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IVI-IPO's endorsed candidates for the November 2, 2004 General Election

Referenda and Judicial Candidate Recommendations

JOHN KERRY, President - Democratic John Kerry is running for president to make America stronger at home and more respected in the world. He plans on creating good-paying jobs here in American that allow families to get ahead and to make health care a right for all Americans. He wants to make this nation independent from Middle East oil. Kerry intends to modernize and strengthen America's military and lead a new era of alliances - so young Americans are never put in harm's way because we insisted on going it alone.

BARACK OBAMA, US Senator - Democratic An experienced legislator, community activist and civil rights attorney, Barack Obama stands for election with the best qualifications for US Senator that Illinois has seen in a long time. He led the fight in the Illinois Senate for campaign finance reform, landmark ethics legislation and tax relief for the working poor. He was the chief sponsor of the recently enacted laws mandating videotaping of police interrogations and ending racial profiling by law enforcement agencies. Obama has been an outspoken opponent of the war in Iraq and the Patriot Act and promises to be vigilant in protecting American freedom and liberty from government abuse of power.

BOBBY L. RUSH, Congress 1st District - Democratic Expansion of economic opportunities for his constituents and regulation of predatory lending practices that abuse them have been among Bobby Rush's top priorities as Congressman of the 1st district. He supports comprehensive health care and has sponsored legislation to increase funding for children's health insurance and to provide services to women suffering from postpartum depression. Rush is also an outspoken advocate of human rights at home and abroad and has led the call for international intervention to combat the genocide in Darfur. JESSE L JACKSON JR, Congress 2nd District - Democratic In ten years of service to his district, Jesse Jackson has fought vigorously to promote economic development in Chicago's south side and south suburbs. He has won federal funds to improve schools, public transportation and clean water in the district and to expand opportunities for jobs and affordable housing. Jackson also has become a national leader in the struggle for racial, social and economic justice. Equally important to IVI-IPO, he has fostered a growing and dynamic independent movement in the south suburbs, successfully challenging the machine politics that has so long dominated and suffocated that region.

LUIS V. GUTIERREZ, Congress 4th District - Democratic Since making history in 1992 as the first Latino elected to Congress from Illinois, Luis Gutierrez has worked to establish himself as an effective legislator and energetic spokesperson on behalf of his constituents. He has led the fight for affordable housing, public transportation and economic development in his district and has gained national recognition as a champion of immigrant rights and immigration reform. Gutierrez has been a strong critic of government attacks on our civil liberties and this administration's military adventurism abroad.

RAHM EMANUEL, Congress 5th District - Democratic In his first term in Congress, Rahm Emanuel has worked to lower prescription drug prices, protect individuals' medical privacy and make college aid more accessible to working families. He also has focused on forging a bi-partisan coalition of Congresspeople from every state bordering the Great Lakes to pass legislation to fund environmental clean-up of the waterways and sponsored legislation to fund transportation and infrastructure improvements. CHRISTINE CEGELIS, Congress 6th District - Democratic Christine Cegelis is running for Congress because she believes too many office holders have lost touch with the reality of the American economy and the social structure that has changed in recent years. She supports a fair trade policy that would stem the loss of jobs, a universal health care system that would ensure no one lacks medical services and a sensible foreign policy that is sensitive to world opinion. Cegelis is running a dynamic and energetic campaign that is resonating through all areas of her district and she is enthusiastically endorsed.

DANNY DAVIS, Congress 7th District - Democratic Danny Davis has distinguished himself as an articulate voice for his constituents and as an effective legislator. In four terms in Congress, he has been a model of responsive leadership, maintaining weekly office hours in the district and sponsoring dozens of town hall meetings each year for his constituents to question him and express their own views on issues vital to their community. Davis is a national leader in the campaigns for affordable housing, a living wage and universal health care.

MELISSA BEAN, Congress 8th District - Democratic A businesswoman who also claims wide support from organized labor, Melissa Bean defies traditional labels and is prepared for the challenge of overcoming partisan political divides. Her top priorities are economic development, improving schools and education and providing access to quality health care while practicing fiscal responsibility and holding the line on taxes. Bean is personally committed to raising the level of accountability in public service and providing her constituents with honest representation of which they can be proud.

JANICE D. SCHAKOWSKY, Congress 9th District - Democratic Throughout her career, first as a grassroots advocate, then as a state legislator and now as a congresswoman, Jan Schakowsky has fought for equal rights, economic and social justice, universal healthcare, public education and housing needs. She has emerged as a national leader in opposition to the war in Iraq and this administration's attack on civil liberties. We strongly support her re-election as one of the country's most articulate and outspoken champions of freedom and liberty.

