that your campaign page is set up and Secretary of State Jesse White, way that your personal Facebook page does -- we know the difference between organic Treasurer Mike Frerichs, Comptroller you post some text, maybe include a few posts and paid ads, it's time to determine Susana Mendoza, Brendan Kelly for pictures, and put the message out there for the strategy behind using your new Congress (IL 12th) and JB Priztker for the world to see. On your personal Facebook Facebook page. Best practice is to make a Governor. We will continue to roll page, your post will be displayed to some of calendar for your social media messaging. out our endorsements over the next your friends and followers. On a business Whether you plan out a month or a week couple of weeks. Facebook page, your post is displayed to 4-6% ahead, it is critical to always have some of the people who like and follow your page. If presence online. I recommend having at • We have expanded our outreach to it seems like you miss some of the things that least a loose plan for a month ahead of time many of our partners. Executive business pages you follow are posting, then so that you can clearly see what you talk Director Kovats and myself have you're right! And that's because Facebook about a lot and what you don’t talk about met with or talked to several groups wants businesses to pay to reach the audience enough. Just as in campaigning, it’s including the Illinois AFL-CIO, Illinois that Facebook is giving them. important to have a mix of messaging that Women’s Institute for Leadership, resonates with different voters. Seeing your Here's where paid advertising on Facebook Indivisible Illinois and many others. messaging over time will give you a good comes into play. Those of us who are already idea of the true presence of your campaign. 2018 is shaping up to be an exciting year utilizing a business Facebook page have no It’s very easy to get caught up in the details for Illinois Democrats. Stay tuned for doubt gotten prompts from Facebook to of your messaging, but don’t forget that the many more exciting developments for "Boost your post!" By boosting a post, big picture is even more important when it our Illinois Democratic County Chairs Facebook is allowing us to pay to reach an comes to campaign success. Association. audience greater than the typical 4-6% of our followers that we will be reaching organically. Doug House If you’re fascinated by the strategic use of If you just click on that "Boost" button without social media or if you just want to learn IDCCA President providing additional targeting, Facebook will more, here are some tips for political Rock Island County Democratic Party display your message to more of the audience candidates from Facebook itself: Chairman that already follows your page without making @ILDCCA @RICoDemocrats any distinction between the various people https://www.facebook.com/facebookmedia/ who follow you. This is a great tactic to use best-practices/tips-for-politicians-and- when your post is getting good engagement campaigns. on its own and the message doesn't need to be targeted to a specific audience and the Congratulations on getting petitions

message is worth your money to boost it. submitted, happy holidays, and best of luck Before you just click on that "Boost" button, on the campaign!

Www.facebook.com/ILDCCA

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How to Run for Office: Building The Devil’s Advocate: you want someone serving and not in the best interest of your Your Kitchen Cabinet who’s not afraid to argue against you and campaign. By Natasha Smith, @traindems challenge your point of view. Groupthink, the common frame of mind a group of individuals The Backdoor Politician: while having Why you need one and who should — and who work together can fall into, can be deadly someone with campaign experience in your should not — be included in your inner circle to campaigns. If you get stuck in the same kitchen cabinet can be incredibly helpful, mindset that goes unchecked by differing always pick your political operatives with care. Your kitchen cabinet is a strong asset to have opinions, your campaign can and will suffer. Unfortunately, due to the nature of politics, in a political campaign. Whether you’re you might encounter a political operative who running for Congress or your local school The Moral Supporter: campaigning can be will approach you under the false pretense of board, having people with different points of brutal. As the candidate, it’s easy to start helping your campaign and ultimately end up view giving you advice can be enormously feeling defeated when the going gets tough. harming your chances of winning. Not to say helpful. Every successful business has an That’s why it is crucial for your kitchen cabinet all politicians are inherently evil — that’s not at advisory board, and your campaign should be to have someone