Dan Rodriguez-Schlorff is the first to say that he is just like anyone else. However, the Green Party candidate for state treasurer is also an openly gay Asian minister—an description that certainly sets him apart from the pack. Windy City Times talked with the pensive Rodriguez-Schlorff—who hopes that voters set him apart from the pack on Nov. 7—about Judy Baar Topinka, conservative voters and being a long shot.
Windy City Times: How did you become in politics?
Dan Rodriguez-Schlorff: I've always been interested in the ministry and politics, and I think the two went hand in hand. My family had an activist spirit and picked that up. I felt that I'd be an activist in politics but I've also managed to find my calling in ministry.
The Green Party approached me because they want someone to run for state treasurer. I thought that this office would be a better fit for me than, say, attorney general or comptroller. I was familiar with [ current state treasurer and Republican gubernatorial candidate ] Judy Baar Topinka because of her support for my organization, The Religious Coalition for the Freedom to Marry, and she's a great person in general.
WCT: So if she had run again for treasurer, would you still be running?
DR-S: Yes. People say that she's pretty [ moderate ] for a Republican. However, I don't expect her to live up to Green [ Party ] values.
WCT: I asked some people about the Green Party and got various responses, including several who had nothing to say. How big an obstacle is the fact that the Green Party is relatively unknown?
DR-S: It's huge. We face huge struggles with fund-raising and [ struggled ] with petitioning. Also, because we stand on principles of not selling out, our two main party candidates [ Governor Rod Blagojevich and Topinka ] have accepted large sums of money from corporate sponsors. We're making a concerted effort to get on the inside as elected officials and to change things from within. One of our key values is social responsibility.
I've received a lot of support in the form of very encouraging words. The most surprising thing is that the [ supporters encompass ] the political spectrum. A Republican consultant in Chicago is urging people to vote for me; maybe he likes my interest in small business and my fiscal responsibility.
WCT: You're a minister, you're Asian and you're out. How will those three things play in Peoria?
DR-S: [ Laughs ] Well, hopefully they don't look at ethnic minorities in a bad way...
WCT: Well, Downstate is a pretty conservative place, as you know.
DR-S: I don't intend to alienate voters or to be untrue to myself. One thing that this campaign is about is how a gay person can be competent in an area like finance. I stand on my own experience. I chose to go into banking. The task is to show that religion, race or [ sexual orientation ] do not affect the ability of a person to serve well.
WCT: What has been your family's reaction to you announcing that you're running for office?
DR-S: My friends are very supportive; my family is generally supportive of things I do, but they don't uphold the same political values I do. We differ in the language we use when we talk about economics; they don't understand how I can support unions, for example.
I'm more socially progressive and they're mostly Republican. They're a bit too cautious; they'd [ prefer ] that I not seek office. It does interest them, though, that there are some Republicans who support me.
WCT: How do you assess your chances of winning? As you've already conceded, your party faces an uphill battle.
DR-S: We [ don't face a battle ] in terms of name recognition. I spend lots of time each day talking with people and getting the word out. I'm also relying on word of mouth and I'm hoping that I can become one of the first people in this new party [ which is a different incarnation of the Green Party than Ralph Nader's ] to achieve major success. I'm sure I'll be outspent, but that doesn't mean I'm not viable as a candidate.
See www.schlorff.com .