On August 13-14, some members of KCDW attended the Illinois Democratic Brunch sponsored by the Illinois Democratic County Chairs Association. Mark Guethle, Chair of the Kane County Democratic Party is the current IDCCA President, and he opened the meeting with a call to action before introducing the first speaker. Mark told the audience that “democracy itself is on the ballot this November … and the Republicans have a different set of values than Democrats have. Trump and his enablers have a plan called Project 2025.” Mark reminded us that “We cannot allow Trump and his lies to take control of our country.” If we are not vigilant and do not work hard, “it can happen.”
One of the first speakers was our governor, J.B. Pritzker. He highlighted many of the accomplishments of President Biden and discussed some of the changes that have occurred in Illinois to help working families because of the efforts of the Democratic party. These include raising the minimum wage, eliminating taxes on groceries, lowering prescription drug prices, rebuilding workers’ rights, and offering affordable healthcare. Recently, $41 million in grants was awarded to 32 communities to make needed repairs to water, sewer, and drainage infrastructure so that 52,000 Illinois residents have safe water with no lead in it. Pritzker’s plan to make “Illinois the best state in the nation for families” also included putting $3 billion more dollars into public education and giving public schools, universities, and libraries what they need to provide education, justice, and equity for everyone. In 2023, Illinois became “the first state in the nation to outlaw book bans.” Pritzker ended by asking “Are you ready for the fight?”
Governor Pritzker was followed by the party builder honoree recipients for 2024, IDCCA Vice President Pam Davidson and Former IDCCA President Doug House. Pam is the Knox County Democratic Party Chair and likes to get into “good trouble.” She talked about the debt we owe to the people who have paved the way for us. These include people like Fannie Lou Hammer, a civil rights activist who led voting drives when it was dangerous and almost impossible for Black residents to vote in the South, and Loretta Durbin who has set up training programs that give women the opportunity to have a voice at the table. Pam was an active member of the UAW Local 865 when she worked at John Deere Harvester Works and recently attended the DNC Convention as a delegate for the 17th Congressional District.
The second honoree recipient, Doug House, was formerly the Rock Island County Democratic Party Chair and has served the Democratic Party and the state of IL for 44 years. In 2023, Doug was inducted into the AFL-CIO Organized Labor Hall of Fame. Doug was the former Deputy Secretary of the IL Department of Transportation and the former President of the IL American Public Works Association. He said that in Rock Island City, someone from his family has been on the ballot for 80 years, and his son just ran for office. Doug emphasized that one of the most important things he has learned in politics is that the “kindest person in the room is often the smartest person in the room.”
The two honorees were followed by Speaker of the IL House, Chris Welch; President of the IL Senate, Don Harmon; U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth; and U.S. Senator, Dick Durbin.
Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton described the energy and excitement in the Democratic Party and talked about the sacrifice that President Biden was willing to make to put America First. President Biden gave us a great gift because it was obvious to Americans that former President Trump would never make this kind of sacrifice. Lt. Governor Stratton talked about the importance of voting for Democrats up and down the ballot so we can make life better for middle-class and struggling families who deserve a fair wage so they don’t have to work multiple jobs. She ended by introducing the keynote speaker, Aftab Pureval, the first Asian American mayor of Cincinnati, Ohio.
Aftab is the son of first generation Americans who migrated to America in their twenties. He grew up in Beavercreek, Ohio, and graduated from the University of Cincinnati Law School. After working as a corporation lawyer and as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Dept. of Justice, he decided to run for office. From 2016 to 2021, he was the Hamilton County Clerk of Courts and was the first Democrat to hold this office in over 100 years. He reformed the Clerk’s office with professional reforms, which including paying a living wage to all workers and offering paid family leave to employees. With his reforms, taxpayers saved millions of dollars.
Aftab said to win this election, we must “stop crying and start sweating.” We need confidence to win, and we have to have confidence to achieve great things. Democrats know what we stand for and who we stand for. He reminded us that in his state of Ohio, a 10-year old was raped and forced to go to Indiana for healthcare. The Republican party denied this child’s existence. This is unacceptable. The stakes are high in this election, and it is up to Democrats to protect the rights of citizens and bring the truth to light. For 200 years, American has been a beacon of light for the world. We can do anything if we work hard enough.
Some say our country is not ready for a woman president, but they are wrong. Our plan to canvas door to door, register voters, write postcards, and phone bank is urgent, and we must start now and work until election day, Nov. 6. We must know what we are fighting against. According to “democracyforward.org,” some of the radical proposals in Project 2025 include stopping attempts to lower prescription drug prices, lowering food assistance to hungry families, eliminating Head Start programs, dismantling the Department of Education and the Department of Homeland Security, pushing more elderly people to Medicare Advantage plans so choosing to stay on Medicare is eliminated, lowering overtime pay protections for over 4 million workers, and cutting civil rights protections in areas that include DEI programs and LGBTQ rights in healthcare, education, and workplaces. In her speech, Tammy Duckworth emphasized that “we are not going back.” She stated that Donald Trump bragged about appointing the Supreme Court justices who are taking away our rights, and it is up to us to vote for Democrats up and down the ballot and put the power back in the hands of a president who wants to “serve the people.”
