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Anna McKinley has already done phone banks and canvassed for candidates, walked in parades, and most recently, was named as a Precinct Committee Chairman in Okawville Township. That is not a bad record for someone who has yet to cast a vote.

A senior at Okawville High School, McKinley was appointed to the role of Precinct Committeeman for Okawville #2 by Washington County Democrat Central Committee Chairman Len Piasecki earlier this month.

“For me, this is a hobby and a passion,” McKinley said of her political engagement. “It’s not hard to do something when you love it.”

* The Question: What was your earliest political involvement?

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Oct 25, 18 @ 1:51 pm

Comments

protesting Goldwater.

Comment by Amalia Thursday, Oct 25, 18 @ 1:56 pm
I walked precincts with my Dad during the 1960 presidential election. We did a lit drop for Nixon.

Comment by Commonsense in Illinois Thursday, Oct 25, 18 @ 1:57 pm
===Washington County Democrat Central Committee Chairman===

Pro-tip: It’s “Democratic.”

1972. Helping my old man put up signs for McGovern and Walker all over Limestone township (and getting ridiculed by my pals for being a Democrat).

My first “real” campaign experience was in 1982 volunteering for Chuck Pangle vs. Ed McBroom. First election after the cutback Amendment when every rep had to run in individual House districts.

I’ve been hooked ever since.

Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, Oct 25, 18 @ 1:58 pm
When I was 17. I got involved in a Mayoral campaign.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Oct 25, 18 @ 2:01 pm
Marty Russo when I was in grade school.

Comment by OneMan Thursday, Oct 25, 18 @ 2:05 pm
When I was in the first grade, I was telling other first graders they should vote for J. F. K. The poem went like this, “Kennedy, Kennedy, he’s our man. Nixon goes in the garbage can!”

Comment by Downstate Dem Thursday, Oct 25, 18 @ 2:07 pm
Helping my grandma fold programs for a Lincoln Day Dinner sometime in the late 1960’s or early 70’s. I was in grade school.

Comment by Pot calling kettle Thursday, Oct 25, 18 @ 2:08 pm
Organizing an on-campus speaking event for Sen. Paul Tsongas the night before the 1992 Illinois presidential primary (Clinton delivered a knockout blow the next day).

I was searching to see if I could find an old article about that Tsongas event, came up empty, but I stumbled across what might have been a young J.B. Pritzker’s first foray: https://nyti.ms/2D746CH

“We want to shake the fence and make them fall off” - J.B. Pritzker.

Comment by Robert the Bruce Thursday, Oct 25, 18 @ 2:09 pm
I’ve never been really active in the sense of helping a single candidate directly, but I saw Jesse Jackson and Michael Dukakis at rallies the SAME DAY in Madison, WI in 1988. Jackson was an incredible speaker in person.

Comment by Lefty Lefty Thursday, Oct 25, 18 @ 2:16 pm
Came home from a vacation trip to South Dakota with my dad and volunteered to call and work for the Nixon campaign. During the trip, we were in Custer when the Engleton situation broke. National media all over town. Made me want to get involved.

On the phone at Nixon HQ when Walker walked in. Interesting stunt.

Comment by Norseman Thursday, Oct 25, 18 @ 2:20 pm
Canvassing for Quinn in 2014
I was a new AFSCME and eager to help my union.
I had no baggage against him
I hadn’t experienced the pension fight.
I couldn’t understand why so few
Came out to help
Funny, the new ones now don’t like Rauner
Coming in the door.

Comment by Honeybear Thursday, Oct 25, 18 @ 2:20 pm
I managed to wear an Impeach Nixon pin in a yearbook picture in the mid 1970s.

I did register to vote on my 18th birthday.

Comment by Cheryl44 Thursday, Oct 25, 18 @ 2:20 pm
I was in the 7th grade back in 1962. My Dad was unable to attend a Ken Gray rally/dinner so I took his ticket and went with my Great Uncle. What an impression that made on me.

The big tent, bad chicken, but a huge motivated crowd, live music and Ken flying in on his helicopter making his entrance. I was hooked since then and still have not changed my politics, but, politics have changed since those simpler days.

Comment by illini Thursday, Oct 25, 18 @ 2:23 pm
Walking parades for Edgar and Percy in the mid 80’s. 9 or 10 years old

Comment by the Patriot Thursday, Oct 25, 18 @ 2:26 pm
Not a political campaign, but in 12th grade, volunteering with the St. Louis Committee for a Nuclear Weapons Freeze (later SANE/Freeze). It was in a building with a number of other groups, so I also helped out with an American Friends Service Committee project involving the ACLU and with groups focused on justice in Latin American. I’ve gotten so boring now…

Comment by Leslie K Thursday, Oct 25, 18 @ 2:27 pm
1964 Presidential Election…Wearing my all-time favorite campaign button: Bury AUH20

Comment by Retired SURS Employee Thursday, Oct 25, 18 @ 2:28 pm
When was in K or 1st grade on my way to school in the morning I delivered donuts to my dad and others who were serving as election judges.

