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* From the Illinois AFL-CIO…
State House Candidate Taking on Rauner-Ally Dunkin
The Illinois AFL-CIO Executive Board voted on Thursday to endorse Juliana Stratton for State Representative in the Democratic Primary Election for the 5th District. Stratton is taking on incumbent Ken Dunkin, who has sided with Gov. Bruce Rauner, casting controversial votes against the interests of working families.
Stratton has a strong background in community involvement and public policy, serving with organizations including as director of the Center for Public Safety and Justice at University of Illinois-Chicago, Cook County Justice for Children (CCJC), and the Cook County Justice Advisory Council. She also managed the criminal and juvenile justice reform agenda for the Office of the Cook County Board President.
She earned her Juris Doctorate degree from DePaul in 1992 and her undergraduate degree in Broadcast Journalism from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign prior to that.
“She is a very strong candidate and an impressive person,” said Illinois AFL-CIO President Michael T. Carrigan. “She will be a very powerful voice for the people of the 5th District.”
Her opponent is long-time incumbent Dunkin, who has not hidden his alliance with Rauner, whose anti-worker proposals are not moving in the General Assembly. On several occasions, Dunkin’s vote would have made the difference on issues including child care eligibility, funding for services for seniors and the disabled and an arbitration mechanism to keep state services functioning in the event of bargaining impasse.
“There needs to a change in the 5th District,” Carrigan said. “The voters will know that there is a person in this race that cares about her community and not political alliances. As she has been all of her life, she will be their voice.”
There are nearly 16,000 members of union families in the 5th House District.
Discuss.
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Dec 17, 15 @ 12:59 pm
Sorry, comments are closed at this time.
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This is “it”
This is “Ball Game”
Pick your spots, be impactful, send a message, follow through.
I have asked often, respectfully, “what are you (unions) prepared to do?”, and this is indeed an answer.
The AFL-CIO needs to do, what needs to be done here, and all that is, is win.
Pick your spots, Labor, and now, go to work.
OW
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Dec 17, 15 @ 1:03 pm
Because if Mike Madigan only had a supermajority that would ==obey==, 71 votes that would ==listen==, this state would be in much better shape?
Dunkin’s vote is a symptom. Rauner and Madigan are the source.
You can treat the ==symptoms== all you want, but to cure the disease you have to treat it at the source.
Comment by Formerly Known As... Thursday, Dec 17, 15 @ 1:09 pm
To date, ILGO has reported spending $30. That’s thirty dollars.
Goldner works cheap, I guess.
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Dec 17, 15 @ 1:11 pm
@FKA…”Dunkin’s vote is a symptom (of being a paid pawn). Rauner is the source.”
Fixed that for you.
Comment by How Ironic Thursday, Dec 17, 15 @ 1:22 pm
Let me be the first to welcome you to Springfield Rep. Stratton! So long as you stick to your message and run a disciplined campaign (i.e., make sure your base is all in on this race) even the ILGO folks wont be able to save Dunkin.
Comment by 35/Shields Thursday, Dec 17, 15 @ 1:26 pm
I do not think it will matter.
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Dec 17, 15 @ 1:30 pm
Who is Jesse White backing in this race?
Comment by Bored Chairman Thursday, Dec 17, 15 @ 1:34 pm
So, if a guy doesn’t fall in line with King Madigan, he must unmercifully and deservingly taken out? And people wonder why our state is in such a mess. Independent thought is discouraged. People complain about the gridlock and then the one guy who stands up against it, voting against meaningless political gestures is now the enemy?
Comment by downstater Thursday, Dec 17, 15 @ 1:47 pm
Does the Cook Co Pres have her fingers in this one?
Comment by walker Thursday, Dec 17, 15 @ 1:47 pm
===So, if a guy doesn’t fall in line with King Madigan,===
This is the AFL-CIO.
Please, keep up.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Dec 17, 15 @ 1:49 pm
If I was a betting man, I would still wager on Dunkin.
