The race to represent the Democrats in the state Senate’s 23rd District features three highly engaging candidates, all of whom combine energetic thinking and a sincere interest in the welfare of the state and the district. We prefer Greg Brownfield, of Bartlett, as the candidate with the best combination of background and ideas for mounting a fall campaign. Like his opponents Kevin Allen, of Addison, and Thomas Cullerton, of Villa Park, he is affected by a hint of newcomer’s optimism about just how difficult it can be to influence change in Springfield, but he also exhibits a capacity for learning and adaptation that suggests he could indeed be an independent voice among Democrats and still accomplish some of his goals for controlling spending, improving transparency and protecting Illinois’ most vulnerable citizens. Allen has an impressive record of civic involvement and has done his homework on issues facing state government. Cullerton may have a slightly less-detailed approach to state issues, but his experience as a trustee and currently village president in Villa Park give him some insights into working with people in a government setting. Ultimately, though, Brownfield offers the strongest hope for balancing thoughtful independence and effective leadership.

In July of 2009 I faced a difficult decision. I was working as a legal aid attorney for Prairie State Legal Services, where I helped low-income folks navigate the legal system. We had recently witnessed a huge spike in the number of formerly middle class folks who were falling into poverty, including a few situations where newly poor clients faced the prospect of moving their families to homeless shelters.

Despite this shocking tragedy, the “leaders” in the Illinois House seemed content to play an insider game of electoral calculus rather than working together to solve these kinds of urgent problems that real people have been facing every day. I am outraged by this politics-first reaction to human tragedy and it is the reason I decided to run for state-level office. Soon after my decision, however, I discovered a huge roadblock — the Hatch Act.

The Hatch Act prevents certain government workers from engaging in partisan political activity on the theory that this will diminish the role of public employment in insider politics. This makes sense when it comes to government employees, but the Act’s restrictions apply all the way to employees of any program that receives any federal funds. In other words, even though the whole point of my job was to assist our least powerful citizens, I had to quit my legal services job so that I could run for office.

OK, that’s how things look on my side of the fence; i.e., the “people-first/service side.” What about the insider side?

My opponent from the 2010 election provides a good illustration. He is the stepson of Pate Phillip, one of our state’s most powerful GOP insiders. With a background as a cook and a restaurant manager, he found his way into a good job with the Illinois Secretary of State that came with some pretty nice “plan-ahead-for-a-political-career” advantages. Specifically, the job was not subject to the Hatch Act (so much for those concerns about patronage and/or partisan advantage) and it provides an incredible taxpayer-funded safety net of allowing him to return to this job if he should ever lose an election!

This is but one of one of many examples — from both sides of the aisle — that demonstrate how much our system creates a strong tailwind for connected insiders and a strong headwind for grassroots public servants, and the problem is not limited to the insider “players” themselves. Interest groups and even newspapers feed into this system in ways that I never imagined before I experienced them for myself. The single most disgusting thing about this rigged political game is that the people who play it will always say that they care about our urgent problems, but somehow the game never stops.

If anything, our problems have only gotten worse since I first decided to run in July of 2009. Indeed, the middle-class-to-homeless-shelter situation recently hit a good friend of mine and many of my friends who have spent their careers trying to help such folks have been laid off for lack of funds. Talk about a perfect storm: more suffering, fewer people to help, and a political system that is rigged to serve its own inside players.

This must stop!

My team and I are devoted to this cause but, with the insider deck stacked so high against us, we really need your help. Please consider volunteering your time and/or making a donation toward out cause. Most importantly of all, please support us with your vote in the March 20 Democratic primary.

CANDIDATE DEBATE

Featuring GREG BROWNFIELD and his primary opponents

Wednesday, February 29, 2012 – 7 p.m.

Glenside Public Library – 25 E. Fullerton – Glendale Heights

Hosted by the Democratic Township Organizations of the 23rd District

All Interested Community Members are invited to attend.

La Tosca Restaurant and Pizzeria
123 E. Saint Charles Road
Villa Park, IL 60181

Thursday, February 23, 2012
6:00-9:00 PM

$35 per person | $60 per couple
Appetizers, pizza and cash bar

Please RSVP to Laurel by February 21 — laurel@gregbrownfield.org

Payment and/or donations can be made online through PayPal (click the ‘Donate’ button in the right sidebar) or by check or money order mailed to:

Committee to Elect Greg Brownfield
PO Box 8244
Bartlett, IL 60103

Stand with our Democratic Candidate
Standing for our Democratic Values