Windy City Times asked various individuals who they are supporting in the upcoming primary elections—and people were not afraid to speak their minds.
Mark Wojcik, law school professor: I like all of the lawyers who are running for the Democratic nomination. Any of them would help restore the rule of law after Bush's criminal administration, including violations of international law and destruction of evidence.
For State's Attorney, I like Larry Suffredin and Anita Alvarez. I want Larry to continue his magnificent work as a county commissioner, so I'm voting for Anita.
[ Also ] Jay Paul Deratany for Board of Review. [ He is ] an openly gay lawyer who really understands the Board of Review. For appellate court, Alan Greiman and John Steele. For countywide judicial races, each of these: Jesse Reyes, Maureen Kirby, Marilyn Johnson, Debra Walker, Paul Lingo, former CBA President Michael Hyman and Donna Cooper. In other judicial races, I'm supporting James Shapiro ( 8th Subcircuit ) and Anna Demacopoulos ( 15th Subcircuit ) .
Robert Castillo, activist: Locally, the race to watch is the race for state senator for the 20th District. Iris Martinez is the current senator and is facing a stiff challenge from State Rep. Rich Bradley, who decided to not seek re-election for his House seat, thus clearing the way for Deb Mell to run unopposed in her race for his seat. Deb Mell is supporting Martinez's re-election bid, while Bradley is being supported by Deb's dad, Ald. Rich Mell ( 33rd Ward ) . Martinez, who is being supported by local aldermen Rey Colon ( 35th Ward ) , Manny Flores ( 1st Ward ) and Billy Ocasio ( 26th Ward ) , is a staunch ally and supporter of the LGBT community, and has supported efforts to increase state funding for HIV/AIDS. She has been a champion of education issues and women's issues and secured funding to expand parks in the district. She deserves to be re-elected and supported by the LGBT community.
Debra Shore, Metropolitan Water Reclamation commissioner: I am supporting Barack Obama for the Democratic presidential nomination. ( Indeed, I have been slated to be a delegate for Obama from the 9th Congressional District, as has Tom Tunney ) . Barack Obama is the candidate of revolutionary change, not evolutionary change. His is a transformational candidacy, engaging thousands of new people—young people, independent voters—in the political process.
I am working to help elect Larry Suffredin to be the next state's attorney in Cook County. Larry, like Barack, has the ability to build bridges, to bring people together and he is a genuine progressive. He is the candidate who best represents a change from the status quo. He will tackle public corruption, gun violence and police misconduct. I am proud to join Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr., Congressman Luis Gutierrez … and dozens of other progressive Democrats in supporting Larry.
—Ed Smith for Recorder of Deeds— one of the heroic progressives, a Chicago alderman for 24 years now seeking countywide office.
—Daniel Biss for state representative in [ the 17th District ] —A University of Chicago mathematics professor seeking to solve problems in Springfield— that's novel!
—State Sen. Iris Martinez in [ the 20th District ] —a fighter for women and families.
—Deborah Mell [ running for state representative in the 40th District ] —goes without saying!! Let's elect the first open lesbian to the Illinois General Assembly.
Jessica Halem, activist and comedian: Barack Obama. Ending the attack on Iraq is my number one concern. We are spending billions and creating enemies while doing so. Obama is the only candidate I believe will swiftly put an end to this tragedy. I also feel Obama, unlike other Democrats, has the ability to arouse non-voters into voting and generally revitalizing the Democratic Party. I live and work full-time on a college campus where the young people are totally jazzed about the idea of a Barack Obama presidency! I've never seen a candidate like this for young people.
David Ernesto Munar, AIDS Foundation of Chicago: I am proud to have been invited by the Obama for President campaign to run as a delegate in Illinois' 5th congressional district. If elected Feb. 5, I will proudly cast my vote for Barack Obama at the 2008 Democratic National Convention being held in Denver this summer. I decided to favor Sen. Obama because I have had the privilege, living and working in Illinois to be in direct contact with him. He's genuine, smart and committed to improving the lives of all Americans. In my interactions with him as an Illinois and now U.S. senator, he has consistently demonstrated an active interest in helping the various and overlapping communities I belong to: GLBT, Latino, immigrant, HIV-positive. I'm drawn to his message of change and hope and believe he can make good on his promise to broker fundamental healthcare reform, renew the role of evidence in public policy decision-making, invigorate the fight against HIV/AIDS not only abroad but in our own country, and restore our nation's stature around the world.
I'm interested in the 20-plus Senate races in play across the country as well as the many hotly contested House races, including several right here in Illinois. Why? Any progress on healthcare reform, HIV/AIDS, civil and human rights, etc. will need ample support from Congress and margins large enough to insulate progressive efforts against a Senate filibuster. It will not be enough to elect a progressive president; we must also put in place a legislative branch willing to make the hard decisions to take our country—and world—forward.