you can lean on and provide all the case. Just be dubious of politicians that no different. a positive outlook. This person can provide a approach you; if you have no history with that well-rounded view of the state of things and person, he or she might be trying to sabotage Typically, a kitchen cabinet is made up of look for the positives in the current situation. your campaign. Choose your advisors wisely. close family, trusted friends, and people whose opinions you highly value. Start off The One With No Campaign Experience: on The Dreamer: sometimes reaching for the with a list of people whom you think would the other side, people with absolutely no stars isn’t helpful. While this kind of person can give great advice. Trust us, once people hear experience in politics can provide surprising be helpful during an initial brainstorming you’re running for office they’ll be eager to input. These people will think outside of the session, you need people who can keep their give you their opinions. And they won’t box because they have no experience to draw feet planted firmly on the ground and help you necessarily have the best advice. You’ll want upon. They can provide surprising input by set attainable goals. It’s important to not aim to establish which people you’re going to thinking outside of the box and making too low, but aiming too high can lead to listen to before you even launch your connections that someone who’s spent years disappointment. Keep a well-rounded team campaign. and years working in politics might not make. that helps you set realistic goals. New, fresh ways of thinking should always be But who should be in that inner circle? Here’s welcome, and you can easily find this quality in That One Friend or Family Member: this a list to help you decide who should — and someone who was not worked on a campaign might apply to a lot of different of people should not — be in your kitchen cabinet. before. within your inner circle, but don’t let this stop you from recruiting people close to you. These To Have: To Avoid: people should have your best interests in The Realist: just as a campaign needs mind, which means giving you clear and The Monopolizer: some people believe they positivity, it needs a dose of reality. You need honest feedback when you need it. However, have the best ideas in the world, that their someone who will provide the most objective there might be some family members or knowledge is unparalleled by anyone else, and outlook on the state of your campaign and friends who are too scared to give you their that after they state their opinions, it’s not give you a realistic sense of the obstacles your brutally honest opinion because they don’t even worth debating because they’re campaign might be facing. He or she will help want to hurt your feelings. As considerate as undeniably right. These are the wrong kind of you set realistic, achievable goals and bolster they might be, this does not help your people for your campaign. These people will your campaign’s success. campaign and can hurt your chances of monopolize any conversation with their winning the election. The Seasoned Campaigner: someone with opinions and beat down discourse if they don’t previous experience in political campaigns agree with what the other person is saying. It’s important to remember that the people in can bring a lot to the table. This person will Avoid monopolizers. They establish and your kitchen cabinet should not be motivated likely have insights that many others will not, reinforce groupthink, which is can be deadly to by access to power, money, or influence and might even have valuable connections to your campaign. should you win your election. Those in your other political operatives that may be inner circle should be motivated by an The Collector: this person is on board just for extremely handy in a pinch. However, eagerness to help you succeed and enact the the story. There’s always risk of having campaigns have changed with evolving change that you want to see happen in your someone join your team just so that he or she technology, so be sure that your seasoned realm of politics. can brag about the experience to his or her campaigner has adapted with the times and friends. People like this might have some Remember, we’re always in your corner. We isn’t pressing you to use outdated methods decent input, but ultimately their goal is self- want your campaign to succeed and are here just because they were successful in the past. to help.

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The Candidates for Attorney bakery, where his union – the Teamsters – General made sure he was paid a living wage. He The following have been provided by the never earned more than about $19,000 a candidates for Attorney General/ year, but our family had access to decent ______healthcare, and my father’s pension made it possible for him to grow old in dignity.