-There are nearly 16,000 members of union families in the 5th House District-
How many of these households voted in 2014? I still don’t think AFL-CIO has their house in order after 2014. This will be a good test run, hopefully I’m wrong.
Comment by Almost the Weekend Thursday, Dec 17, 15 @ 1:50 pm
She seems very community orientated and does have an impressive resume. I think she would do a much better job of serving her constituents than the incumbent.
Comment by A Jack Thursday, Dec 17, 15 @ 1:57 pm
This 5th House district is long and narrow from 79th Street on the south to Division Street on the north, about four blocks wide at its narrowest point, looking something like an long rifle pointing north. It is incredibly gerrymandered.
What happens when you pack a district? Does democracy die? No, the real contest just moves from the general election to the primary.
Laissez les bons temps rouler!
Comment by Anon III Thursday, Dec 17, 15 @ 2:07 pm
Anon III, how many competitive general elections are held every two years in Chicago?
Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Dec 17, 15 @ 2:11 pm
I wonder if Dunkin assumed that he didn’t have many union folks in his district? True African Americans are very under represented in the trades. But I met a lot of folks this summer at the AFSCME convention who live in his district that are going to swarm him and his district like angry wasps very soon. You messed with the foot soldiers buddy. It’s gonna be clap back time starting next month till the primaries.
Comment by Honeybear Thursday, Dec 17, 15 @ 2:18 pm
Mr. Miller: Yours is a rhetorical question.
Comment by Anon III Thursday, Dec 17, 15 @ 2:19 pm
@downstater
“Individual thought”
Those words do not mean what you think they mean.
Comment by Soccermom Thursday, Dec 17, 15 @ 2:19 pm
Looks like an aerial slam dunk
Comment by princess buttercup Thursday, Dec 17, 15 @ 2:30 pm
==Independent thought==
You mean like people voting against the interests of the people that voted them in because Rauner said to?
Comment by HangingOn Thursday, Dec 17, 15 @ 2:31 pm
**To date, ILGO has reported spending $30. That’s thirty dollars. Goldner works cheap, I guess.**
ILGO didn’t report the mail pieces they sent to Chicago Dems in the summer either.
They clearly have a PAC, which isn’t spending YET, and a C4 or something other type of entity that are funding mail and Mr. Goldner.
Comment by AlabamaShake Thursday, Dec 17, 15 @ 2:37 pm
Good luck to MS. Stratton. Maybe she can mention that she will make sure to be in town when important votes are taken, not be in NY for a tennis tournament. Dunkin is such a poor excuse for a Rep.
Comment by Big Joe Thursday, Dec 17, 15 @ 2:39 pm
Her community involvement will get her much broader support than union households.
And she even runs marathons according to her bio. Dunkin only runs from important votes.
Comment by A Jack Thursday, Dec 17, 15 @ 2:49 pm
@Downstater ==So, if a guy doesn’t fall in line with King Madigan, he must unmercifully and deservingly taken out? And people wonder why our state is in such a mess. Independent thought is discouraged. People complain about the gridlock and then the one guy who stands up against it, voting against meaningless political gestures is now the enemy?==
This wasn’t a situation where they were voting on “meaningless political gestures.” There were other votes that failed, including important funding bills. Some of these issues were important enough that an incredibly sick woman managed to be present to vote. Whether you disagree with the bills or not, to argue that they were merely meaningless political gestures is an insult to families that needed childcare assistance, the elderly and the disabled.
Comment by Dilemma Thursday, Dec 17, 15 @ 2:51 pm
Rauner/Dunkin supporters really do seem to believe that unions aren’t important.
Good. They need some schooling, and they underestimate their opposition.
Comment by VanillaMan Thursday, Dec 17, 15 @ 2:54 pm
Doubt many will be shocked by this. I believe she has ties to Preckwinkle as well yes?
Comment by burbanite Thursday, Dec 17, 15 @ 2:55 pm
Dunkin wins, he is always walking in his district. Dont believe the hype, Dunkin wins with 61% of the vote. The seniors will strongly be, with Dunkin, the folks in the high rises will be with Dunkin and the people in the 8th ward will be with Dunkin so tell me where will this lady get the votes from?
