DuPage Dems - Candidate Spotlight: Greg Schwarze - DuPage County Board - District 6

Candidate Spotlight: Greg Schwarze Note: Spotlights done in order received Greg Schwarze, 53, is a candidate for DuPage County Board District 6. He grew up in downstate Peoria and moved to Carol Stream in 1999 where he still lives and raised his 2 girls, now 24 and 22.  Greg has served as a career Firefighter/Paramedic for 26 years, the last 20 being in Carol Stream. He also serves as the Public Education Coordinator for the Fire District. In this capacity, Greg spends much of his time out in the community teaching safety to seniors, school children, businesses, and pretty much anybody else that will listen. Greg has been involved with many extracurricular activities over the years including youth sports coaching, Rotary Club, Lions Club, church council, and teaching Sunday school. Greg was recently elected to his 4th term as Carol Stream Village Trustee. In this role since 2007, Greg is familiar with local government issues and understands the importance of making sure peoples' concerns are heard. Working with other elected officials to be sure the community's needs are met is an underrated skill Greg's had much experience honing. Greg, a member of DuPage Democrats since 2006, is a Wayne Democratic PC and has also served as a Bloomingdale PC.  His lovely wife, Julia, also a very active Democrat and currently the Wayne Township Dems secretary, goes out canvassing with Greg on a regular basis. Greg says, "When I'm with her, I'm suddenly way more popular as more people seem to open doors!" Greg, a diehard Union member, has served on his Union Executive Board for most of his professional career, and currently serves as a shift steward and the Local's PAC official. Making sure we have a strong middle class is a top priority for Greg. And a way to ensure this is to use Union labor.  Taking care of our growing senior population is another top priority for Greg. "With the population of those over 65 expected to double over the next 10 years, the resources needed must be addressed sooner than later." says Greg. As a Carol Stream Trustee, Greg is working with the Police department's Social Service division to create a Senior Citizen Task Force with the goal to identify and address the problems facing our Senior Citizens today. Another issue Greg wants to focus on is the opioid crisis. As a firefighter/paramedic, Greg has been on dozens of overdose emergencies, including 6 heroin deaths. He knows this problem is worsening and needs a change in tactics. Finally, Greg's track record as a Village Trustee and Firefighter also proves his dedication to protecting our environment and to the public safety of our residents. If you would like to learn more about Greg and his campaign, you can find him on facebook:   https://www.facebook.com/GregSchwarzeDuPage6 or his website:  http://www.gregschwarze.com/  If you would like to donate to his campaign, you can do so here:  https://secure.actblue.com/donate/citizens-for-greg-schwarze-1 Please remember to Vote Firefighter Greg Schwarze on March 17th and November 3, 2020. Paid for by the Democratic Party of DuPage County, who continues the Fight for Economic Justice, Civil Rights and Our Environment within DuPage & Beyond.

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Friend, Be A Primary Voter, Join us for our 2020 Gala and Attend an Upcoming Event