While my father was working those long shifts, my mother was setting an extraordinary example of giving back to the community. She was a tireless volunteer – helping out with Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, Little League and at church events, and teaching my sisters and me a lifelong lesson: “If you have enough to eat, you have enough to share.” Jesse Ruiz My parents expected all of us to study as @JesseRuizEsq hard as we could (and then a little bit I became an attorney so I could use the law to harder.) Thanks to their support and their protect and defend others, and to be able to high expectations, I got a scholarship to Aaron Goldstein step in when people need a champion. Today, as study at the University of Illinois in Urbana- @AG_4_AG we face a Trump White House supported by Champaign, where I earned a degree in economics. As an attorney, Aaron is a dedicated right-wing zealots, the protections built into our legal system are more crucial than ever. community-builder and an avid defender for To pay my way through college, I worked a the rights the underrepresented and As your Attorney General, I will use all of the number of different jobs, including stints as marginalized. Previously, Aaron has worked powers of the law as a shield – and if necessary, a sales clerk, a machine operator, a meter for the Coalition for the Homeless, a sword – on behalf of everyone in Illinois. reader, and a handyman. In those jobs, I Legal Assistance Foundation, the Cook County worked side-by-side with people from all Public Defender’s Office and has worked as a Like so many men and women in Illinois (and different backgrounds– but they all shared solo practitioner. He has tried hundreds of across the country), I made the decision to run a common determination to move up the cases, several jury trials, and currently for elected office because I believe each one of ladder and create a better future for supervises 20 lawyers and staff. He has also us has a duty to step up and resist the current themselves and their families. I know how lectured on various areas of the law and was an Administration. hard those men and women worked for adjunct professor at DePaul College of Law as every dollar, and as Attorney General, I will For me, the tipping point came on June 16, 2015, well as North Park University. fight to protect them from unscrupulous when announced he was running corporations and consumer fraud. Aaron Goldstein is the Democratic for President. As you probably remember, he Committeeman of the 33rd Ward on Chicago’s launched his campaign by saying, “When After graduation, I spent a few years Northwest side. He was elected in 2016 Mexico sends its people, they're not sending working in the steel industry. Then I had the defeating long-time incumbent, Richard Mell. their best…. They're sending people that have good fortune of attending the University of lots of problems… They're bringing drugs. Chicago Law School, where I studied under As Committeeman, he formed 33rd Ward They're bringing crime. They're rapists.” the guidance of future Supreme Court Democrats, an independent political Justice and future President organization. This last year, Aaron has hosted When I heard those words, I got angry. He was . all the gubernatorial candidates and formed a talking about my parents, and about the judicial evaluation committee that evaluated millions of hard-working, tax-paying, law- I first met Barack Obama when he was judicial candidates in the 6th and 10th judicial abiding Mexican immigrants just like them who recruiting students for his seminar class on sub-circuits of Cook County. came to this country to build new lives for racism and the law. As a teacher, Obama themselves and their families. I feel that I would always encouraged students to challenge His priorities as a leader include transparency, dishonor my parents if I failed to do everything I everything, to stand up for what they accountability, fair judges and clean elections. can to resist Trump and to put the law on the believed in. His commitment to public He is running for Attorney General to ensure side of all the people who work hard, play by the service was incredibly inspiring, and I equal protection and to stand up for all rules, and believe in the American Dream. became one of his earliest political Illinoisans. supporters. I spent a memorable day on the I believe that I have a special responsibility to South Side of Chicago walking a precinct Aaron is a graduate of University of Illinois at speak out for people whose voices are not being with him, knocking on doors and watching Urbana-Champaign and University of Iowa heard today. I grew up on Chicago’s South Side, him connect with voters. Years later, I was College of Law. He resides in Chicago with his in the Roseland neighborhood. My father wife and their two daughters. worked the evening shift at a big commercial [Continued on pg. 5]