Comment by austinman Thursday, Dec 17, 15 @ 2:59 pm
Maybe Rauner concedes Dunkin and while everyone is watching the 5th, he spends more money defeating someone like John Bradley downstate.
Comment by dr. reason a, goodwin Thursday, Dec 17, 15 @ 3:00 pm
Has she even made the ballot yet? I noticed her petitions were challenged. She announced her candidacy 2 weeks before the petition deadline. That time period included Thanksgiving. In a district with so many highlife buildings it may have been difficult for her to gather 500 valid sigs.
Comment by Huh Thursday, Dec 17, 15 @ 3:05 pm
- downstater - Thursday, Dec 17, 15 @ 1:47 pm:
So, if a guy doesn’t fall in line with King Madigan, he must unmercifully and deservingly taken out? And people wonder why our state is in such a mess. Independent thought is discouraged. People complain about the gridlock and then the one guy who stands up against it, voting against meaningless political gestures is now the enemy?-
Isn’t that EXACTLY what Bruce threatened his caucus with?
How many Republicans have crossed party lines on issues put forth by King Bruce?
that’s what I thought…
Comment by morty Thursday, Dec 17, 15 @ 3:12 pm
downstater, It is teh AFL-CIO that just endorsed Stratton, not MJM. But if the Speaker’s losses this summer won’t shake the myth of an all-powerful Speaker, nothing will. I suppose you also believe that the Speaker never supported spending cuts, because truth be damned, Dems are always spending more, right? Wow. How about we try reality? Maybe it will work better for us.
Comment by History Prof Thursday, Dec 17, 15 @ 3:14 pm
Anon III, do you happen to know what a rhetorical question is? “Does democracy die?” Would be a rhetorical question, in that you are expressing your belief that gerrymandering kills democracy but doing so in he form of a question.
“How many competitive general elections…?” would not be a rhetorical question seeing that you can actual go to the State Board of Elections website and discover an actual answer to said question. Without looking, I can tell you the answer is in the neighborhood of not too many.
But when democrats win in Chicago, and republicans win in Effingham, it’s not because of gerrymandering.
Comment by Juice Thursday, Dec 17, 15 @ 3:20 pm
austinman: is that you, Maze?
Comment by Willie Stark Thursday, Dec 17, 15 @ 3:27 pm
Stratton really sounds like an impressive person. I’m not expecting this to be easy though. She figures to be outspent as I expect Rauner to supply ample finances to protect his lackey.
Comment by The Dude Abides Thursday, Dec 17, 15 @ 3:31 pm
Oh, thank God! Now I will be able to sleep at night knowing this has Oswego Willy’s stamp of approval! Meanwhile, on the horizon for Illinois is a picture of teetering between junk bond status and bankruptcy right after Peurto Rico.
Comment by DuPage Don Thursday, Dec 17, 15 @ 3:41 pm
- DuPage Don -,
Unless you are a member of Labor, friend of Labor, or live in the district, I’m not on your lawn, bud, but if you feel better, I’m happy for you.
lol
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Dec 17, 15 @ 3:45 pm
… and Illinois can’t go bankrupt.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Dec 17, 15 @ 3:50 pm
…not yet!
Comment by DuPage Don Thursday, Dec 17, 15 @ 3:55 pm
- DuPage Don -
A state can NOT go bankrupt.
Please learn. Last feeding…
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Dec 17, 15 @ 3:56 pm
Dupage Don- You seem awfully concerned about OW, that is really nice of you and in keeping with the Holiday Spirit!
Not sure if you get around at all but they are building like crazy in the suburbs and city.
Comment by JS Mill Thursday, Dec 17, 15 @ 3:57 pm
Aw - DuPage Don -, I split ‘em up so you wouldn’t get confused. I am proud and excited you caught what I meant.
