LIBERALS BOOK CLUB A SUCCESS

Liberals Book Club

By Patty Gabris

The first meeting of the Liberals Book Club was a success. We discussed the book I am Malala: the Girl Who Stood Up for Education and was Shot by the Taliban. In her autobiographical book, Malala Yousafzai described her early life in Pakistan, her father’s activism with schools and the assassination attempt made against her when she was 15.

Our Book Club group of seven included a nice balance of people to provide great perspective: both new and old members of the DG Township Democrats, a new school teacher and retired folks, those who read the book and those who “picked our brains”. We readily agreed to meet again and are looking forward to others joining us.

To lighten up the discussion a bit, the club chose an autobiographical comedy, Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah for our July 11^th meeting. The book is part paean to his mother and part stories of Noah growing up in post-apartheid South Africa. Noah is the son of a white father and a black mother which classified him as “colored” and made his birth (a mixed-race baby) a crime under apartheid. We will decide on September’s book at the July meeting.

The Liberals Book Club will meet every odd-numbered month on the second Thursday at the DGTDO office, 908 Curtiss Street in Downers Grove. The next meeting is July 11^th (book is Born a Crime). The office will be open at 6:30 p.m. and book discussion will start at 7:00 p.m., with more socializing afterward. (Having read the book is not a requirement to attend.)

Join us for good company and good conversation in a relaxed atmosphere.

July 11 Facebook Event link

SO... YOU WANT TO BE A DELEGATE.

SO... YOU WANT TO BE A DELEGATE.

By Julia Kennedy Beckman, Democratic State Central Committeewoman, 11^th Congressional District

Even though the Presidential election is 18 months away, the campaign has been heating up for months.  Here are a few facts about being a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 2020:

Where and when:  Milwaukee, WI, July 13 to 16, 2020.  The Democratic Party of Illinois (DPI) will use the comprehensive delegate selection plan issued by the DNC mandating diversity, the strength of our party. 

Illinois has a total of 184 delegates and 13 alternates as follows:

101 – elected from 18 Congressional districts
  20 – pledged party leaders and elected officials
  34 – at large delegates
  13 – at large alternate delegates
  ?? – automatic delegates (Democratic Senators, Congressional representative, Governor, etc.)

Each Congressional District is allowed a certain number of delegates.  The five Congressional Districts in Downers Grove Township are as follows:

3^rd – 3 males, 3 females
5^th – 4 males, 3 females
6^th – 3 males, 3 females
8^th – 2 males, 3 females
11^th – 2 males, 3 females

Each delegate candidate will identify with one Presidential candidate.

Here’s the problem:  24 presidential candidates and counting.    If they all file in Illinois, our districts could have between 120 and 168 delegate candidates on the March primary ballot – EEK!  But the bright side is so many opportunities to be a delegate!

Some important dates and details:

Each delegate candidate must file at least 500 petition signatures.  Signature gathering will begin October 10, 2019.

Filing dates are January 6 – 8, 2020 in Springfield at the State Board of Elections.  At the same time, Statement of Candidacy and presidential preference must be filed with the DPI, also in Springfield.  It’s best to file as a slate so that each candidate needs to collect only 100 signatures.

IMPORTANT:  In reality, Presidential candidates will select delegates.  Join a campaign as soon as it establishes in Illinois. 

Did I mention diversity?    Here is the desired breakdown, statewide.  Not a quota, a guideline:

African American – 40; Hispanic – 28; Asian American – 9; Native American – 1; LGBTQ+ - 9; Disabled – 24 and Youth (under 36 yrs of age) – 63.   Notice Caucasians aren’t mentioned, they will be included in the non-ethnic and at large groups. 

Need more details?  Go to:   democraticpartyofillinois.com/2020info for the entire selection plan and list of candidates or

Illinois Democratic County Chairs Association at https://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/5003453/2020-DNC-Delegate-Sign-Up to record your contact information and presidential preference.  It will be forwarded to the campaign of your choice or

Julia Beckman:  beckman110@comcast.net

Stay tuned for further details! 