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Advocating for open and transparent [Continued from pg. 4] government is one of the Attorney General’s proud to volunteer on his presidential core responsibilities, and I will do everything I campaigns. can to make sure the people of Illinois get the full picture of what their government is up to. After law school, I got a job at a Chicago law firm – and I’ve been working at the same firm In addition to my work on behalf of Illinois’ ever since. (after a merger, it’s now known as school children, I also am passionate about Drinker Biddle & Reath.) At the time, I felt expanding opportunities for people of color, extremely anxious about paying off my law especially in our Latino communities. I ran a school loans, which added up to almost clinic at my firm to assist young, undocumented $90,000. Now, when I hear about students immigrants who were only children when their talking about their student loans totaling in the parents brought them here, in pursuit of a hundreds of thousands of dollars, I can’t better life. It touched my heart to work with imagine how it must feel to be a young person these promising young people, and I was very Kwame Raoul proud when a client I represented pro bono @kwameraoul starting out under the burden of that kind of debt. That’s why, as Attorney General, I will received official notice that he would be allowed Fellow Democrats, make battling unscrupulous student loan to stay in this country. I also serve as legal companies one of my top priorities. counsel to the Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus We’re at a pivotal moment. Every day, Foundation, which has twice honored me with Illinoisans are under siege from attacks From the beginning of my legal career, I have its Leadership Award. from Bruce Rauner and Donald Trump. And been committed to giving back to my in this period of transition, we need an community through volunteer work. I served For the past two years, I have served as the attorney general who will not only speak almost seven years as Chairman of the Illinois President of the Chicago Park District Board of out against them but will get things done State Board of Education (ISBE), where I Commissioners, which has given me an even on our behalf. advocated for public school students deeper appreciation of our extraordinary natural resources here in Illinois and strengthened my I’ve spent my career securing victories on throughout our state. On one occasion, I was behalf of victims and the voiceless while opposition to the anti-environmental called to act when a school district refused to producing real change in our justice system. onslaughts of the current Administration. I am enroll an undocumented student, in violation As a legislator, I led the charge to pass the of federal law (as I knew from my studies in outraged by Trump’s continuing attempts to put Illinois Voting Rights Act along with a Barack Obama’s seminar.) Certain that the law polluters in charge of the U.S. EPA. As your constitutional amendment to protect was on our side, we took action to cut off the Attorney General, I will take action to stop voting rights, the law to expand the school district’s state funding for violating the polluters who threaten the quality of our air and Affordable Care Act to cover more student’s civil rights. The very next day, school our water – especially our beautiful Lake Illinoisans and worked with Attorney district backed down and the student was Michigan – and I will speak out when Trump General Madigan on a law to protect enrolled. tries to appoint foxes to guard the victims of sexual assault. Recently, I’ve filed environmental henhouse. a bill to protect workers from violations of Later, I continued to advocate for public misclassification, prevailing wage, wage education as Vice President of the Chicago These are difficult times for Democrats. It seems theft and minimum wage laws. like almost every day, Trump is coming after Board of Education, where I served for more I’m the only person in this race who has another group of Americans: Women, Muslims, than four years. I also was appointed to serve stood toe to toe against Bruce Rauner and Latinos, immigrants, even graduate students. on the U.S. Department of Education Equity his Turnaround Agenda and won. As Chair and Excellence Commission by then-Secretary The list goes on and on. It’s unbelievable – and it of the Senate’s Judiciary Committee, I led of Education . makes the role of the Illinois Attorney General the charge against Bruce Rauner’s more important than it has ever been at any insensitive workers’ comp and tort reform In 2015, I stepped in to become Interim CEO of other time in my life. proposals which diminish the rights of the , the nation’s third- those who seek to access their largest school district, in the wake of a bribery As the people’s lawyer, the Attorney General is constituently guaranteed right to relief scandal. That experience really underscored uniquely empowered to defend the rights of the through justice. the importance of transparency in people of Illinois. I am running for Attorney My legislative career has centered around government. During my tenure as interim General because I feel called to do everything I can to stand up against the abuses of people like working to ensure that justice in Illinois is CEO, I created a requirement that all requests blind, never discriminating between city, Bruce Rauner and Donald Trump. for single- and sole-source contracts be posted suburban and Downstate, between brown, on the CPS website, well in advance of any I look forward to working with all of you in the black and white or between rich and poor. vote. Now the Chicago Public Schools have a Illinois Democratic County Chairmen’s system in place to make sure that the Board Now I’m hoping to continue that fight as Association to win this election and send a your next attorney general. and the public have a chance to weigh in message to Washington that the people of before those types of contracts go up for a Illinois will fight for our rights – and that no one, [Continued on pg. 6] vote. Supreme Court Justice Brandeis once not even Donald Trump, can overturn the rule of said that sunlight is the best disinfectant. law in this great country.

