Latest Post | Last 10 Posts | Archives
Previous Post: Dem candidates make big promises on the environment
Next Post: *** UPDATED x1 - ILGOP responds *** Pritzker responds to “The Madigan Question” by saying he favors term limits for legislative leaders
Posted in:
* Press release…
Jesse Ruiz, a prominent attorney and community leader, announced Wednesday that he is running for Illinois Attorney General.
“I became an attorney so I could use the law to protect and defend others, and be able to step in when people need a champion,” Ruiz said in a video campaign announcement released Wednesday. “For too long, many of us have felt forgotten and let down by our government. As Attorney General, I will use all of the powers of the law as a shield – and if necessary, a sword – on behalf of everyone in Illinois.”
The son of Mexican immigrants, Ruiz has been a strong advocate for the rights of minorities throughout his legal career. He said that Donald Trump’s attacks on immigrant and minority rights motivated him to run for public office.
“Donald Trump launched his campaign by saying, ‘When Mexico sends its people, they’re not sending their best…. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists,” Ruiz recalled. “When I heard those words, I got angry. He was talking about my parents, and about the millions of hard-working, tax-paying, law-abiding Mexican immigrants who came to this country to build new lives for themselves and their families. I feel that I would dishonor my parents if I failed to do everything I can to resist Trump and to put the law on the side of people who work hard and play by the rules.”
In his announcement video, Ruiz (52) talked about growing up in the working-class Roseland neighborhood on Chicago’s South Side. “I learned so much – like the value of hard work and determination, and that if you have enough to eat, you have enough to share.”
Ruiz attended Marist High School, on Chicago’s Southwest Side – a commute that required taking three different CTA buses. To pay his way through college, Ruiz worked a number of different jobs, including stints as a sales clerk, a machine operator, a meter reader, and a handyman. “As I was growing up, my parents made sure I knew the value of hard work and determination,” Ruiz said. “The Attorney General’s job is to be the champion of hard-working people, and I will make sure everyone’s rights are protected – in the workplace and in the marketplace.”
After graduating from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a degree in economics, Ruiz spent four years working in the steel industry before entering law school at the University of Chicago.
While in law school, Ruiz took a seminar class on racism and law taught by then-faculty member Barack Obama. Ruiz became one of Obama’s earliest political supporters, knocking on doors with Obama and hosting one of his first fundraisers in his race for the Illinois State Senate. Years later, he worked as a volunteer on Obama’s presidential campaigns.
“As a teacher, Barack Obama always encouraged students to challenge everything, to stand up for what they believed in,” Ruiz remembers. “His example is even more important today, when so many of our nation’s fundamental principles are under attack.”
Ruiz is a partner at Drinker Biddle & Reath, a nationally renowned law firm, where he has worked for more than 20 years. He also serves as President of the Chicago Park District Board of Commissioners.
A tireless volunteer, Ruiz is best known as an advocate for public education. He served over four years as Vice President of the Chicago Board of Education and in 2015 stepped in to become Interim CEO of the Chicago Public Schools, the nation’s third-largest school district. In 2011, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan appointed Ruiz to serve on the U.S. Department of Education Equity and Excellence Commission, a post he held for two years. Previously, Ruiz served nearly seven years as Chairman of the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE).
As the head of ISBE, Ruiz took prompt action when a school district refused to enroll an undocumented student, in violation of federal law. In an unprecedented action, Ruiz led ISBE to cut off the school district’s state funding. The very next day, school district backed down.
“I want to serve as the people’s lawyer,” Ruiz said. “As Attorney General, I will work to bring the power of government back to the people of Illinois. I will fight back whenever our government goes too far – whether that means standing up against Donald Trump’s assaults on our civil rights or speaking out against Bruce Rauner’s radical agenda here in Illinois. Every day, I will work to make Illinois a better, safer place – for all of us.”
Ruiz and his wife, Michele Ilene Ruiz, met when they were both law students at University of Chicago. Ms. Ruiz is now a partner at Sidley & Austin. The couple live on the south side of Chicago with their two young sons.
* Rate the video…
*** UPDATE *** Republican Attorneys General Association…
“This race is clearly going to be a sprint to the left and Jesse Ruiz will lead the pack. Former President Barack Obama was Ruiz’s law professor in the mid 1990s, so Ruiz learned from the best how to circumvent the rule of law and impose crippling regulations on our hardworking job creators. Illinois needs a fighter, outside the political class, who will defend the rule of law and fight public corruption.”
Campaigning against Obama in his home state? That’ll work.
* Related…
* Ex-CPS board member Jesse Ruiz announces run for attorney general
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Oct 18, 17 @ 9:38 am
Sorry, comments are closed at this time.
Previous Post: Dem candidates make big promises on the environment
Next Post: *** UPDATED x1 - ILGOP responds *** Pritzker responds to “The Madigan Question” by saying he favors term limits for legislative leaders
WordPress Mobile Edition available at alexking.org.
powered by WordPress.