DuPage Dems Weekly

Issues on the Ballot in 2020 Here are just some of the issues on the ballot in 2020 Health Care, School Funding, Women’s Rights, LGBTQ Rights, The Environment, Climate Change, Protecting Social Security, Wealth Inequality, Saving the Middle-Class, Protecting Unions, Serving Our Veterans, Gun Reform, Infrastructure, Our National Identity, Dignity, Senior Services, Immigration, the Fight Against Poverty, Fair Tax and much more… Be A Voter It’s not a democracy unless we engage! Elections Matter, so plan to join your fellow Democrats in DuPage and vote in the 2020 Primary to support our Candidates fighting for the issues above and who support our ongoing fight for Economic Justice, Civil Rights and the Environment. There are a number of primaries in DuPage in 2020, so we want to ensure the strongest candidate for each race is on the ballot for the General Election in November 2020. With that said, please use the information in the portal at VoteDuPage.com, to get informed on the candidates. *Note: The Democratic Party of DuPage County does not endorse in the primary, but we will be all in to support all our candidates up and down the ballot for the general election. VoteDuPage.com Find out everything you need to know to vote at VoteDuPage.com Candidate Information How to Vote Information How to Register Information Candidate Spotlight Information Sample Ballot (when available from the Election Division) And More 2020 Primary – Voting Dates 2/6 – Early Voting starts at the Election Division (map) 3/2 – Early Voting starts at all Locations (list of locations – coming soon) 3/17 – Election Day (find your polling location) *** Mail In Ballot Applications now through 3/12 Only fill out if you are going to vote from home (if you fill this out and you show up for early voting or voting on election day, you will be given a provisional ballot, which we’d like to avoid as much as possible). 2020 Primary – Registration Dates 2/18 – Last Day of Regular Voter Registration 3/1 – Last Day of Online Voter Registration 3/17 – Last Day of Grace Period and Day of Registration DuPage Dems 2020 Gala – In It to Win It DuPage Dems 2020 Gala – In It to Win It Spend an inspiring night with Thom Hartmann (America's #1 Progressive Talk Host), Elected Officials, Candidates and fellow Democrats as we get ready for the 2020 Election. The night will focus on the Importance of the 2020 Election and highlight the work of our PCs and Volunteers, the lifeblood of our Party. Saturday 2/29 from 6-8:30pm Drury Lane Ballroom Oakbrook Terrace Get Tickets & Sponsorships Now *Note there is a DuPage Dems Members Discount Download and Mail-In Form 2020 DuPage Dems Membership 2020 DuPage Dems Membership Be a card-carrying DuPage Democrat in 2020. Show off your commitment to fighting for Economic Justice, Civil Rights and Our Environment. Get discounted tickets to Our 2020 Gala, Golf Outing, Holiday Party and more. Attend Member-Only events for Free. Most importantly, support our 42 Races in 2020 to ensure we elect/re-elect Democrats from President to Judge and every position in-between. Join/Renew Now https://secure.actblue.com/donate/dpdcmembership Check an Existing Membership for Expiration Date Email info@dupagedemocrats.com Upcoming Events *with so many candidates and organizations, any missed event is not intentional* Monday Night Phone Banking 27th January 2020 @ 6:00 pm Rachel Ventura Joliet Campaign Offices, 617 N. Raynor Ave, Joliet IL 60435 Hosted By Rachel F. Ventura Bill Foster Phone Bank 28th January 2020 @ 6:00 pm DuPage Township Democratic Organization, P.O Box 1852 / 684 W Boughton Rd, Bolingbrook, Illinois 60440 Hosted By Bill Foster Fundraiser for Candice Adams for Clerk of the Circuit Court 28th January 2020 @ 6:30 pm Brick House Tavern + Tap (1461 Butterfield Rd, Downers Grove, IL), 1461 Butterfield Rd, Downers Grove, Illinois 60515 Hosted By Candice Adams 2020 Get Tickets Postcards to Wisconsin party 28th January 2020 @ 6:30 pm Braconi's Restaurant & Pizzeria, 796 Royal Saint George Drive #108, Naperville, IL Hosted By Nancy Turner & Indivisible Naperville Addison Township Dems Monthly Meeting 28th January 2020 @ 7:00 pm Addison Village Hall, 1 Friendship Plaza Hosted By Addison Township Democratic Organization (ATDO) Reception for Azam Nizamuddin for DuPage Circuit Judge 29th January 2020 @ 6:00 pm Tony Spavone's Ristorante, 266 W Lake St, Bloomingdale, Illinois 60108 Hosted By Azam for Circuit Judge Get Tickets NNU Meeting: Understanding Implicit Bias Part II 29th January 2020 @ 7:00 pm City of Naperville Municipal Building, Naperville, Illinois Hosted By Naperville Neighbors United Get Tickets Why Warren? with Daniel Biss 29th January 2020 @ 7:00 pm 205 N 2nd St, Dekalb, IL 60115-3234, United States Hosted By Illinois for Warren 2020 DuPage Environmental Summit 30th January 2020 @ 7:30 am Northern Illinois University Naperville Campus, 1120 E Diehl Rd, Naperville, Illinois 60563 Hosted By The Conservation Foundation Get Tickets Bill Foster Phone Bank 30th January 2020 @ 6:00 pm DuPage Township Democratic Organization, P.O Box 1852 / 684 W Boughton Rd, Bolingbrook, Illinois 60440 Hosted By Bill Foster Fundraiser for Jill Otte for Circuit Court Judge 30th January 2020 @ 6:00 pm Hawthorne's Backyard, 1200 W Hawthorne Ln, West Chicago, Illinois 60185 Hosted By Jill Otte for Circuit Court Judge Mike Quigley at Addison Democrats Legislative Breakfast 1st February 2020 @ 8:30 am Empress Banquets Hosted By DuPage Democrats Get Tickets Walk with Jeff - York Township 1st February 2020 @ 12:00 pm The Funky Java Coffee House, 40 S Villa Ave # 6, Villa Park, Illinois 60181 Hosted By Jeffrey M. Jacobson For DuPage Judge Monday Night Phone Banking 3rd February 2020 @ 6:00 pm Rachel Ventura Joliet Campaign Offices, 617 N. Raynor Ave, Joliet IL 60435 Hosted By Rachel F. Ventura Bill Foster Phone Bank 4th February 2020 @ 6:00 pm DuPage Township Democratic Organization, P.O Box 1852 / 684 W Boughton Rd, Bolingbrook, Illinois 60440 Hosted By Bill Foster OUTspoken! LGBTQ Storytelling at Sidetrack 4th February 2020 @ 6:00 pm Sidetrack The Video Bar, 3349 N Halsted St, Chicago, Illinois 60657 Hosted By Sidetrack The Video Bar Trivia Night Fundraiser for Jeff Jacobson 4th February 2020 @ 6:00 pm 48 W Chicago Ave, Naperville, IL 60540-5302, United States Hosted By Jeffrey M. Jacobson For DuPage Judge Get Tickets Postcards 2 WI - PLUS 4th February 2020 @ 6:00 pm 908 Curtiss St, Downers Grove, IL Hosted By Downers Grove Township Democratic Organization YTDO February Meeting 5th February 2020 @ 7:30 pm 433 E St Charles Rd, Lombard, IL 60148, United States Hosted By York Township Democratic Organization What 'Ales' You Fundraiser 6th February 2020 @ 6:00 pm Up North Ale House, 1595 North Aurora Road Naperville, IL Hosted By Mary Jo Mullen for DuPage County Board, District 5 Get Tickets PEACE Toastmasters Meeting 7th February 2020 @6:30 pm DuPage Democrats, 1000-7 Rohlwing Road, Lombard, Illinois 60148 Hosted By PEACE Toastmasters DuPage Dems Primary GOTV Training 8th February 2020 @ 10:00 am DuPage Democrats, 1000-7 Rohlwing Road, Lombard, Illinois 60148 Hosted By DuPage Democrats Postcards 2 WI - PLUS 8th February 2020 @ 10:00 am 908 Curtiss St, Downers Grove, IL Hosted By Downers Grove Township Democratic Organization *** For a full listing of events, use the link below *** ALL EVENTS: DuPage Dems - Facebook Events | DuPage Dems Calendar  Paid for by the Democratic Party of DuPage County, who continues the Fight for Economic Justice, Civil Rights and Our Environment within DuPage & Beyond.