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[Continued from pg. 5] reform of city government that resulted in legal services in the areas of immigration, As a cancer survivor and the sponsor of the law domestic violence, and housing. When which expanded the Affordable Care Act in increased transparency, accountability, someone is at risk of losing their family, Illinois, I’ll fight Republican attempts to take collaboration, and ethics. I emphasized creating away Obamacare. As the sponsor of the Illinois a culture at City Hall that regained the trust of their home, their life, they need access to Voting Rights Act, I’m working to end Illinois’ our residents and employees. free legal services. The Clinic provides that use of the Crosscheck program. And as a father immediate help. Our Dreamers are under of a young woman who’s headed to college, I’ll It’s important to stand up for what’s right. I attack by Donald Trump. The Clinic is fight against Donald Trump and his education never back down from a fight. When northern where they turn for support for themselves secretary’s efforts to eliminate safeguards to Illinois residents suffered recurrent power protect survivors of sexual assault on our and their families. In just a few years, the outages, sometimes for days, we fought the campuses. Clinic has had over one hundred volunteer utility companies. We held ComEd accountable attorneys, social workers and translators, It’s that record that’s led to the endorsement – alongside Attorney General . I led of the Madison County Democrats early in this and has processed more than four hundred the fight that resulted in $56 million in race and the Cook County Democrats weeks cases. Progress is possible. later. infrastructure upgrades. These days, the lights stay on, even when it storms. My dedication to public service spans When I replaced Barack Obama in the Senate, decades. I serve on a broad range of civic he gave me some important advice. He told I led the charge to pass one of the state's only and philanthropic commissions, boards, me to take some time speaking and getting to local assault weapons bans. In 2013, Illinois cities know people from other parts of the state. and committees including Planned had a ten-day window of opportunity to During my 13-year legislative career, I’ve taken Parenthood of Illinois. Before I was in office, that advice to heart. I’ve traveled the state consider passing an assault weapon ban. I felt I created an environmental advocacy visiting mostaccioli dinners, pancake strongly that this ban was an important step in training program for public school students. breakfasts and have spoken to many of you at the effort to address the heartbreak we continue My record of holding big corporations the annual IDCCA County Chairmen Brunch. As to experience in the wake of Sandy Hook and so a 3-time delegate, I’ve traveled together with accountable and cleaning up government is many other mass shootings. We fought the NRA many of you to democratic conventions and something we need now more than ever in I’ve spoken to rooms full of democratic all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court and Illinois. My background in business and law, activists in your home counties about our prevailed. Because of our ban and the results of coupled with my experience of taking shared goals for a better Illinois. And now, in the related lawsuit by the NRA, it is now action, will serve the people of Illinois well. the months ahead, I’ll be visiting many of your constitutional to ban assault weapons and large counties to talk about my vision for the Office capacity ammunition magazines in Illinois. As Attorney General, I will be a powerful of Attorney General. advocate, continuing my fight against the Unfortunately, Illinois law no longer recognizes See you on the trail. NRA to reduce gun violence, and taking on ______that cities have this right. Recently, I wrote a unscrupulous drug makers and online and letter to every member of the Illinois General offshore pharmacies to help curb the opioid Assembly asking them to consider changing the epidemic gripping our state. I’ll fight for law to allow cities to have that conversation, to criminal justice reform, and restore human consider whether they want to allow assault rights and public safety to our impacted weapons in their cities. The response? None. In communities. I will take a stand against the last legislative session, an opportunity to intimidation and injustice and punish those address illegal handguns on our streets and in who subject people to fear and intimidation our neighborhoods was supposed to come up in or sit idle as it happens. the form of gun dealer licensing legislation, something a majority of Illinois residents Our state and nation face an uncertain support. Some legislators said they wouldn't future. We need an attorney general who address it until after petitions were filed for re- will represent our values - within our state Nancy Rotering election. They feared being “primaried.” and challenging the detrimental policies of our President and his administration. I am @TeamRotering Seriously? An opportunity to take action to start addressing the gun violence issue in Chicago an independent advocate who has a proven The people of Illinois deserve a strong, and the Illinois General Assembly is more record of results - experience in assessing a independent, principled advocate. As a concerned about their jobs than saving lives? I situation, accessing resources, and fighting candidate for Attorney General, I bring a asked that question of them as well. No answer. for what is right. Together, we can move lifetime of advocacy and a record of producing How is that serving the people? forward. real results. My name is Nancy Rotering. I ask for your I believe progress is possible and am committed As a two-term Mayor and mother of four sons, support as Illinois Attorney General. to making it a reality. A few years ago, I founded I know how to get things done. During my first a community legal aid clinic that provides free term in office, I shook up City Hall with a major

