Thursday, March 8, 2012

Vote Early, Elizabeth Hernandez, Aurelia Pucinski, Ariel E. Reboyras, H.A.L.C. "Meet the Candidates", Jessica O'Brien, Edward J. Maloney, San Patricios


VOTE EARLY: Deadline for voting early is Thursday, March 15, 2012. Call the Chicago Board of Election at 312/269-7984 or log on chicagoelections.com to find the nearest polling place to your job or home.  Voters should take advantage of voting early. The "early voting" system offered by the Chicago Board of Election provides plenty of time to vote. There should be no more excuses for not voting! Based on my experience when I asked people why they didn't vote, I heard every excuse possible: "I forgot," "I was busy." Yes, people have shopping, banking, laundry, carpool and many other chores to do. My advice to them is not to wait until Election Day, Tuesday, March 20, 2011 to vote. Avoid the long lines.
          VOTE NOW, VOTE EARLY. You have until March 15 to vote early: Monday thru Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Elizabeth Hernandez
          VOTE HERNANDEZ: State Representative Elizabeth "Lisa" Hernandez’s campaign is suffering from vicious and aggressive vandalism by her "independent" opponent. Her opponent and his workers are running around the 24th District stealing and tearing down all of her posters and campaign signs, some even on private property with total disregard of the law. "They have stolen 600 signs. They are wiping me out of my campaign literature," said Rep. Lisa Hernandez. It's shameful Rep. Hernandez’s opponent is engaging in such dirty campaign politics. This behavior proves he is not worthy of public office or the public trust. PUNCH 63 FOR LISA HERNANDEZ!
          HIGHLY QUALIFIED: Aurelia Pucinski is a Democratic candidate for Supreme Court Cook County. She has been a lawyer since 1976, has heard more than 10,000 domestic violence cases, served as Appellate Court Justice and a Circuit Court Judge.
         CHICAGO BAR ASSOCIATION says, "Justice Pucinski has heard a number of major civil and criminal appeals. Justice Pucinski's management experience, knowledge of administrative law and commitment to public service would serve her well on the Illinois Supreme Court." 
Aurelia Pucinski
          COOK COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION says: [Judge Pucinski] is "Recommended because [she] you possess the basic legal skills including a demonstrated awareness of the importance of diversity issues and character to be an effective Supreme Court Justice." 
          PUCINSKI is endorsed by the Chicago Bar Association, Cook County Bar Association, Sheet Metal Workers #73, IBEW #9, Italian American Political Coalition, The Chicago Police Sergeants' Association, Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois, David Roldan, President, Hispanic Illinois State Law Enforcement Association and many more. Give her your vote!    
          30TH WARD: Ald. Ariel E. Reboyras is seeking re-election as the Democratic Committeeman in the 30th Ward in the Tuesday, March 20, 2012 Primary Election. He was sworn in as Alderman of the 30th Ward on May 7, 2003 and has been the Democratic Committeeman since 2006. Ariel is a native of New York City and was relocated by his parents to Chicago at the age of twelve. He majored in Education while attending the University of Illinois at Chicago and was the Co-Captain for the UIC "Flames" baseball team. Ariel began his career as a teacher with the Chicago Public Schools at Roberto Clemente High School and was the Assistant Coach for football and wrestling. 
Ariel E. Reboyras
          AFTER HIS tenure as a teacher, Ariel began his career with the City of Chicago driving a truck for the City, worked as an Equipment Dispatcher, headed up an Underground Storage Tank Remediation program for Fleet Management, became an Equipment Coordinator for the Water Department and assisted with design specifications for the Fleet management Division. Ariel's dedication to public services was recognized and he was promoted to Deputy Commissioner in the Department of General Services.
          IN THE COMMUNITY Ariel has volunteered his services to various parks and non-profit organizations, including Little League baseball and youth football programs. He is the co-founder of the Northwest Youth Basketball Association and "Marathon San-Juan," an 8K Road Race in collaboration with the Chicago Puerto Rican Parade. Ariel is a member of the Healthy Streets Campaign Drive with Care's steering committee, a member of the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials [NALEO], and serves on the Pace Citizen Advisory Board. 
          AS ALDERMAN of the 30th Ward, he is a member of the Budget & Government Operations, Committees: Rules and Ethics, Finance, Housing and Real Estate, Public Safety, Transportation, Vice-Chairman of Aviation and Vice-Chairman of License and Consumer Protection. He is in his third term as the Alderman of the 30th Ward. Ariel is a dedicated public servant and deserves to be re-elected.     
          HISPANIC LABOR: More than 100 Hispanic Labor leaders and union members attended the "Meet The Candidates" dinner meeting held Wednesday, Feb. 29, 2012. The dinner meeting was held at Mi Tierra Restaurant in Little Village.