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DuPage Dems - Candidate Spotlight: Amy Chavez - DuPage County Board - District 5

Candidate Spotlight: Amy Chavez Note: Spotlights done in order received Amy Chavez Is Not A Politician  Character. Community. Chavez.  Amy is a business professional, wife, and mom. That’s all she wanted to be! But after the 2016 election, she started attending municipal and county meetings, and now…  Amy Chavez is running for DuPage County Board–District 5  What will Amy bring to the county board? Character. Her nonpolitician perspective, eagerness for open dialogue, and executive business experience are her strengths. She believes we need more results driven government officials and we should expect transparency and action. Amy wants to keep our tax dollars in DuPage County by limiting contributions to lobbyists in Springfield and making sure every contract goes through a competitive bidding process. She wants to tackle storm water issues with resilient solutions. She wants to bring unity to the board and promote Democratic values.  Can she do it? Amy is building on a robust corporate career. At Lucent Technologies, as liaison to the Salt Lake City Olympic Committee, she managed a $350 million Telecommunications project to meet the tech and data demands of the Olympic Games. At Allergan Pharmaceuticals, she managed a multi-state region, focusing on glaucoma and blindness prevention. She was consistently recognized among the top 5% of employees. Amy also holds a Bachelor’s of Science in Business Administration from Colorado State University.  What else will Amy bring to the Board? Community. She has a heart for activism and service. Amy co-founded We Are ONE Naperville, a forum for inclusion and unity through action. She has also been on the boards of the Junior League of Seattle and the Miss Colorado Scholarship Organization. She volunteers for organizations that reflect Democratic values—Moms Demand Action, World Relief, and our public schools.  Amy lives in Naperville with her husband and their 11-year old twins.  Character. Community. Chavez.  Visit amychavez2020.com and find her on all social media @ amychavez2020 Paid for by the Democratic Party of DuPage County, who continues the Fight for Economic Justice, Civil Rights and Our Environment within DuPage & Beyond.

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The Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, Difference Maker and more...