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platform monopolies that treat their customers employment and become productive unfairly. members of society In 1983, I spearheaded the creation of the Everyone has a fundamental right to be Citizens Utility Board, which is Illinois’ largest protected from discrimination and consumer organization. As Attorney General, I harassment. As Governor, I signed will stand up to the policies and practices of landmark legislation requiring schools to utilities that take advantage of residential and implement policies to combat bullying business customers. (including cyberbullying), and signed legislation to fight against human In addition, the Attorney General must stand up trafficking. I strongly believe that there is a for the environment, especially when the federal fundamental, constitutional right to government is shirking its responsibility for privacy. clean water and clean air. Article XI of the Illinois Constitution establishes the fundamental right As Attorney General, I will use the tools of every person to a healthful environment. available to me to challenge unlawful discrimination, including on the basis of As Governor, I launched a $2 billion Clean Water race, nationality, gender, sexual Initiative to protect our drinking water, and I orientation, or other protected classes. served as Chairman of the Great Lakes Commission consisting of eight states and two Particularly during this time when we have Pat Quinn Canadian provinces. As Governor, I emphasized a President and a Cabinet who are working sustainability in all my decisions and greatly to undermine public education, worker I believe the Attorney General should be the advanced renewable energy and energy rights, consumer rights, immigrant rights, lawyer for the people of Illinois. With Donald efficiency. access to healthcare, and the environment, Trump in the White House, this role has never it is essential for the Illinois Attorney been more important. State attorneys general I will defend the #1 economic right - the right to General to stand up for the public interest. across the nation are the last line of defense a job. It is the best way to fight crime, keep ______against Trump’s unconstitutional policies and families together, and build a stable society. As conduct. Governor, I signed Illinois Jobs Now!, the largest investment in job creation in state history. Illinois needs a strong Attorney General to protect the rights of consumers, workers, As Attorney General, I will work to increase the taxpayers, teachers, students, veterans, and minimum wage and protect the rights of voters. workers, including the right to bargain collectively. I will protect workers from wage The Illinois Attorney General must promote theft, pregnancy discrimination, integrity in state and local government. As misclassification, and unfair practices by Governor, I tightened ethical standards of employers. elected officials, state employees, and lobbyists; fought for and signed the strongest Together, Bruce Rauner and Donald Trump are campaign finance reform legislation in Illinois launching an all-out attack on public employee history; strengthened the Freedom of unions and their members. They seek to end Information Act and vetoed efforts to weaken collective bargaining as we know it by upending disclosure rules; and instituted new decades of U.S. Supreme Court precedent. I whistleblower protections. strongly support the amicus brief filed by state attorneys general before the U.S. Supreme As Governor, I signed legislation to bring the Court opposing this brazen attack on everyday @Renato_mariotti benefits of President Barack Obama’s people and their unions. Affordable Care Act to Illinois. The legislation The office of Attorney General is critical to dramatically expanded healthcare coverage to As Attorney General, I will also be a leader on the strength of Illinois and our nation. The hundreds of thousands of Illinois residents and criminal justice reform. Mass incarceration, mandate of the office is broad – the also brought $12 billion of federal funding to wrongful convictions, and unequal justice should Attorney General is entrusted to protect the state. be a concern of all Illinois residents. As consumers and small business owners, Governor, to reduce a backlog of clemency enforce environmental laws, shape policies As Attorney General, I will protect the requests going back many years, I acted on for unfair competition and legislation to Affordable Care Act from encroachment by 4,928 clemency petitions. I granted 1,795 combat crime, advocate for victims of Trump and his allies. I will hold accountable petitions (36.4%), more than any Governor in crimes, and ensure that all under- pharmaceutical companies and others who are Illinois history. represented groups are given the equality responsible for the opioid epidemic which is demanded by the Constitution. harming families across Illinois. I also issued an administrative order and later signed legislation to “Ban the Box,” prohibiting Throughout our nation’s history, Attorneys As Attorney General, I will be a zealous private employers and employment agencies General have also been a counter-balance advocate for Illinois consumers. I will protect from inquiring about an applicant’s criminal to the federal government. Illinois consumers against utilities, insurance history until the applicant is determined to be companies, banks, drug companies, and qualified for the job, helping ex-offenders secure [Continued on pg. 8]

