Doug Dobmeyer is a titan of social change activism in Chicago. Here’s just a sampling of his accomplishments: Executive Director, The Public Welfare Coalition, Chicago, 1986-1994;Lobbyist on low-income and campaign finance issues in Springfield, 1986-1996, President of the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless, Chicago, 1985-1987;Member of the Mayor’s Task Force on the Homeless, Chicago, 1983-1989;Project Director for several reports on poverty issues; and Past member of three statewide councils on poverty and homeless issues (1989-1994).

I had the good fortune to work with Doug in the early 1990′s when he led a state-wide coalition against Mayor Daley’s push to get land-based gambling in Chicago. We won that fight.

Read his column “I’m With Whitney” from the Beachwood Reporter.

I’m With Whitney

I am sick of Illinois politics as we know it today! Blind abeyance to massive debt and unbalanced budgets are now the norm. This well entrenched corrupt political system has only expanded in the 39 years since my coming to Chicago in 1971.

So, I’m going to do something to work for change. I’ve decided a third party is a viable option. I’m volunteering with the Green Party doing media for the Rich Whitney candidacy for governor. Whitley is a civil rights lawyer from Carbondale is the Green Party’s candidate for governor.

In the latest poll he was at nine percent of the vote. In 2006 he received 10 percent of the statewide vote.

As you know I have been a Democrat all my life. I have voted for a few Republicans along the way. The two usual party candidates for governor are dismal at best. One, Bill Brady, the Republican was born with the word NO on the tip of his tongue. Pat Quinn the Democratic incumbent and a friend for 25 years has become a disappointment since he took over from the disgraced former Governor Rod Blagojevich. Unfortunately Pat has moved away from previous positions that had formed our friendship. He’s just another Springfield politician now.

So, I intend to do what I can for Whitney to make him more of a viable candidate that could result in his being Illinois’ next governor.
Continue reading Activist Titan Says “I’m With Whitney”

Here’s what Southtown Star columnist Kristen McQueary had to say…

As Illinois voters, we sit anxiously, curiously, awaiting a verdict in Rod Blagojevich’s corruption trial. George Ryan counts the days toward his release from federal prison.

They were our picks: A young politician with wavy hair who promised to end Illinois’ sleazy political culture; a gravelly-voiced old-timer with [...]