DPDC Weekly

Discussion of the Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. To celebrate and reflect on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's Birthday, on Saturday January 18th, the DuPage Dems held a discussion of the Legacy of Dr. King in today's political climate. It was a great discussion that inspired, challenged and motivated us for the work ahead of us in 2020 & Beyond. We would like to thank everyone who came out to participate in the discussion, thank you to SMART 265 for hosting us and we would like to sincerely thank all our speakers for their time and leadership. Speakers Michael Childress President of DuPage NAACP Ken Mejia-Beal Activist & Illinois State Rep Dist 42 Candidate Reverend Danita Anderson NaperPride & Pastor at Woodridge United Methodist Patrick Watson Democratic 6th District Committeeman Raza Siddiqui President of CWA Unified Council of Illinois & VP of NABET 41 Eddie Bedford Naperville Township Supervisor Sixth Dems One Year Countdown Awards Luncheon Yesterday, the Sixth District Democrats had their annual awards luncheon. The Democratic Party of DuPage County works closely with the Sixth District Committeewoman Nancy Sheperdson and the Sixth District Committeeman Patrick Watson. We were happy to see so many DuPage Dems in attendance at the Luncheon. Congratulations to the Award Winners: The Illinois AFL-CIO Vaseem Iftekhar, Northern Illinois American Muslim Alliance Matt Flamm Palatine Township Committeeperson Cynthia Borbas, Democratic Party of DuPage County Chair 2020 Outstanding Democratic Organizer Cynthia accepted the award on behalf of the ENTIRE Democratic Party of DuPage County. The Award highlights the good work of years past that we've built on in 2019 and will continue to build on in 2020 & Beyond. This award is truly a nod to our entire organization and our allies. in 2019 the DuPage Dems organized Phone Banking (virtual and in person) to GOTV for the 2019 Municipal Elections across all nine Townships. We recruited candidates for positions up and down the ballot for 2020, working with current elected officials, the Democratic Party of Illinois and other stakeholders. We held 12 Training Sessions for the 2020 cycle for Candidates, PCs and Volunteers focused on Petitions, Nominating Papers, Votebuilder and Financial Filings. For the 2020 cycle, we had more than 40 Petition Action Days, helping candidates from President to Judge and every position in between. We had notaries at every event, to expedite the petition process. We also had a number of Bundling Days for Candidates, ensuring their nominating papers were complete and correct. This is in addition to the many activities and days of action our nine amazing Township Organizations and almost 60 Candidates held. We were also able to add over 150 Volunteers/PCs to Votebuilder, empowering more people and campaigns than ever to carry out data analysis, reach out to voters and keep track of voter contacts. Perhaps most importantly, the DuPage Dems continue to reach out and coordinate with Elected Officials, Candidates, the Democratic Party of Illinois, additional Democratic Organizations, Labor Leaders, Grassroots Groups, Community Groups and other natural allies. We are all in this fight together, and the DuPage Dems are In It to Win It in 2020 & Beyond. DuPage Dems Difference Maker - Joan Knippen My interest in politics began during the 2016 presidential campaign. I think that is when I really started to pay attention. On election night I was not as surprised as many where, by the outcome. I had a gut feeling for several months on how the election was going to end. The days following the election where very emotional, so many felt hopeless and defeated. For me, I needed to become involved and have a purpose that I thought would make a difference. While activism wasn’t new to me; for the past 13 years I have volunteered and served on the board of directors for a national breast cancer organization, politics was completely different. I had no idea where to start. Thankfully, I found a local group, Progressives for Change – Elmhurst. It was a perfect fit, and felt good to be involved with like minded people. Maybe there was hope! As 2017 progressed, I started becoming aware of local elections and the people running for those offices. I must admit I never paid much attention to local politics in the past. Of course, I voted, with the exception of presidential, senate and house candidates, I didn’t know much about local candidates. When I met Dan Hebreard in late 2017, his energy and excitement made me want to become involved, I asked if I could help with his campaign. I’m pretty sure my family thought I had lost my mind, as I had never shown any interest in politics before. In February of 2018, I met Linda Davenport, who became an extremely important person in my life, and I worked on her campaign too. Making sure we had a