Again, states can’t go bankrupt. When a state goes bankrupt in the 21st century, you give me a shout. “States” only need to raise revenues. That’s taxes. T-A-X-E-S. One word.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Dec 17, 15 @ 4:12 pm
==austinman: is that you, Maze?==
Lol, I thought the exact same thing. You aren’t fooling anyone Maze.
Comment by Lester Holt's Mustache Thursday, Dec 17, 15 @ 4:21 pm
So far, just in this thread, we have: King Madigan taking people out, the death of democracy caused by the shape of the 5th district, someone who could possibly be Maze Jackson trying to convince himself of his own argument, a complete misunderstanding of the term “rhetorical question”, and the state of Illinois filing for bankruptcy.
Rich, your job must be either terrible or completely awesome.
Comment by Lester Holt's Mustache Thursday, Dec 17, 15 @ 4:37 pm
Dunkin wins with over 60% of the vote. White won’t go against him. This will be another Rauner victory.
Comment by anon Thursday, Dec 17, 15 @ 6:18 pm
==is the AFL-CIO. Please, keep up==
Madigan’s attorney Michael Kasper is over-seeing Stratton’s defense against a petition challenge. AFL CIO is simply acting as a surrogate for the Speaker. Please, keep up.
Comment by ABC Thursday, Dec 17, 15 @ 6:37 pm
===Madigan’s attorney Michael Kasper…===
Tom Hagen is the only attorney I can think of that has a special practice, handling one client…
Who did Dunkin turn his petitions into to check before filing?
Again, please keep up….
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Dec 17, 15 @ 6:43 pm
OW,
Your way behind on this one buddy! I’ll leave it at that!
Comment by ABC Thursday, Dec 17, 15 @ 7:24 pm
- ABC -,
Nah, I’m just not chasin’ shadows…
We’re ya gonna answer who checked Dunkin’s petitions or…
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Dec 17, 15 @ 7:27 pm
PLEASE dish Oswego Willie! Who IS Ken Dunkin’s election attorney? Inquiring minds want to know.
Comment by Professor X Thursday, Dec 17, 15 @ 7:43 pm
I have nothing important to add, just wanted to say “Lester Holt’s Mustache” is one of my favorite names on this (or any other) board.
Comment by Harold's Left-wing Dinner Thursday, Dec 17, 15 @ 9:45 pm
OW -
It wasn’t Michael Kasper because he doesn’t “check” petitions. Dem candidates drop their petitions off to be bound by DPI staffers and turned in to the boe by mjk
You really have to catch up.
Comment by ABC Thursday, Dec 17, 15 @ 9:55 pm
So…
Dunkin trusts his petitions to get on the ballot to Speaker Madigan’s Crew… and they oblige…
So Kasper… can keep his opponent in the ballot… to cost Madigan more money… to defeat Dunkin?
Are you sure there’s nothing under your bed? lol
Maybe it’s Rahm.
Kasper also did the petition challenge representing Rahm to keep him on the ballot.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Dec 17, 15 @ 10:01 pm
OW -
It’s pretty well known that the Speaker is coordinating the efforts against Dunkin. It’s also known that MJK is assisting with the defense of Stratton’s candidacy. You’re either pretending to be clueless or, as previously stated, you’re really far behind on this one. Good night!
Comment by ABC Thursday, Dec 17, 15 @ 10:20 pm
Oh - ABC -,
Why o why Ken Dunkin would trust the Madigan Crew to file his petitions with all this conspiracy swirling around…
===It’s pretty well known… ===
… that you don’t trust your petitions to get on the ballot anyone. Maybe you should ask Dunkin why he gave his petitions to the Madigan Crew.
Hope you have a flashlight to check under your bed, lol.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Dec 17, 15 @ 10:28 pm
Likely for the same reason he was SHOCKED his colleagues didn’t press his button for him.
Comment by Kyle Hillman Thursday, Dec 17, 15 @ 11:14 pm
(Knowing nod to - Kyle Hillman -)
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Dec 17, 15 @ 11:25 pm