|
|||||||||||||
|
On February 23, Democrats advanced Illinois House Bill 6000, which would limit potential challengers in future aldermanic elections in Chicago. The bill significantly raises signature requirements in every ward, and also gives well-financed, entrenched aldermen a new way to get opponents thrown off the ballot. Here’s what the Chicago Tribune said in a February 25 editorial: Here’s a [...] Elena Demos, Chair Dan Madden, Meribeth Mermall This morning the Cook County Electoral Board met at 63 W. Washington in the Pedway Room to make decisions on a number of challenges brought against local candidates. My challenge against Sean Burke, CC-01, was heard at 10:30am. The Board is composed of representatives of the Cook County Clerk’s Office, [...] I spent the day at the Cook County Clerk’s office going over Sean Burke’s signatures one by one with him present. He came very casually dressed and with no documentation or apparent preparation. I was with Alberto Bocanegra, the chair of the Cook County Green Party. The process of examining signatures is mind-numbingly slow. I must [...] I am very pleased to be the recognized Green Party candidate for Cook County Board President. I declared my candidacy on October 17 and met several times with Green Party members. I was delighted to be embraced by the group. Green Party members provided counsel and support for my run. 15 Green Party members circulated petitions for me. All told, 75 people volunteered to help me get on the ballot. I would not challenge a recognized Green Party candidate. After I declared, I learned that Frank Coconate was another Green Party candidate for this office and that he had gathered a considerable number of signatures. When he heard that I was running, he generously decided not to submit his petitions, saying that I was the stronger candidate. Had he decided to stay in the race, I would not have challenged him because he was a known and respected ally of the Green Party. I said so publically and meant it. On November 2nd I learned that Sean Burke, 31, of Westchester, had also filed for Cook County Board President as a Green. No one in the Illinois Green Party had heard of Mr. Burke. Why had Mr. Burke not contacted the party leadership after deciding to run? Trying to find out something about him, Green Party members performed a web search and discovered he owned the web address for the Cook County Young Democrats. Phil Huckleberry, the State Chair, left a message for Mr. Burke and later Alberto Bocanegra, Jr., the Cook County Chair, also left a message. Mr. Burke did not return their calls. I discussed the situation with Green Party members and other advisors who cited cases where people had run as Green Party members with the intention to drain resources from creditable Green candidates. The Machine has taken note of the Green Party and it’s entirely appropriate to protect the party from candidates who are running to mess with us. I and some of my mentors and Green Party allies believe that the party needs to protect itself from people who want to run as a Green but who do not hold to the core values of the party, are not reformers, are not fighters, who are serving the Daley-Stroger Machine and who actually want to damage viable Green party campaigns. Continue reading Why I Challenged Sean Burke The race is on! This morning Tom turned in 2,296 signatures for his nomination as the recognized Green Party candidate for President of the Cook County Board of Commissioners. Friends, family, Green Party members and ABC News Chicago’s Charles Thomas looked on! [download a copy of Tom's remarks upon submitting his petitions] Watch as Tom’s campaign officially starts!  The campaign to take back Cook County government has begun! Tom’s remarks upon turning in his nominating petitions: GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS TOM TRESSER AND I’M THE RECOGNIZED GREEN PARTY CANDIDATE FOR PRESIDENT OF THE COOK COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS. I HOLD IN MY HAND THE SIGNATURES OF 2,296 CITIZENS WHO HAVE SIGNED MY NOMINATING PETITIONS FOR THIS POSITION. THESE SIGNATURES REPRESENT OVER 180 HOURS OF WORK BY 75 VOLUNTEERS OVER JUST TWO WEEKS. THIS GROUP OF VOLUNTEERS CAME TOGETHER QUICKLY FROM ACROSS THE COUNTY TO SUPPORT MY CAMPAIGN AND THEY REPORT THAT COOK COUNTY CITIZENS ARE READY, EAGER AND PREPARED FOR SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IN HOW THEIR LOCAL GOVERNMENT WORKS. THE PEOPLE WANT THEIR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES TO SERVE THEM – NOT LIE TO THEM, RIP THEM OFF, DELIVER TERRIBLE SERVICE AND DEAL AWAY PUBLIC ASSETS – THE TAXPAYERS OF COOK COUNTY ARE NOT BEING SERVED AND THEY KNOW IT. Continue reading Tom Turns In Nominating Petitions We’re going to document the process to get and stay on the ballot. Here is the first mini-video describing how the nominating petitions must be prepared for the [...] It’s 10:00 pm Halloween Eve and I’ve got over 2,000 signatures in hand. Here are are some of the 75 great volunteers who have hit the streets over the past two weeks to circulate my nominating petitions. THANK YOU! [...] Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 3:34 — 3.3MB) pp_flashembed( Podcast: Play in new window I need a minimum of 832 valid signatures to get on the ballot. Listen to the podcast [...] 
|
 |
|||||||||||
|
Copyright © 2010 Tom Tresser for Cook County Board President - All Rights Reserved |
|||||||||||||