HOW ARE YOU RESISTING?

HOW ARE YOU RESISTING?

By Carla Feinkind

How ARE you resisting?  We know our FB posts/rants are NOT read by the people who NEED to hear from us...our elected people. They don't even read our tweets! (Can you imagine???)

So, then how do we make our opinions known?  WE MUST CALL the offices of the people who serve us.   I call almost every day.  I call Speaker Pelosi to thank her for her leadership and…to push for impeachment.  I call my Representative and BOTH my Senators.  I even call Senator Mitch McConnell.  I DETEST McConnell but, when I call, I am POLITE AND STRONG...Recently, I called to tell him that the people in my Republican educated suburban community WANT him to get to work and start bringing bills to the floor!  I know when I call from "VERY Republican Hinsdale", they KNOW me.  "Oh yes, Mrs. Feinkind".

People ask..."But do our calls really matter?"  YES!  They matter more than email, and no one opens any letters fearful of "powders".

Sen. Chuck Schumer says that ALL calls are noted but, when the office is FLOODED with calls, it can cause them to STOP and maybe change course.  The website 5calls.org, which also has an app,  gives some crucial issues and talking points.  Sen Schumer suggests trying to make the issue "personal".

Reach Both Houses of Congress at (202) 224-3121. I am also "phone buddies" with the people at the DOJ, (202) 353-1555.  And, I call Governor Pritzker at (217) 782-0244.  Go online to find out your state Senators and Reps.

I KNOW PEOPLE IN CONGRESS HEAR ME BECAUSE I CALL!  HOW ARE YOU RESISTING?   MAKE SURE YOU ARE HEARD ....We all carry our cell phones everywhere.  CALL!  CALL!!!

SHOULD YOU RUN? I DID AND HERE’S WHY.

SHOULD YOU RUN? I DID AND HERE’S WHY.

By Chris Hotchkin

Interview with Julie Renehan, County Board Member District 3. 


Julie received the most votes of all candidates in District 3 in the general election in 2018. She is the first Democrat in many years to represent this district.

1.      What made you decide to run in 2018?

For too too long one party has represented almost all seats in DuPage County government despite a changing and increasingly Democratic face in the area.  I wanted to give voice to more of us and share Democratic values. When Hillary Clinton was defeated, I was determined to work harder for Democratic candidates.  When I was asked to run, I did.  I was willing to lose but wanted to "put it out there" that the Democratic presence in DuPage is established and growing. 

2.      What were the challenges you faced in the campaign, and where did you get help?

The biggest challenge is just putting yourself out there, putting yourself in front of the voters. Another challenge of course is raising money. Learning the technical aspects of running a campaign, such as targeting precincts was a challenge, but interesting to learn. Getting signatures on my petitions was the first challenge I faced, and I was proud to be able to file enough signatures to get on the ballot.

Help came from expected and unexpected places. Of course, family and friends helped, but sometimes a complete stranger would contact me and say they wanted to help right away and would be very passionate about getting involved.

Representative Cheri Bustos,  U.S. Representative from the 17^th District in Illinois and Chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee ran a “Boot Camp” for new candidates that was very helpful in teaching me how to get my message out there.  Some local Democrats such as Paul Farber who provided spreadsheets and Tony DeFranco who walked precincts and passed out signs were very helpful.

3.      What was the most satisfying part of running for office as a Democrat in DuPage County?

 Meeting the challenges of candidacy was the most personally satisfying part- doing things for the first time as a candidate that were out my comfort zone. With each incremental challenge-speaking at events, fundraising, canvassing- I found confidence and achievement. It helped that I ran with simply a great group of candidates and it was a privilege to be amongst them.  It was rewarding to be among so many volunteers and advocates that share my values and goals.  And, of course, the most satisfying part is getting to represent and serve people- and give more voice to more of us.