          DEMOCRATIC CANDIATES who attended the "Meet the Candidates" dinner meeting and presented their qualifications and candidacy were Cook County State's Attorney Anita Alvarez, Cook County Clerk of the Circuit Court Dorothy Brown, [Punch #82]; Supreme Court Cook County Judge Aurelia Pucinski [Punch #102]; Appellate Court Judge Rudy Garcia, [Punch #123];  Judge Jesse G. Reyes, [Punch #122];  Judge Cynthia Ramirez [Punch #149]; Judge Jessica O'Brien, [Punch #159]; Judge Edward J. Maloney, [Punch #156]; Judge James Michael McGing, [Punch #115];  Judge Diann Karen Marsalek, [Punch #153];  Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Democratic candidates Patrick Daley Thompson, [Punch #74]; Patricia Young, Stella Black, [Punch 71];  Debra Shore, Patricia Horton; Judge Kay Marie Hanlon, [Punch #113]; 10th Congressional District Farah Baqai, [Punch #12]; Judge Pamela Leeming, Judge Mathias William Delort, Judge Alfred M. Swanson, [Punch 169]; Judge William Stewart Boyd [Punch #124]; Judge Michael Forti [Punch #158]; Judge Stanley L. Hill, Judge James A. Wright, Judge P. Scott Neville, Jr., Democratic Committeeman Ald. Ariel Reboyras [30th Ward], Judge Rodrick F. Wimberly, Judge Nathaniel R. Howse, Jr., Democratic Town of Cicero Committeeman Charles P. Hernandez representing his wife State Rep. Elizabeth "Lisa" Hernandez [24th District] who was in Springfield. Clerk of the Circuit candidate Ricardo Munoz was present but had to leave to attend another function before the introductions began. Munoz did not speak or present his candidacy to the Hispanic Labor leaders. The "Meet the Candidates" event was a huge success. All the candidates in attendance appreciated the opportunity to speak, "work the room", and distribute their campaign literature. As HALC President, I thanked all the Unions and their members for attending the informative event.               
Jessica O'Brien
          QUALIFIED: Democrat Jessica O'Brien [Punch #159] is a candidate for Judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County to fill the Simmons vacancy. O’Brien was born and raised in the Philippines, trained as a chef and rose from bussing tables to senior management. She learned culinary arts in Switzerland and England. Jessica went to law school and worked in private practice before joining the Illinois Revenue Department. Attorney O'Brien is acting chief counsel for the Lottery and is active in the local bar association. 
          CANDIDATE O'BRIEN gave a rousing speech during the Hispanic American Labor Council's dinner meeting and was endorsed by Hispanic labor, Chicago Federation of Labor, Construction Trades Council, Chicago Firefighters Union Local 2, IBEW Local 134, IVI-IPO, Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #7, Maine Township Regular Democratic Party & Committeeman Laura Murphy, 6th Ward Alderman & Committeeman Roderick T. Sawyer, 34th Ward Alderman & Committeeman Carrie M. Austin, Pipe Fitters Union Local 597 and many more. To contact Jessica: jobrienforjudge@att.net or call 312/965-6737.  Punch #159! 
          HIGHLY QUALIFIED: Democratic Edward J. Maloney [Punch #156] is a candidate for Cook County Circuit Court Judge to fill the Pucinski vacancy. He is the only candidate in this race endorsed by the Illinois Committee For Honest Government and found qualified and recommended by ALL Bar Associations. 
Edward J. Maloney
          MALONEY'S QUALIFICATIONS: He graduated from John Marshall Law School and worked as a Cook County Assistant State's Attorney since 1989. Maloney has over 20 years of courtroom experience, tried hundreds of felony trials, with appellate court experience in both criminal and civil court. He has argued cases on appeal in state and federal court, U.S. Court of Appeals Seventh Circuit, U.S. District Court for the Northern Districts of Illinois, Trial coach, Chicago Public School and B.B.A., University of Iowa.
          MALONEY is endorsed by the Chicago Federation of Labor [CFL], Chicago Firefighters Union Local 2, Wheeling Township Democratic Organization, Democratic Party of Leyden Township, Chicago & Cook County Building Trades Council, Laborers District Council, Chicago County of Carpenters, IBEW Electrical Workers, Locals 9 and 134, IUOE, Operating Engineers, Locals 150 and 399, Ironworkers Local 1, Machinists & Aerospace Workers, Local 126, Painters, Local 14, Sheet Metal Workers, Local 73, Cook County College Teachers Union, Local 1600, Hispanic Illinois State Law Enforcement Association, Italian, German, Polish, Greek American Police Associations, Cook County Sheriff's Police FOP Lodge #4. Give him your vote!     
          MEXICAN HISTORY: As we celebrate St. Patrick's Day on Sat., March 17th, Mexicans must be reminded of the historical bond between Mexicans and the Irish people. The bond forged when the St. Patrick's Battalion, mostly Irish soldiers, 500 deserted the U.S. army to fight on the side of Mexico during the U.S.-Mexican War 1846-1848. 
          THESE BRAVE IRISH soldiers were led by Captain John Riley of County Galway and were known as the San Patricios. They followed their conscience and crossed the Texas Mexican border to fight against an unjust invasion of Mexico; to be on the side of a Catholic country. "A fine documentary by Mark R. Day exonerates these heroes, giving Irish and Irish-Americans, Mexicans and Mexican-Americans great cause for pride and celebration" says Thomas Cahill, Author of How the Irish Saved Civilization. Learn more about this historical event by logging on: YouTube, click on "One Man's Hero" video and learn more about the San Patricios.