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[Continued from pg. 7] Wall Street, I have beaten the bank robbers and state level the progressive policies we put in

I beat cancer. Now I want to fight for my state to place. We saw examples of this during the Obama and its people. administration as Republican Attorneys There is an energy building throughout the General were successful in weakening The people of Illinois are facing horrible country—a growing movement of citizens President Obama’s policies around the challenges. Not only are there threats to our ready to fight back—and I have used my environment, affordable health care, and values and our democracy, but we have fewer platform to build a large and enthusiastic ensuring fundamental fairness and equality to resources with which to defend them. Our base of support. I want my campaign to all. With Trump in office, Democrats have done representatives across the state have seen fit to harness that energy and bring new people well in standing up to him, but we need to do increase your tax burden, but have given us less with new ideas into the political process. more. The importance of the Attorney General in return. I come from a world where those ______leading the way to protect the rights of the serving others are expected to give more and State and its people has only grown in ask for less. Whether it was representing clients importance. trying to operate on a shoe-string budget, volunteering my time for organizations with In 2014, our state elected a Governor who limited resources, or prosecuting criminals who believes that people who work for a living sometimes seemed to have limitless means and make too much money and he's done the protection of special interests, I know what everything in his power to advance an agenda it means to get results and to get them with the that would hurt working families. In 2016, our resources you have. nation elected a President who has undermined the rule of law and who has done Our state's resources are being stretched to the everything he can to line the pockets of the breaking point. I will fight for the right rich at the expense of the people who are resources and the right priorities. I will fight to trying to make ends meet. So many of us are restore faith in democratic process, to ensure a asking how we can protect our state, our level playing field for businesses and workers, to nation, and their core values. Everyone can do ensure fundamental fairness and equality, and their part, and Attorneys General are at the to create an environment where the talents of front lines of ensuring we remain a nation all Illinoisans can flourish. Our resources will not Sharon Fairley where the American Dream can be a reality for be spent on special interests, on undermining @FairleyForAG all of us. That's why I'm running for Attorney the rights of people, or on protecting a system General. designed for the ultra-wealthy where there is no Illinois – and our nation – are facing economic justice or fairness for so many. unprecedented peril. To overcome it, we I grew up in an environment where I witnessed need experienced, principled leadership to the American Dream every day. Neither of my I will fight every day for the rights of the people defend our democracy and our hard-won parents went to college. My dad didn't even of Illinois. I will investigate our election system rights. graduate from high school. They both worked and make sure we are doing everything possible two jobs to help put me through school. My to keep it secure and trusted. I will bring suits We have been through tough times before. dad is still working as a cashier at Walmart, on behalf of everyone in the state when there I studied mechanical and aerospace where he does not have the benefit of a union are unlawful practices that affect many engineering in college and obtained an looking out for his interests. I want to fight for thousands of citizens. I will fight in court and in M.B.A. after graduation. I spent years after people like my parents. I want to fight for all of the legislature to protect our clean air and that pursuing a career in business and the hard working Illinoisans who want their water. I will work to make Illinois a place where advertising while also raising a family until own fair shot at the American Dream, in a everyone is welcome and can succeed, whether the events of September 11, 2001. system that is stacked against them. you are a farmer or a small business owner, I wanted to get involved and help make a whether you are an artist or laborer, whether There is always work to be done, but I never difference, so I went back to school at the you have lived here for generations or are the expected the threats to our values to be so University of Chicago and got a law degree. child of an immigrant, and no matter