Comment by Uh-nonymous Thursday, Oct 25, 18 @ 2:32 pm
Knocking doors in the cold and snow for a municipal election at 15 years old.

Comment by Precinct Captain Thursday, Oct 25, 18 @ 2:32 pm
Walked precincts for McGovern when I was 12. Helped make ‘Nixon Now More Then Ever ‘ bumper stickers into ‘Nixon No More Ever.’ Bumper stickers weren’t very high quality back then! Kid in my class’ dad was the McGovern coordinator. He was cute so worth a shot!

Comment by Sense of a Goose Thursday, Oct 25, 18 @ 2:34 pm
That should read: Bury AUH2O

Comment by Retired SURS Employee Thursday, Oct 25, 18 @ 2:34 pm
Goldwater rally in Wheaton, very early ’60’s.

Comment by Huh? Thursday, Oct 25, 18 @ 2:35 pm
I marched with Bill Clinton in the Southside St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

Comment by Concerned Citizen Thursday, Oct 25, 18 @ 2:37 pm
I handed out pamphlets, door to door, for my 8th grade History teacher, who was running for mayor.

Comment by Wensicia Thursday, Oct 25, 18 @ 2:42 pm
I remember canvassing for Obama in 07 in middle of nowhere western Iowa in a snowstorm. I don’t know if we changed anyone’s mind, but they were pretty impressed by our determination. Good times.

Comment by Three Dimensional Checkers Thursday, Oct 25, 18 @ 2:44 pm
Earliest I remember is helping my parents in the Republican Headquarters in 68. Back then they also organised caravans around the County the weekend before the election. My sister and I along with other kids would pass out literature and bumper stickers at every stop.

Comment by SOIL M Thursday, Oct 25, 18 @ 2:54 pm
Walkkng in the rain with Karen Hasara knocking on doors.

Comment by Generic Drone Thursday, Oct 25, 18 @ 2:58 pm
My first involvement in politics other than casting a vote or getting registered was to campaign for Illinois Unites for Marriage 5 years ago to campaign to get marriage equality passed in Illinois. 5 years later, I am now a precinct committeeman in Nameoki Township in Madison County.

Comment by Justin Thursday, Oct 25, 18 @ 2:58 pm
Walking doors for George McGovern and Dan Walker in 1972. As a 5th grader in McHenry County, it was some tough sledding.

Comment by Lt Guv Thursday, Oct 25, 18 @ 2:58 pm
10 years old going door to door leaving fliers for Allen Stouder - running for judge in Kankakee . Gentleman was blind and a fine judge elected after that particular defeat.

Comment by Matts Thursday, Oct 25, 18 @ 2:59 pm
Walking parades at 14 for the D candidate in Wi 14th State Senate. The joke was that they started redistricting from the south end of the state and couldn’t go any further - so they started from the north - and what was left in the middle was the 14th. Took 4 hours to drive across that baby east to west.

Comment by train111 Thursday, Oct 25, 18 @ 3:03 pm
Working for county candidates in 1968. Got really involved in the Walker campaign in 1972.

Comment by I wonder... Thursday, Oct 25, 18 @ 3:04 pm
Forgot the year above - It was 1984.

Comment by train111 Thursday, Oct 25, 18 @ 3:05 pm
First clear memory, going to Iowa for Paul Simon in ‘88. I was 9.

Comment by Matt Thursday, Oct 25, 18 @ 3:08 pm
Wore a Nixon button in ‘60 when I was 7 years old. I’m still trying to get over that.

Comment by a drop in Thursday, Oct 25, 18 @ 3:12 pm
Other than voting?

Becoming Assistant Counsel to everyone’s favorite Speaker lol.

Comment by AlfondoGonz Thursday, Oct 25, 18 @ 3:12 pm
-10 years old going door to door leaving fliers for Allen Stouder - running for judge in Kankakee . Gentleman was blind and a fine judge elected after that particular defeat-

Indeed; having had the opportunity to argue multiple cases before Judge Stouder when he sat on the appellate court, I can vouch for his integrity and legal acumen.

Comment by Retired SURS Employee Thursday, Oct 25, 18 @ 3:12 pm
I was 12 when my granddad took me to see Everett McKinley Dirksen in Greenville, IL.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Oct 25, 18 @ 3:19 pm
What was your earliest political involvement?

A demonstration/march protesting U.S. support for the racist government of apartheid South Africa.

– MrJM

Comment by @misterjayem Thursday, Oct 25, 18 @ 3:38 pm
Door to door placing Nixon literature, 1968, in the 11th Ward. I was 16

Comment by M Python Thursday, Oct 25, 18 @ 3:43 pm
I portrayed John Connnely in a mock presidential primary debate. I thought Reagan was too “liberal”. It was 7th grade.

I volunteered for Al Hofeld and did some door to door work back when he ran for senate. That was my first real experience.

Comment by JS Mill Thursday, Oct 25, 18 @ 3:47 pm
In 1972 I volunteered in Glen Schneider’s campaign office in Naperville. It was also the McGovern office.

Comment by Groundhog Day Thursday, Oct 25, 18 @ 4:00 pm
Must have been 1971.