Democratic judge on the bench was a beginning for long needed change in the county judicial system. It was so awesome to share in that history making win! 2018 was such an important year for the Democratic party. So many people jumped in the ring to run for various positions. I love the fact that I had the opportunity to work with and become friends, with many of the candidates. The candidates educated me, and I in turn educated others. For the first time I felt empowered when I voted in the election. I knew the candidates and what they stood for. No more voting blindly for me! While working for the candidates, I also became more involved with Progressives for Change. I joined the board of directors in 2018 and became the board chair in 2019. I absolutely love being part of the change in DuPage county. If I hadn’t stepped “out of the box” and joined P4C, I probably never would have crossed paths with so many amazing people, many who have become my dearest friends, who spend countless hours doing various types of activism. I not only have the chance to be politically involved, I also have the chance to promote many social welfare issues. Educating people in the community about hunger issues, immigration/refugees, climate issues, the LGBTQ community, etc., has really been life changing for me. We tend to be in our own little bubble and aren’t always aware of the struggles people are facing in our own local communities.  The last three plus years have been challenging locally, nationally and world-wide. My hope is 2020 will bring much needed change. It will take time to rebuild, but we need to believe it will happen. We need to keep fighting and promoting what’s right, otherwise it won’t happen. Running for a local office has definitely crossed my mind. While 2020 isn’t my year, maybe another year will be. For now, I will be putting my efforts into helping others win, mainly on some of the judge’s campaigns, while continuing to work on as many social issues facing the county as I can. But, its not just about what I’m doing, its about what we are accomplishing together. It takes a village, and I am so glad I get to be part of the village! Joan Knippen Progressives for Change – Elmhurst Board of Directors Upcoming Events *with so many candidates and organizations, any missed event is not intentional* Walk With Jeff Jacobson - Milton Township 430 W Roosevelt Rd, Wheaton, IL 60187-5056, United States Mon Jan 20, 11:00am Monday Night Phone Banking - Rachel Ventura Rachel Ventura Joliet Campaign Offices, 617 N. Raynor Ave, Joliet IL 60435 Mon Jan 20, 6:00pm NAACP DuPage Candidate Forum Cantigny Park Mon Jan 20, 7:00pm Bill Foster Phone Bank DuPage Township Democratic Organization Tue Jan 21, 6:00pm Postcards 2 WI - PLUS 908 Curtiss St, Downers Grove, IL 60515-4712, United States Tue Jan 21, 6:00pm Fone4Fogerty, Jingle4Judges, Dial 4 Districts (2, 4) – 430 W Roosevelt Rd, Wheaton, IL 60187-5056, United States Tue Jan 21, 6:30pm Bloomingdale Township Dems - January Meeting Glendside Public Library Tue Jan 21, 7:00pm Dueling Pianos Night featuring The Killer Dueling Pianos - Rep. Kifowit Andy's Jazz Club Wed Jan 22, 6:00pm Bill Foster Phone Bank DuPage Township Democratic Organization Thu Jan 23, 6:00pm Democratic Party of Milton Township - January Meeting Glen Ellyn Historical Society Thu Jan 23, 7:00pm Donuts with Senator Dick Durbin Sierra Club Illinois Fri Jan 24, 8:30am Postcards 2 WI - PLUS 908 Curtiss St, Downers Grove, IL 60515-4712, United States Sat Jan 25, 10:00am Canvass with David Guy Stevens 908 Curtiss St, Downers Grove, IL 60515-4712, United States Sat Jan 25, 1:00pm Citizens for Jeff Gahris Fundraiser Emmett's Wheaton Sun Jan 26, 6:00pm Monday Night Phone Banking - Rachel Ventura Rachel Ventura Joliet Campaign Offices, 617 N. Raynor Ave, Joliet IL 60435 Mon Jan 27, 6:00pm Bill Foster Phone Bank DuPage Township Democratic Organization Tue Jan 28, 6:00pm Postcards to Wisconsin Party Braconi's Restaurant & Pizzeria Tue Jan 28, 6:30pm Addison Township Dems Monthly Meeting Addison Village Hall, 1 Friendship Plaza Tue Jan 28, 7:00pm Reception for Azam Nizamuddin for DuPage Circuit Judge Tony Spavone's Ristorante Wed Jan 29, 6:00pm NNU Meeting: Understanding Implicit Bias Part II City of Naperville Municipal Building Wed Jan 29, 7:00pm Why Warren? with Daniel Biss 205 N 2nd St, Dekalb, IL 60115-3234, United States Wed Jan 29, 7:00pm *** For event details, use the links below *** ALL EVENTS: DuPage Dems - Facebook Events | DuPage Dems Calendar Paid for by the Democratic Party of DuPage County, who continues the Fight for Economic Justice, Civil Rights and Our Environment within DuPage & Beyond.

Democratic Party of DuPage County | 1000-7 N Rohlwing Rd, Lombard, IL 60148 Unsubscribe dstafford1.amyable@blogger.com Update Profile | About Constant Contact Sent by info@dupagedemocrats.com in collaboration with Try email marketing for free today!