LEE GOODMAN, Congress 10th District - Democratic We applaud Lee Goodman's campaign to bring sensible liberal values to this traditionally liberal district. He supports rescinding tax cuts for the wealthy as an issue of economic justice as well as one of fiscal responsibility. His advocacy of "Medicare for All' is both a humanitarian position and a sensible solution to spiraling business costs that hinder the creation of jobs. Goodman wants to reform American foreign policy to bring us back into the community of nations rather than acting unilaterally as the world's policeman and ultimate judge. He is compassionate, thoughtful, articulate and independent and he is heartily endorsed.

GLORIA SCHOR ANDERSEN, Congress 13th District - Democratic Gloria Schor Andersen, an American Government teacher is running for Congress to bring her unique experiences in the private sector, government, as an educator and activist to serve the people of our area and nation. She believes in "fair trade", a progressive tax, the rights of workers, gun control and that what we borrow from the earth from our children and must return it in a decent condition.

DAVID GILL, Congress 15th District - Democratic David Gill is an emergency room physician who also does volunteer work for Planned Parenthood of East Central Illinois. His most important goal is the implementation of a Universal Payer National Health Insurance Plan. Supporting a wide range of liberal policy positions including abortion rights, environmental protection, roll-back of Bush's tax cuts and repeal of the Patriot Act, Gill has garnered support from all 22 counties in the district.

LANE A. EVANS, Congress 17th District - Democratic For 22 years, Lane Evans has championed working men and women, small business owners and family farmers through advocacy of just wages, fair trade and government grants and loans for small businesses and community development projects. He has also been a steadfast supporter of civil rights and civil liberties, increased educational opportunities, comprehensive health care services and environmental protection. He is a leading advocate of the use of ethanol to reduce gas emissions and has strongly condemned the decision to pull out of the Kyoto Treaty.

DOROTHY BROWN, Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County - Democratic Dorothy Brown has turned around decades of turmoil and brought the Clerk's office into the 21st century both technologically and professionally. She has recruited qualified managers, invested in employee training programs and implemented best practices in customer service. Under Brown's direction, operational efficiency and financial accountability have improved dramatically and she has earned our support for reelection

GLORIA ALITTO MAJEWSKI, MWRD Commissioner - Democratic Running for her fifth term, Gloria Majewski is a full-time Commissioner with a vast array of knowledge and experience that has served the district well. Her goals for the next term include reducing maintenance and energy consumption with no degradation of effluent quality and working with the IEPA to develop and achieve water quality standards for District waterways.

BARBARA MCGOWAN, MWRD Commissioner - Democratic In her first term, Barbara McGowan was elected Chairperson of the Committee on Affirmative Action and has achieved an impressive record of extending opportunities to women and minorities as workers and contractors. She believes the MWRD should take a leadership role in determining the need of waterfront development and is an outspoken advocate of protecting public access to the Chicago River.

PATRICIA YOUNG, MWRD Commissioner - Democratic First elected as an independent in 1992, Patricia Young has continued to lead the other commissioners in questioning management proposals and looking out for the interests of the taxpayers. She conducts her own research and analysis, enabling her to challenge assumptions and speak out against measures she believes would be detrimental to the public. Young is a leading opponent of conversion of the Chicago riverside for private use.

IRA I. SILVERSTEIN, State Senate 8th District - Democratic Ira Silverstein is one of the legislature's foremost advocates of public education and has succeeded in bringing much needed grants to the schools of his ethnically diverse district. He is also an advocate of expanded health care, prescription drug coverage, women's rights and child support enforcement. After last year's tragic fire at the County building, Silverstein sponsored legislation to mandate public safety improvements in all government buildings.

JULIE SAMUELS, State House 8th District - Green Independent and involved with the communities of Chicago and Oak Park, Julie Samuels will not answer to party bosses and will try to re-establish participatory democracy with the goals of sustainable growth, universal health care, fair taxes, appropriate transportation, equality in education funding, campaign finance reform, instant runoff voting and cumulative voting.

JOHN A. FRITCHEY, State House 11th District - Democratic Running for his fifth term in the legislature, John Fritchey has consistently supported women's rights and reproductive freedom and extending Illinios' Human Rights Act to include lesbians & gays. He also has sponsored legislation to protect victims of domestic violence and to prevent parents from removing children from court jurisdiction during custody disputes. Fritchey is a strong advocate of privacy protection and has successfully passed into law provisions to protect consumers from identity theft.

SARA FEIGENHOLTZ, State House 12th District - Democratic The undisputed leader of women's rights in the Illinois House, Sara Feigenholtz has fought vigorously to protect a woman's right to choose and successfully sponsored the Contraceptive Equity Act, which mandates insurance coverage for prescription contraceptives. She has also supported legislation to protect victims of domestic violence and to give them standing to sue their abusers for damages. Feigenholtz supports a wide array of liberal issues and is also a strong advocate of election and ethics reform. She is one of the brightest stars in the legislature and is enthusiastically endorsed.