Rocco Claps, Illinois Department of Human Rights director: Hillary Clinton. Hillary Clinton is ready to serve as a great president on Day One. She brings to the job a history of creating tangible and effective change that we, as a community, can rely upon. As evidenced by her national steering committee of broad-based LGBT supporters, she will fight to bring the community to the table—knowing that we must be a part of any plan to move America forward. As senator, she was the original co-sponsor of ENDA, of the Domestic Partnership Benefits Act and federal hate-crimes legislation. Hillary Clinton supports civil unions and dismantling 'don't ask, don't tell' policies. But, most importantly, she's proven herself as an enormously effective lawmaker —one who is right on the issues but also one that can get things done. I'm proud to support the election of our first woman president!
44th Ward Alderman Tom Tunney: As you know, I am an Obama delegate, so I am supporting Barack Obama, and I have been from the very beginning. … The most important thing is that we win. ... I think we all underestimated Barack's power in Illinois. I think a lot of that has to do with his charisma. I think people feel more optimistic about a fresh, new face. I think he has a great opportunity to change the direction of the country, and I think his ideas appeal more to the mainstream.
I'm also supporting Larry Suffredin for the state's attorney's race. I feel he has the right sensitivity and temperament for the position. A lot of the candidates come off strong as supporters of zero tolerance. While he's tough on crime, I think he's bright enough to figure out the systematic changes that need to be made within the office.
Writer Art 'Chat Daddy' Sims: As an African-American, I want to support Sen. Barack Obama wholeheartedly. However, I must admit that I'm torn between Hillary Clinton and him. To my understanding, the majority of Obama's platform deals with how he plans to take over the Iraq War. Kudos to Sen. Obama for creating the machine that has become his campaign, but beyond that, I am not exactly sure where he stands.
As much as we would all like for this not to be the case, the 44th President of the United States of America will inherit this war. Therein lies my conflict. Hillary Clinton obviously has the diplomatic and foreign policy experience to create a much more peaceable solution, and her stance on most issues is very clear cut and obvious. Yet, that whole so-called 'likeability factor' may affect the respect she receives from the nation as a whole, thereby affecting the respect she could receive from the leaders of other nations.
… [ I ] n all honesty, I'm really interested in the outcome of Super Tuesday. I think it will be interesting to see what the results are from such a large cross section of American constituents.
Gail H. Morse, attorney: Barack Obama is the real deal. Yes, I know he does not support marriage equality, but I know he will be supportive of all or our rights, including marriage, sooner than anyone else currently running as a viable candidate for president.
Locally, re-electing Illinois State Sen. and Assistant Majority Leader Iris Martinez [ is important ] . Sen. Martinez is the first Latina elected to the Illinois Senate and has, without hesitation, supported LGBT rights, women's health and choice in Springfield—often under enormous pressure from very vocal and strong opposition and often at great personal sacrifice. Her political savvy and courage lead to her selection as the Assistant Majority Leader of the Senate, a testament to her leadership. She is a strong voice for the LGBT community and women in Springfield and deserves to be re-elected. We could have no better advocate in the State Senate.
Mike Bauer, activist: First, as to the presidential race, I'm supporting Barack Obama and sit on his national LGBT committee, his Illinois LGBT committee, his Israel policy committee and his Illinois finance committee. Although we have several terrific candidates in the Democratic primary this year, Barack has a unique ability to appeal to a broad array of persons in our society, including the LGBT community, and to bring those various constituencies together to seek solutions to the enormous problems and issues our nation is facing these days, both domestically and internationally.
Second, there are three other races I am heavily focused on. One is the reelection of Congresswoman Melissa Bean from Illinois' 8th Congressional District. It was just four years ago that that district was represented by one of the leading homophobic, anti-choice right-wing Republicans in the U.S. House, Phil Crane. Congresswoman Bean's re-election ensures keeping this seat a Democratic seat for someone who is supportive of LGBT issues and out of the hands of the Republican right-wing.
Also, the retirement of right-wing Republican Congressman Jerry Weller has provided us with a wonderful opportunity to take Illinois' 11th Congressional District away from the Republicans and replace Weller with another supportive Democrat—Illinois Senate Majority Leader Debbie Halvorson. Halvorson's past experience in successfully running for elective office and in fundraising make her a national priority for congressional democrats and Speaker Pelosi.
Lastly, a close friend of our community, Cook County Larry Suffredin, is seeking the Democratic nomination for Cook County State's Attorney to replace retiring State's Attorney Dick Devine. Suffredin has long been a voice and advocate in progressive politics and will be a strong voice for our community in an office that is so important to us.
Gary Chichester, activist and event producer: The presidential candidate I support is Hillary Clinton. I offer her my support, not because I see myself as a politico and I am far from a major donor, but I support her cadidacy because I consider Hillary a friend. I met her in my freshman year in high school. We served together on student government throughout our high school years. One of my fondest memories from that period was being on the same team with her that created the freshman homecoming float.
The friendships we forged then have lasted over the years.
...Over the years she has proven to me that she has the tested and proven experience that it takes to hold the most difficult job in the world. That's why many of her former classmates traveled on our own initiative to Iowa and New Hampshire to ccanvas and give insight to the Hillary Clinton we know, the Hillary Clinton who listens and cares.
I find that Hillary is strong and steady, but she's also generous and funny and kind. In this political climate, a person gets criticized for being ordinary, a person gets criticized for being extraordinary. Hillary is those rarest of persons: She is both.
I'm not focusing on any other races at this time.
