Winter News!

Kane County Chronicle Candidate Questions and Answers
Link to article

An excerpt from:
Jim Broadway’s Illinois School Policy Updates, January 10, 2012

Strong voice for education under Tea Party attack

Educators have much at stake: In the Senate, 50 of the 59 current senators are seeking reelection this year. Of those 50, only 19 have primary election opponents. For all the talk about "throwing the bums out," the reality is that most of the bums are pretty well entrenched. I have prepared a page listing all the candidates in contested House and Senate primary elections. They are listed by district number and included are their party affiliations, names, addresses and - for those who provided them to the Board of Elections - the URLs for their campaign web sites.

As you know, I think it is a good thing for educators and public school advocates
to know a bit about candidates' views on school policy before casting their votes. If you don't know your districts - and the boundaries have changed - use the Board of Elections search form. Then proceed to the candidate link above to see if you have a contest.

Here's a good example. Notice that there are two Democrats competing in Senate District 25. One is Corrine Pierog of St. Charles. The other is Steven Hunter of Geneva. (There are also three Republicans running for that Senate seat. You can take a look at them if you want to. This is just an example of voter research.)

Pierog's web site has a lot to say about public education as an issue. She understands about disparities in school funding and favors state policy to bring about parity. That's a courageous stand, actually. An opponent might brand her as a big-spender or as someone who wants to "redistribute" wealth. She also lists early childhood education as apriority and stresses the importance of the P-20 Council. That's a lot more substance than most candidates provide on any issue. Pierog has an interesting biography, a strong educational background.
She is a school board member.

Well, how about Steven Hunter, her Democrat primary opponent? He seems like a nice guy, is an Army veteran, an employee of AT&T and a shop steward for his IBEW local. He has things to say, albeit somewhat superficially, about small business development, conservation of energy and communication technology - but not a word about public schools.

If all you knew was what their web sites say, who would get your vote
in Senate District 25?

Link to complete article

Fall News!

In the Kendall County Democrats Newsletter:
Meet and greet with Corinne Pierog

In the Daily Herald:
Two more enter 25th state Senate race

In the Yorkville Patch:
Candidates Attend Democrats Monthly Meeting

In the Beacon-News:
Longtime Aurora, St. Charles school board members announce state Senate runs

In the Fox Valley Labor News:
Creating jobs, boosting economy on Democrats minds