This could be good! We need someone who can fill the shoes of Lisa. I have heard about Ruiz and know he has a great track record, and is not a typical politician moving up the chain. I attended a meet and greet this weekend hosted by Oak Park Dems, and was not impressed with Kwame Raoul’s platform. It was blah and he did not know much about the AG office. We need someone ready to go. Excited to see more
Comment by Future Leader Wednesday, Oct 18, 17 @ 9:54 am
I don’t see the part about how he voted to close 49 schools in Chicago, or how he allowed the Supes scam contract, or how his board implemented the per pupil funding model that shifted funds from underenrolled schools from mostly communities of color to highly enrolled schools.
I am sure all of that will be on the website, right?
Comment by Kyle Hillman Wednesday, Oct 18, 17 @ 9:55 am
A-
Very good ad, strong intro of a generally unknown candidate.
Comment by Scott Cross for President Wednesday, Oct 18, 17 @ 9:57 am
Agree 110% with Kyle on Ruiz’s tenure on school board and he will never get my support for that reason. To the ad, not bad but that music was lulling me to sleep and I was ready to stop watching after 15 seconds.
Comment by Lakeview lawyer Wednesday, Oct 18, 17 @ 10:03 am
Meaningless fluff. Nicely shot. Not a word about corruption. Obviously running fast away from CPS train wreck. No ideas. No drama. Anti-pollution and anti-Gopper. That’s it? I think Jesse is a good guy, but he’s telegraphing same ol’, same ol’. Establishment all the way. Missed opportunity — unless that’s what he wanted.
Comment by Chris Robling Wednesday, Oct 18, 17 @ 10:30 am
damn good video
Comment by Dozer Wednesday, Oct 18, 17 @ 10:32 am
CPS is going to be a tough albatross to shed. Rubber stamping the mayor’s proposals is not a qualification for “the people’s lawyer.”
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Oct 18, 17 @ 11:05 am
I like & respect JR, but the video’s about a B: all atmospherics, not much substance. My uppermost reaction was right at the very end: Jesse4IL as a web address? Doesn’t that make everyone think of *other* Jesse’s??
Comment by The Historian Wednesday, Oct 18, 17 @ 11:07 am
A+ good god that is an amazing video. policy driven, heartwarming, great leader vibe from him. I’ve not met him, and while I do know about the schools tenure, I think that closing schools shows he’s tough and that he’s savvy about government resources as not unlimited. and I see on the Trib news feed to the side now that he’s Pres of the Chicago Park District. lots of good things more to tell about him.
Comment by Amalia Wednesday, Oct 18, 17 @ 11:08 am
Video needs a “paid for by …”
Comment by The Captain Wednesday, Oct 18, 17 @ 11:22 am
Wow, I really liked it. I’m a Republican and will be voting in the Republican Primary but he seems really sincere and likable. Especially like the the honoring of his Father. Did not loike the cheap shot at the end at Trump and Rauner but understand it in a Dem Primary.
Comment by Jon Zahm Wednesday, Oct 18, 17 @ 11:25 am
We must remember that Ruiz did not make decisions on the Board of Education alone. These were voted on by a “board” and frankly most major policies come from the Governor’s mansion.
Comment by Thinkwise Wednesday, Oct 18, 17 @ 12:16 pm
This is a powerful ad and Jesse Ruiz is as solid as they come. I think people will ultimately look past closing schools - that should have happened long ago given the city’s dramatic population losses on the south and west sides and I think people have come to terms with that decision. Jesse’s humble beginnings and success are impressive and he has incredible depth of experience working in the public service space. From what I can tell he also seems to be a genuinely good person. We need an AG whose priority is looking out for vulnerable people and our civil rights; not an ideologue.
Comment by Shytown Wednesday, Oct 18, 17 @ 12:19 pm
Jesse comes off as likeable. Lots of stock images that we’re not Illinois centric. B-
Comment by LakeEffect Wednesday, Oct 18, 17 @ 12:38 pm
Stock images? You mean his parents’ front porch?
Comment by Soccermom Wednesday, Oct 18, 17 @ 1:49 pm
Stock images? Ummm, no. You apparently don’t get around much in Illinois.
Comment by Anon0091 Wednesday, Oct 18, 17 @ 2:14 pm
Wow. That RAGA thing is going to stop Ruiz in his tracks. My only hope is that they don’t send it to every single Democratic primary voter, reminding them that Ruiz studied law with Obama and Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan, that Obama and Ruiz have a relationship that dates back 20 years, that Ruiz was one of Obama’s earliest political supporters, that the two actually walked precincts together, and that Ruiz went on to knock on doors in South Carolina for Obama in 2008. If Democrats in Illinois hear that, I don’t know what they’ll think. (But I can guess.)
Comment by Soccermom Wednesday, Oct 18, 17 @ 2:30 pm
Jesse Ruiz thought balloon: “Thank you RAGA. Thank you. More please.
Comment by Anon0091 Wednesday, Oct 18, 17 @ 3:15 pm
Thank you RAGA!
Comment by Shytown Wednesday, Oct 18, 17 @ 3:47 pm