By Laurence Schiller
It seemed appropriate that on the 71st anniversary of the Allied invasion of Normandy Tenth Dems opened its third office in the 10th Congressional District. At the dedication in Grayslake on June 6, speakers reminded a packed house that the ideals that the New Deal generation fought for in World War II are imperiled by a new generation of robber barons, headed in Illinois by Governor Bruce Rauner. The main message? If we are to fight the onslaught of money and disinformation from GOP billionaires, we need funds. And we need lots of volunteers to talk to their neighbors about our core Democratic values. When the curtain is pulled back from the GOP’s anti-people agenda and folks understand that the Democratic Party that has championed the legislation that has helped most Americans, Democrats win elections.
Two Tenth Dems interns welcomed the standing-room-only crowd, which flowed to the outdoors on what, fortunately, was a beautiful June afternoon. Grayslake Democratic leader Lowell Jaffe then posed the question of the afternoon: “Why an office here in Grayslake?”
The proud answer is that Democrats have made inroads at every level of government in Lake County and there is now a growing constituency to serve. Stephen Ark talked about the progress Tenth Dems volunteers have made over the last several election cycles, and Tenth Dems University Dean Sharon Sanders previewed upcoming programs that would help folks understand the issues of the day and how progressives have the answers to those problems.
Next, Tenth Dems Founding Chair Lauren Beth Gash introduced State Senator Daniel Biss (who is running for Illinois Comptroller). Biss addressed the domination by the top one percent of the post-Bush recession recovery. Referencing the big money in politics intended to ensure that Congress protects the interests of the oligarchs, Biss pointed out that dollars don’t cast votes; people do. The 2016 election will be critical to preserving and extending the progressive agenda against those who would drag us back to the 1920s.
After his remarks, Biss introduced his former State Senate colleague, Illinois Treasurer Mike Frerichs, the afternoon’s keynote speaker. The first Democrat in years elected to state office from downstate (and by the slimmest of margins), Frerichs, too, spoke about the need to protect working people, the poor, seniors, and the middle class from the Republican agenda.
Former 10th District Congressman Brad Schneider and Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering, who will be facing one another in the 2016 primary as they vie for the Democratic nomination for the 10th District’s Congressional seat, also attended the event.
Other elected officials and candidates present at the grand opening included State Senator Melinda Bush, State Representatives Sam Yingling and Elaine Nekritz, Lake County Board members Diane Hewitt and Terry Wilke, Avon Township Clerk Jeanne Kearby, Grayslake High School Board Member Hal Sloan, Wildwood Park District Commissioner Jim Neel, and Associate Judge Mitch Hoffman, who is a candidate for Circuit Court Judge.