Comment by Groundhog Day Thursday, Oct 25, 18 @ 4:02 pm
I’m going to read the question as either working on a campaign or holding a public office.

I got talked into being on a small town Park Board in my mid=20’s. About the same time, also worked with a group of organized local parents to get a conservative small town school board to retain a elementary school teacher who was too progressive for the town. At least the town park improvements are still there 40 some years later …

- - - -

If we interpret the question to be when I first got interested in politics, probably around age 9 or 10 from reading the local papers and listening to my parents debate politics over the dinner table.

Comment by RNUG Thursday, Oct 25, 18 @ 4:07 pm
Knocking on doors with my dad when I was 2 for HW Bush. I’m now a Democrat.

Comment by the708 Thursday, Oct 25, 18 @ 4:15 pm
1952 — At five years old, I wore a pint-sized “Madly for Adlai” sandwich sign while my mother handed out campaign lit.

Comment by Flapdoodle Thursday, Oct 25, 18 @ 4:16 pm
I was confused by people exiting the village hall wearing “I Like Ike” buttons because my parents told me it was a secret ballot.

Later I was the first person under 21 to register to vote in the county after they lowered the age requirement.

Comment by Enemy of the State Thursday, Oct 25, 18 @ 4:22 pm
Youth for Nixon, 1968.

Please don’t judge me….

Comment by Arthur Andersen Thursday, Oct 25, 18 @ 4:30 pm
Third grade going door to door for my Dad who running for City Council.

Comment by regnaD kciN Thursday, Oct 25, 18 @ 4:47 pm
AA, it’s learning from the mistake that is important.

Comment by Norseman Thursday, Oct 25, 18 @ 5:02 pm
Born in the 11th Ward, our precinct captain was among the fist to welcome me home from the hospital. He was a lifetime friend and family supporter in good times and bad.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Oct 25, 18 @ 5:07 pm
Marching with my mom (actually being pushed in the stroller) for support of ERA…sad it just passed out of gen assembly here almost 40 yrs later

Comment by Bears Fan Thursday, Oct 25, 18 @ 5:25 pm
The fellow next door was our Dem Precinct Leader so I was mentored at a very young age on everything you need to do to get votes.
My first real campaign was for Douglas vs. Percy. Douglas lost. I was in high school. In college I was an intern for the Peoria Dem. Party when Dixon was running for US Senator. Had a ball.
Was a Singer Jackson delegate to the Demconvebtion that nominated McGovern. That was also a great time. Made so many friends that I still keep in contact with.
Many of my friends went to work for government . They did a lot of good things. I just like campaigns so spent some time as a prosecutor, but that was about it. I really was not very good at “Government”. Envy those that had great careers in government. Sorry about the pension mess.
The son of my precinct captain became a Judge after years as a prosecutor, I still stay in touch. Been in big campaigns andsmallcamosigns. Everyone should do it.

Comment by Back to the Future Thursday, Oct 25, 18 @ 5:31 pm
My mom ran for Library Board when I was 12 or 13 back in the day, (1080s) She won we were all so happy for her except once a month when we had to cook dinner.

Comment by theCardinal Thursday, Oct 25, 18 @ 5:46 pm
‘72 volunteering for the McGovern campaign.

Comment by Dead Head Thursday, Oct 25, 18 @ 5:55 pm
Phone banking for Obama back in 2008 as a senior in high school.

Comment by ste_wit a v_en Thursday, Oct 25, 18 @ 6:00 pm
== Youth for Nixon, 1968.

Please don’t judge me…. ==

-AA-, Nixon was an SOB, but in retrospect he was probably the person the nation needed at the time to wind down Vietnam and approach China.

Comment by RNUG Thursday, Oct 25, 18 @ 6:01 pm
3 of us Chicago Daily News carriers decided to ride our bikes to WIOK Radio station in Normal in a futile attempt to buy a $5 radio spot for Hubert Humphrey. We were aghast that two weeks earnings for any one of us wasn’t enough to do it.

WIOK is now defunct, a vacant lot. Chicago Daily News: kaput. Humphrey is gone, as is one of our trio.

Sobering, this passing-of-time thing.

Comment by Stumpy's bunker Thursday, Oct 25, 18 @ 6:57 pm
Passing out literature for my dad who was running for precinct committeeman in the 60’s. Dad lost-hated politics ever since.

Comment by justacitizen Thursday, Oct 25, 18 @ 8:09 pm
In 1955, I canvassed with my grandfather when I was in second grade. The issue was a water reservoir in Franklin Park.

Comment by Yossarian Thursday, Oct 25, 18 @ 8:41 pm
Knocking on doors for Ted Leverenz in 1989.

Comment by Bobby Hicks Thursday, Oct 25, 18 @ 9:06 pm
Walked a precinct with my dad for the Dems in ‘64.

First political activity of my own was working election day for Ab in ‘72.

Comment by Keyrock Thursday, Oct 25, 18 @ 9:25 pm
Going through petitions line-by-line looking for signatures to disqualify in a room in the Stratton Building, and when asked if that was legal being told to not question it.

Comment by Just Me Friday, Oct 26, 18 @ 12:10 am