One look at Dorothy Brown's résumé conveys just how impressive an individual she is. As Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County, she manages an annual operating budget of over $100 million and a workforce of over 2,000 employees. In addition, Brown has over three decades of progressive business experience, having worked for a 'Big Eight' international accounting firm, a major utility company and a major local bank.
Brown hopes that those credentials and her ethics platform take her all the way to the top as she challenges Mayor Richard Daley for his seat. She recently talked with Windy City Times about her stances regarding ethics, affordable housing and same-sex marriage.
Windy City Times: What is your vision for Chicago?
Dorothy Brown: I want a Chicago that works for all of us, regardless of race, creed, gender, age, income or sexual orientation and I don't feel that's happening right now.
I see that, when I go through certain parts of town, they're not being maintained like downtown. I was just on North Avenue and the median strips are crumbling, storeowners have to hire children to pick up their garbage off their sidewalks, graffiti are all over the viaducts and everything's tied up in bureaucracy.
You look at the West Side at some of the wards there. Either the alderman's connected with the mayor or they're just going to re-gentrify neighborhoods and build expensive condos. I think we need a master community development plan where it does not matter who the alderman is or what connection [ the person ] has. With input from the community, we can work that plan so the Chicago is properly developed but we also have to make sure that we include affordable housing within that plan. People with low incomes need to be able to live in this city as well. We cannot make this city what they wanted to make New Orleans: an elitist city.
Then there's the school system. The school system under the current administration is a farce and is smoke and mirrors; many educators agree with me on this. What we're teaching the kids is really a travesty. The schools need legal and financial support. Also, there should be accountability regarding what happens in these schools and they need to go all the way up to the president.
WCT: You also stress 'professionalism over politics' in your platform.
DB: 'Professionalism over politics' is what I've practiced over my professional and political careers. Ever since I've entered politics, I've brought professionalism to the office. People should be hired based on their qualifications. [You] shouldn't hire people because they've worked on your campaign. It's a disservice to the office you're [ filling ] as well as to the taxpayers.
WCT: So are you saying that you would never hire a relative?
DB: Oh, I'm not saying that. I would hire a relative who is very qualified; it's just that some hire relatives who are not qualified.
WCT: Let's switch gears. I received a press release that stated that you met up with Rev. [ and State Sen. ] James Meeks [ who reportedly said that he would not back Brown because he 'will not be supporting any losing campaign' ] . How is that situation between you two, now?
DB: He permitted me to speak with his congregation [ at Salem Baptist Church ] . He also made a statement the week before in his church that he hadn't said that, and he said that I was welcome to his church anytime. I let them know that I am winner and told them that they can be anything they want to be [ including ] the mayor of Chicago. I also told Rev. Meeks to stay on the battlefield for education to ensure that we have quality teachers.
WCT: So, is he in your corner?
DB: Well, he could not say in his pulpit if he's endorsing me. He did say that I'm always welcome to his church, though.
WCT: Regarding the LGBT community, a lot of people would say that Mayor Daley has done a lot for them. What would you do differently for the community that he hasn't done?
DB: I've done a lot with the gay and lesbian community as well. I issued an executive order banning sexual orientation discrimination when I didn't have to do that; initially, we realized that the non-discrimination ordinance did not apply to my office but I'm a non-judicial state officer.
Also, every year I do something Mayor Daley doesn't do: attend the gay pride parade. And we have a committee in my office and we hold a gay pride event every year.
I will continue to do the type of work Daley has done. I believe in domestic partnerships and making sure that people are not discriminated against regarding housing, benefits and other things. I would continue to work with the gay and lesbian community and I believe that law enforcement needs sensitivity training for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. When the [ shootings ] occurred on 79th Street a few weeks ago, they immediately said that it was not a hate crime; I went to that forum [ at Café 917 about the shootings ] . I told them there that it [ would have been better ] if the police said [ on Dec. 31, the night of the crime ] that they were investigating and not said that it wasn't a hate crime.
Also, there's a problem of mixed signals. The police is not sending a clear message to any minority, not just the gay and lesbian community. They're not sending a message that inappropriate treatment will not be tolerated.
I also want an independent office of professional standards that does not report to the police superintendent.
WCT: The city council recently approved a $500,000 increase in HIV/AIDS prevention funding...
DB: That's all?
WCT: ...and AIDS activists said they needed $1.7 million to really make a dent. What's your reaction?
DB: I spoke at World AIDS Day and talked about ways of increasing AIDS funding as well as putting together a task force to assess the city's needs and how funds should be allocated.
I had a health seminar in Rogers Park and one of the health professionals found that Rogers Park has the highest number of new AIDS cases in Chicago. Also, rates are high [ regarding ] African Americans. We need to make sure we're targeting the funding related to awareness, [ research ] and health services and we need to make sure that we get the funds to those who need it most.
WCT: What's your position regarding same-sex marriage and civil unions?
DB: I'm in the civil-union area. I just think that civil unions give you all the rights as it relates to getting the proper health benefits.
WCT: You held something at [ the nightspot ] The Generator a couple of months back, didn't you?
DB: [ Chuckles ] Yes, I had a fund-raiser there. I also had one at [ Black LGBT nightspot ] The Prop House.
I've always respected all people. Back in high school ( which was in a small town ) , there was one gay [ student ] , and he was one of my best friends. We should respect everybody. People have their lives to live and their choices to make.
WCT: I wanted to wrap up with a general question. Is politics what you thought it would be'
DB: [ Pauses ] I would say yes. Politicians are only human beings; they have their strengths and weaknesses, just like everyone else. You have to know who you are and go for it.
See www.ElectDorothyBrownMayor.com for more info.