LOU LANG, State House 16th District - Democratic A champion of women's rights, Lou Lang is the chief sponsor of the ERA in the Illinois General Assembly and has been an outspoken advocate of abortion rights for all women, including the indigent. He is a leader in the fight to protect people from discrimination based on sexual orientation and a consistent supporter of civil rights and civil liberties. Lang's other legislative initiatives include bills to prevent political insiders from obtaining sweetheart deals or defaulting on state contracts.

ELIZABETH COULSON, State House 17th District - Republican A leader in the fight for government reform, Elizabeth Coulson has sponsored legislation to strengthen the Gift Ban Act, prohibit the appearance of public officials in public service announcements 60 days prior to an election, educate government employees on ethics provisions and stop the revolving door of government employees into private industry. She also is a strong supporter of reproductive freedom and gay rights, expansion of health care and protection of government jobs from outsourcing. Coulson is renowned for her ability to work across party lines and we heartily endorse her re-election bid.

JULIE HAMOS, State House 18th District - Democratic Julie Hamos has been a dynamic leader on consumer protection, affordable housing, reproductive rights, child support reform, and improved care for the elderly. In the current session of the legislature she successfully sponsored legislation that will provide continued health care for seniors as well as the Energy Efficient Commercial Building Act which creates energy efficient building codes for new commercial development.

ROBIN KELLY, State House 38th District - Democratic In her first term, Robin Kelly has kept her promise to fight for economic development in the region through sponsorship of legislation to provide tax credits for businesses established in communities with affordable housing or access to public transportation and to provide better accountability for TIF districts. She also has championed legislation concerning children's welfare, from increasing reimbursement for providers of childcare to TANF recipients to removing truants from the criminal justice system.

MICHAEL NOLAND, State House 43rd District - Democratic Attorney Michael Noland is a former Kane County Public Defender, teacher, and Navy corpsman. While advocating increased funding for education and health care, he stresses the need for fiscal responsibility by ending member initiatives and slashing special-interest corporate tax breaks. Noland is a strong advocate of a balanced transportation system, supporting extension of the Elgin-O'Hare expressway as well as expansion of public transit systems.

JOE VOSICKY, State House 46th District - Democratic NANCY SHEPHERDSON, State House 51st District - Democratic Businesswoman Nancy Shepherdson opposes government subsidies to large corporations and proposes growing the economy by guaranteeing working people a living wage and affordable health care, resulting in more money for them to spend. She also is a strong environmentalist and has proposed innovative ideas for mixed-use developments, easing traffic congestion, expanding mass-transit and protecting open spaces.

ELAINE NEKRITZ, State House 57th District - Democratic In her first term, Elaine Nekritz has fulfilled her promise of providing top quality constituent services to the residents of her district. She also has provided legislative leadership in the area of privacy protection, sponsoring legislation combating identity theft and abuse of information in the public domain. Most important to IVI-IPO is Nekritz 's commitment to government ethics and reform, exemplified by her sponsorship of legislation to restrict lame-duck gubernatorial appointments.

KATHY RYG, State House 59th District - Democratic In her first term in the legislature, Kathy Ryg has demonstrated an admirable commitment to bi-partisanship in the drafting and sponsorship of legislation. Her initiatives include expansion of public health care programs, consumer protection against identity theft, establishment of energy-efficiency standards, expediting state reimbursement to local governments, and granting property tax relief to persons with disabilities and owners of accessible housing.

ROSEMARY MULLIGAN, State House 65th District - Republican In her 12 years in the Illinois House she has distinguished herself as a leader in human services appropriations, women's issues, health care, and early childhood education. She is recognized for her expertise in prescription drugs, problem and compulsive gambling, victim's rights, and health insurance coverage and reform issues.

PHIL HUCKLEBERRY, State House 88th District - Green Phil Huckleberry's primary goals are reforming the mechanism of school funding through slashing property taxes and raising income taxes to guarantee a greater state share of the funding responsibility and the implementation of a strong state energy policy that focuses on sustainability through renewable energy sources and energy efficiency. He also supports a return to cumulative voting for the legislature and comprehensive ethics reform.

RICCA SLONE, State House 92nd District - Democratic Running for her fifth term, Ricca Slone has established a solid record of support for equal rights, reproductive freedom, civil liberties and governmental reform. She is a dedicated environmentalist, committed to preservation of farmland, protection of wetlands, control of urban sprawl and increased public transit. In the current session, she has sponsored legislation to ban polluters from doing business with the State of Illinois for five years.

NAOMI D. JAKOBSSON, State House 103rd District - Democratic Naomi Jakobsson's primary interests are education funding and affordable health care and she has been a strong advocate for both in the legislature. She has also sponsored legislation to protect patients' privacy rights, guard against consumer fraud, recognize graduate research students as University employees and eliminate the patronage-ridden General Assembly state scholarship awards. It has been a promising first term for Jakobsson and we heartily recommend her for re-election.