your race, severe. Now that we are confronting them, I Since that time, I have only worked on gender identity or sexual orientation. The civil know I have been preparing for this role for a behalf of the people of Illinois. society we have created over generations is long time. I cherished every opportunity my priceless, and the Attorney General should fight Those experiences – as a former federal parents gave me, and tried to make it count. I every day to help it flourish and grow. prosecutor and Assistant Attorney General, defended clients in litigation for years against and as a leader in criminal justice reform some of the toughest civil lawyers in the Many citizens have lost faith in where we are here in Chicago – will allow me to provide country. I have volunteered my time on behalf and in the ability of their elected representatives the leadership we need to work for of the poor and on behalf of the to get us moving in the right direction. We’re progressive change in our justice system environment. And I spent almost a decade as a short on resources and the federal government and in our communities. federal prosecutor fighting to protect our isn’t doing its part to help. That’s why the society. I went after criminals who tried to Attorney General has to aggressively fight for all I am grateful to Attorney General Lisa abuse the system. I prosecuted and won Illinoisans with a fierce urgency. I will do Madigan for her years of service to this against Wall Street. We got a conviction in the everything I can to stop the Trump and Rauner state. first case ever brought against a high- Administrations’ assault on working families, frequency trader. I put a bank robber in jail, the poor, the sick and our communities of color. [Continued on pg. 9] and faced threats to my life. I am ready to take And when we take back Congress and the White on any fight that is necessary - I have beaten House, I will be proactive in defending at the

IDCCA NEWSLETTER December 2017 | Issue 23 5

[Continued from pg. 8] during a particularly violent bank robbery on the

south side of Chicago. I investigated and She charted a course of relentless, passionate prosecuted the crime. and fearless leadership that I am committed to taking forward from here. The teller’s father sat in the courtroom every time the case was a called in court. For a parent And I am also grateful to her for giving me my who has lost a child, there can never be first job out of law school, where I first learned complete closure. Yet we can and must strive the ropes as an Assistant Attorney General for justice to be served. under her helm. These shared human experiences stay with me I then spent eight years prosecuting federal and give me the courage and commitment to criminal cases as an Assistant U.S. Attorney. I tackle the serious problems we face. investigated and prosecuted large narcotics and firearms trafficking cases, complex fraud I have witnessed to the power of the justice matters, and I worked closely with law system when it works – when we make changes enforcement on national security threats to that offer our communities greater security and keep our communities safe. fairness – not only in terms of dealing with violent crime, but in areas like fair consumer In 2015, I joined the City of Chicago Office of lending practices, and protection from the Inspector General as First Deputy and fraudulent business schemes. General Counsel. I was passionate about the office’s mission to root out government I am moved to run by the conviction that we can corruption and inefficiency. do better. And because of the threats to our democracy, by the urgent necessity that we In December 2015, with the City in crisis must do better. following the officer-involved shooting of Laquan McDonald, I became Chief These are my values as a mother, attorney, Administrator of the Independent Police former businesswoman, and a lifelong Review Authority, the agency responsible for Democrat. Our county chairmen are the police misconduct investigations. backbone of the Democratic Party of Illinois and I thank you for all the work you do, especially in The agency was badly broken. I immediately areas of state where Democrats are greatly set to work on critical reforms, then worked outnumbered. I’m ready to take on Trump and diligently to build the new Civilian Office of Rauner and anyone else who infringes upon the Police Accountability in its place. rights of Illinoisans, and I hope you will be willing While there is still more work to do, the new to stand by my side. agency stands ready to combat police misconduct and rebuild public trust. I’m proud of the work I’ve done across these different agencies, delivering justice, good government, and citizen oversight. Today, our civil rights are under siege, not by some outside force, but by our very own president. Our next Attorney General must defend our people and local governments against the Trump Administration’s regressive and unconstitutional attacks. She must stand against corruption, protect consumers from fraud and abuse, and hold our government accountable. For me, this pursuit of justice is deeply personal. I am a mom. I have two young adult children and I worry for their safety, like any mother of Black children does today – when as we know, a simple traffic stop can end in tragedy. I am also personally motivated by the experiences of the Illinoisans I have already had the privilege to represent. I will always remember the father of a bank teller killed