Pictured. Debra Shore kicks off her campaign. Photo by Andrew Davis
With several well-connected supporters standing behind her and the Chicago River flowing in the background, Debra Shore officially kicked off her campaign for the board of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District ( MWRD ) at Streeterville's Nicholas Meias Centennial Plaza Monday, Jan. 9. According to Shore, the site, where the water cannon shoots over the river during the summer, was picked because of its connection to the District's mission of treating water for the county's residents and industries.
If elected, Shore would be the first out lesbian elected to a county-wide office. The candidate has been endorsed by many top public officials, including U.S. Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky; State senators Carol Ronen, John Cullerton, and Jeff Schoenberg; Cook County Commissioners Bobbie Steele, Larry Suffredin and Mike Quigley; State representatives Sara Feigenholtz and Larry McKeon; and Chicago aldermen Tom Tunney and Ric Munoz.
Suffredin said that the launch itself was important because, if Shore is elected, she would be the first environmentalist on the board in more than two decades. He added that her background ( including being the founding editor of Chicago Wilderness magazine ) and activism have 'done things to improve the quality of life here in Cook County and in the Water Reclamation District.' Suffredin also said that he looked forward to the opportunity to have Shore be one of the commissioners responsible for 'better water protection and [ for being responsive ] to the needs of the people.'
Munoz talked about the responsibility of overlooking what he called the largest reservoir of fresh water in the world. He also commented that having 'an aggressive environmentalist who knows the issues is exciting, because it gets people talking.'
Jackie Grimshaw, a former director of intergovernmental affairs for Mayor Harold Washington and a transportation activist, discussed the link between her cause and water. 'Transportation actually affects the quality and quantity of water, [ the latter ] because it makes it possible to move into places that are natural spaces and farmland,' she said. 'I know the importance of having people in charge of public policy that will make our natural environment better and conserve our natural resources. This office is as important as the office of governor.'
Ald. Tunney said that the residents of the 44th Ward are 'totally behind' Shore and urged the LGBT community to support her. However, he said that it is ultimately about her qualifications and not orientation. Steele also pledged her support, saying that Shore has demonstrated 'that she is a leader.' Steele also characterized the candidate as 'a breath of fresh air.'
Shore herself said that she is running because water is of the utmost importance to her and because she is uniquely qualified to handle such matters. 'First and foremost, I'm the only candidate with a conservation background. As a leader in the regional conservation consortium called Chicago Wilderness, I have a broad perspective on the issues and challenges facing the greater metropolitan area—with respect to water quality and supply; natural resource protection; and biodiversity preservation,' she said. She also pointed to a 'first-hand knowledge of the natural communities in this region—the woods, the waters, [ and ] the wetlands.' She contended that, with smart management and an involved community, fresh water would not have to be treated 'like garbage.' In addition, the Skokie resident stated that no current board member lives in the northern suburbs, a region she said is plagued with environmental problems, including flooding.
The candidate said that she thought that the MWRD should work 'with every municipality in Cook County to ensure that ordinances are in place to promote conservation of our precious freshwater resources, not impede it.' She also suggested moves that would keep more fresh water in the basin and decrease infrastructure costs.
Shore also alluded to an environmentally friendly project that involves Chicago's leader. 'Mayor Daley is putting a green roof on McCormick Place that would filter 50 million gallons of rainwater back into Lake Michigan a year—50 million gallons that would have previously gone into storm sewers.' The point of saving water, Shore believes, is that issues surrounding the natural resource are only going to become more important as time progresses: 'The Great Lakes hold 20 percent of the world's fresh surface water. Over the next 15-20 years, as we find substitutes for fossil fuels, the focus will be on fresh water—for which there are no substitutes. We have a chance to set the course for generations.'
Technology is also playing a role in her campaign, Shore said; she claimed that the fact that she was the first candidate to launch a Web site is important. 'You might say that it's new-school versus old-school, grassroots and Net roots versus smoke-filled rooms' she said. 'It's a way of informing and engaging people.'
She mentioned other initiatives she intended to pursue if elected. They included job-creation programs ( 'Why can't the district look to create jobs through a public/private partnership?' ) and joint purchasing agreements.
'It's time for the District to come out of the shadows and lead the region,' she said. 'My campaign has been successful because my ideas make sense; because they represent a new way of making the government more open and accountable; and because it's time for a change.'
Shore was also scheduled to launch her campaign in Palatine the same day.
