Today's Horoscope

OK... Here's what was in the Trib this morning. Yes, I am a Sagittarian. "Power falls into your lap. A group decides you're the right person to lead them. Remember to say 'Thank you.'"

NDFA Endorsement

Sometimes it seems like it's been a long time since I decided to run for State Rep. At other times it seems like yesterday. After the high activity level of the past few weeks, it all seems like a blur.

First was the rush to finish petitioning, then readying them for Springfield, followed by filing them -- official count 1,617. Then came the week of waiting to see who else filed and yes, on Monday , but one can't run a campaign on hope only...

Last night another wait ended when Northside Democracy for America endorsed my candidacy. Thank you NDFA!

Now there's another week's wait to see if anyone files any objections to my petitions. I do know that Speaker of the House Mike Madigan's office got a copy of them so there is suspense in the air. Happily, those 1,617 signatures are very clean and very vetted and will most likely survive any and all challenges. Paying to defend the challenges means that your support is more important than ever. Click here to contribute.

Thanks for your support.

This week's work

I'm happy to say that my platform is finally online... in an 8 page booklet. You can get a a copy of it here: http://www.friendsforjosephlaiacona.org/Platform.pdf

In the meantime it's been a busy week. A fundraiser, a meeting with an important union, gettting my petitions ready to file, updating the website.

We're ready to roll, that's for sure.

Ethical Choices

I have been active in gathering signatures on my petition and therefore amiss at my blogging. As we near the end of the petitioning process it's time to turn my energies in other directions: fund-raising and platform development.

Last night I attended a small meeting where I was able to hear Patrick Collins' first hand assessment on Election and Ethical Reform in Illinois. At the end of the evening the candidates for office were invited to speak briefly.

I was amazed by what a reform candidate said, which I will paraphrase here.

As a college professor in poltical science I have both the expertise and time to run a potentially winning campaign. My campaign manager recently asked what I would do if Mike Madigan came to me and said you've got a viable campaign. If you back off on the reformer's zeal, I'll put $100,000 in your war chest. Now remember that's not a quote. It's a paraphrase.

The candidate then noted how tempting it was to take the money, acknowledging that using the money to win meant he could champion other causes, such as education, transportation, and taxation. He admitted that he didn't know what he would do.

Didn't know? What kind of "reformer" sells his platform for $100,000? It is as simple as that. Until we learn that the slippery slope is greased with $100,000 from Madigan office, we will never change the system. It will, instead, continue to change us.

We need to eschew politic$-a$-u$ual and embrace clearly articulated platforms, easily read solutions, and old-fashioned meet the voter campaigning.

Friday late afternoon

The weather hasn't been very cooperative this week. Just as it's time to collect signatures on my petitions, it rains.

Last night, though, proved otherwise and I had a great time meeting voters.

The best dialogue was with one gentleman:

Me: Would you please sign my petition?
He: Why should ?
Me: So there will be two people on the ballot.
He: So?
Me: Having a choice is better than none.
He: Who is your opponent?
Me: Deb Mell.
He: Why didn't you say that in the first place? Of course, I'll sign.

We're also having some good success contacting local unions in our search for their endorsement. More information on that later. For now it is a matter of making contact as they won't endorse until the ballot is announced by the Board of Elections.

Signature Update

Door by door, the numbers begin to add up as voters in my district sign my ballot-access petition. I can't speak for the volunteers who are making the trek down the blocks but for me it is an incredibly affirming journey. Some sign because they believe in "open ballot access;" others want to see a choice on the ballot; many are dissatisfied with the encumbent or the encumbent's family.

I also hear of the issues... mostly health insurance and ethical government. It is interesting that the voters who question me the most are the ones most willing to sign my petition. One jovial guy asked about gun control, then drugs, then vouchers... He liked my first two answers and then noted, "Two out of three ain't bad."

I can't believe it's been more than a month

OK, I'm sorry I've been absent for so long. Last post July 5? I thought I had only missed three weeks at most.

Between traveling on business, keeping all the work on my desk moving along, and (most recently) collecting signatures on my petitions, it has been one busy month.

The short of it all is that the campaign is going well, there's a cadre of canvassers willing to collect signatures, and there's an actual group of volunteers who are doing necessary and helpful work to make my campaign succeed.

Tomorrow we'll be hitting the sidewalks to knock on doors for signatures. We had our first completed petitions notarized this morning. And campaign contributions are coming in as well. In spite of this afternoon's rain, it feels like a sunny day.