Challenging Big Business Politics in Illinois

Mike Clemmons, a member of Joliet, Ill., Local 176, will never forget Alexi Giannoulias coming to the aid of 600 union workers at the Hartmarx clothing factory outside of Chicago.

Michael Clemmons, Joliet, Ill., Local 176 (left) and Illinois U.S. Senate candidate Alexi Giannoulias prepare to go door-to-door with 70 volunteers to talk about the choices for voters in 2010.

With Wells Fargo threatening to withdraw credit from the famous producer of men’s suits—which would shut  the business down—Giannoulias, the state’s treasurer, who is running for the Senate seat once held by President Barack Obama, went into action and told the bank that it would lose all state business if it moved against Hartmarx.  One year later, the factory, now under new management, is thriving.  Clemmons, a member of Local 176’s voluntary political action committee says:

Alexi is for middle-income individuals.  He wants to give tax breaks to people who will put money back into the economy, unlike his opponent, Rep. Mark Kirk, who is in lock-step with the old Bush trickle-down economics.

“You can’t trust Kirk,” says Clemmons, a journeyman inside wireman since 1997, a member of the local’s volunteer political action committee and a Democratic central committeeman in Grundy County, 60 miles southwest of Chicago.  As an example of Kirk’s doubletalk, Clemmons cites Kirk’s promise in early August to support the Education, Jobs and Medicaid Assistance Act in the House, an emergency bill that saved at least 5,700 teaching jobs in Illinois.  A day after the announcement, Kirk voted against the bill.

Kirk has repeatedly voted to protect corporate tax loopholes that ship American jobs overseas.  And he is solidly against reforming the practices on Wall Street that nearly tanked the U.S. economy.  It’s no mystery why.  MarketWatch, part of the Wall Street Journal news group, called Kirk a “pig at the trough” for taking in over $826,000 in campaign contributions this cycle alone from the financial industry. 

Michael Carrigan, president of the Illinois AFL-CIO and former business manager of Decatur, Ill., Local 146, applauds Giannoulias’ proposal for an ambitious public works and infrastructure plan paid for by repealing big oil tax breaks and reinvesting in American jobs. Carrigan says:

Alexi Giannoulias shows us he knows what it takes to get this country back on track.  This election is about jobs and reinvestment in American workers.  If we invest in the work force, that investment is returned in middle class buying power and the strength of sustainable employment.

The state’s governor’s race pits current Gov. Pat Quinn against Bill Brady, a contractor and member of the anti-union Associated Builders and Contractors. Clemmons says, “Pat Quinn is a reformer and leader in the fight for ethics in government.  Bill Brady is an anti-union contractor, an anti-union contractor who wants to reduce Illinois’ minimum wage.  What more is there to say?”

Eric Patrick, business manager, Rockford Local 196, says:

Bill Brady has opposed equal pay for equal work legislation and voted against the “Illinois Jobs Now” capital bill which has created work for an estimated 500,000 unemployed working class men and women in Illinois through a terrible economy.

Rosetta Shin, business representative for Downers Grove Local 21, says Quinn has had to make some very difficult decisions to balance the state’s budget and expects a tough race.  IBEW activists, she says are working as hard as

While Quinn focuses his campaign on big population centers in Cook County, surrounding Chicago, Rockford Local 364 is helping build the turnout in downstate. Business Manager Darrin Golden, who also serves as secretary-treasurer of the Northwestern Illinois Building and Construction Trades Council, isn’t stopping at the governor’s race.  His local is mobilizing to support one of their own for a seat in the Illinois House, going door-to-door and walking in parades to elect Ray Pendzinski, who currently serves as an alderman in Belvedere.  Says Golden:

I’ve always believed that the best people to represent organized labor in Springfield are our own members.

In Danville, Jim Bailey, business manager of Local 538 and secretary-treasurer of the building and construction  trades council, is supporting Michael Puhr for a vacant state house seat formerly held by a popular Republican.  “Democrats have held the governorship and leadership of both chambers of the Illinois legislature for eight years,” says Bailey.  “With the anti-incumbent sentiment brewing,” he says, “We need to get out and vote for the people who have been with us.”

Labor-Friendly Candidates in Illinois...

Governor: Pat Quinn

U.S. Senate: Alexi Giannoulias

U.S House:
District 8       Melissa Bean
District 10     Dan Seals
District 11     Debbie DeFrancesco                            Halvorson
District 14     Bill Foster

Early Voting...

10/11/10 -- First day for early voting
10/26/10 -- Last day for grace period registration and voting
10/28/10 -- Last day for early voting

Early Voting 
From Pamphlet -- Illinois State Board of Elections:

Many registered voters in Illinois are unable to vote in person at the polling place on election day. Early voting was created to allow the voter to vote in a designated polling place during the 22nd day through the 5th day preceding an election without having to supply an excuse or reason. This document provides general information regarding the correct procedures to follow in order to vote early in Illinois.