NTD NEWS   November 22, 2017
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Happy Thanksgiving!


Tomorrow, Thanksgiving Day, is the holiday that reminds each of us to recognize all the things in our lives for which we should be thankful. -- Thanksgiving also kicks off the holiday season, a time when everybody's schedule gets a bit more hectic. For that reason, I considered excusing myself from writing this week's commentary.   
     Also, given the endless barrage of lousy news we've had to endure over the past year, I wondered if any discussion in a political blog about feeling thankful would make me sound like a Pollyanna.
     Then I looked at things from another angle and decided that I could list just a few suggestions for thankful thoughts. (I'll be brief) - Yes for us liberals, the year had plenty of political setbacks, policy reversals and embarrassing national moments. And yes, we've had to watch the nativism, anger and hate encouraged by Trump and sanctioned by Republican leaders, slowly diminish our nation.  
     But from a different perspective, here are three positives coming out of the past political year :     
--- The shock of this past year's outrages has resulted in an encouraging awakening across the country. A lot of previously uninvolved Americans have awakened to the need for their involvement in the political process. For this we should all be thankful.
--- The push back from so many newly attentive American voters is having an effect. It no doubt played a role in the defeat of Republican attempts to destroy the Affordable Care Act. For this we should all be thankful. 
--- Ironically, we should also be thankful for the highhanded approach by the GOP in presenting their hastily prepared tax reform legislation. It has earned Republicans the increasing distrust of voters as a bright light has stayed focused on its many flaws and inequities. This bodes well for the 2018 mid-term elections and the chance to start repairing things.
     And looking past political events (although not completely), in just the past few weeks we've been given a brand new reason for thanks: We are now witnessing a momentous shift in attitudes toward sexual harassment across our society. In the coming months and years this is going to make a permanent and positive difference in the lives of every American woman, and man too. In fact, this could be the biggest thing to happen so far in the 21st century. For this we should all be thankful. 
     Now here's one last thought for a Thanksgiving Day. Throughout the past year, just like all the years before, the North Shore's Democrats and independents have regularly bonded together to actively engage in grassroots political actions. Our bond is our belief in progressive values and the right of every American to be treated with fairness and dignity. We know this about each other and it has resulted in lasting friendships and feelings of mutual respect. This is a valuable thing. Something definitely worth grateful thoughts this Thanksgiving Day. -- Enjoy!
  
                                                                        Nels Howard
                                                                        NTDO member since 1973 
   
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Are your NTD annual dues up to date? You can only vote at endorsement meetings if you're paid up.  Check with the NTD office if you're not sure when your "annual dues date" is.
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To renew your NTD membership or to become an official member of the New Trier Dems for the first time,
visit our NTDO website. You'll see information on all your membership options.

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Save the Date!
Thursday, December 14
at the Wilmette Wine Cellar
A Holiday Party with the New Trier Dems
(More details to follow)
Note: The NTDO Endorsement Meeting will not be held until January of 2018. Until formal endorsements are made, fund raising events announced in the NTD News concerning candidates competing in Democratic Primary Races do not represent a formal endorsement by the NTDO.
 
Other events of interest:
 
 
SAVE THE DATE: Sunday, December 3 in Evanston --  
"Voter Suppression/Voter I.D. in Wisconsin---What it Is  
and What We Can Do About It!"
 
When:  Sunday, December 3rd, 2pm to 3:30pm
Where:  Location TBA, in Evanston, IL
Presented by Molly, McGrath, ACLU People Power organizer featured in the recent article by Ari Berman in the November issue of Mother Jones about voter suppression in WI, "Rigged: How Voter Suppression Threw Wisconsin to Trump" Honored Guest, Jan Schakowsky, 9th District representative in United States Congress.
The goal will be to inspire many to travel to southern Wisconsin over the next year to help peple access their voter i.d.'s so will have access to the ballot box in 2018.
 
Monday, December 4 in Chicago - A Women for Biss Cocktail Reception for Daniel Biss and Litesa Wallace
 
When: Monday, December 4, from 5:30 - 7:00pm
Where: 625 Kingsbury St., Chicago
What:  A cocktail reception for Daniel Biss and Litesa Wallace, Democratic candidates for Governor and Lieutenant Governor of Illinois.
For more information or to RSVP, register online or email Rachael Mayhew at RSVP@danielbiss.com or call 773-372-6488
 
Here is a list of the local and statewide Democratic candidates seeking your vote in the 2018 Primary Election. You have several months to get acquainted with the positions and qualifications before the Democratic Primary this spring and the NTDO Endorsement Meeting in January. 
 
Because some web browsers will not accept e-mailings with a large number of Internet links, they have been erased from this candidate list.
To see all the available links, visit our NTDO website at ntdo.org. (If it isn't posted tonight, it should be soon.) 

Governor:
Chris Kennedy
JB Pritzger representative-Andrew Pryzbylo, Mayor of Niles
Bob Daiber
Teo Hardiman
Robert Marshal
Alex Paterakis
Daniel Biss, State Senator 9th District

Illinois Attorney General:
Jesse Ruiz, Board of Commisioners, Park District
Kwame Raoul, IL State Senator13th District  
Nancy Rotering, Mayor of Highland Park
Aaron Goldstein, 33rd Ward Committeeman
Scott Drury, IL State Rep, 58th District
Renato Mariotti

Illinois State Representative -
17th District:
Candace Chow
Alexandra Eidenberg
Mary Rita Luecke
Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz
58th District:
Bob Morgan
6th District:
Carol Cheney

Cook County Assessor:
Frederick (Fritz) Kaegi
Your Legislators:


Legislators Democratic Legislators
who represent New Trier Township in 
Washington, Springfield and Cook County 
 



You'll be hearing a lot from these exceptional public servants. --

And they want to be hearing a lot from you. 
     The fact is, they need to hear from you and want to hear from you in order to represent you most effectively. So, the first thing you can do is get to know who these people are. The links below to their campaign websites are a good place to start. 
 
Jan Schakowsky , 9th U.S. Congressional District Representative  and Chief Deputy House Democratic Whip. The new Ninth District boundaries include all of New Trier except for Glencoe. 

Brad Schneider , 10th U.S. Congressional District Representative which includes a number of precincts in Glencoe.
     
Daniel Biss,   State Senator for Illinois' 9th State Senate District.The Ninth District includes all of New Trier Township.
  
Julie MorrisonState Senator for Illinois' 29th State Senate District. The district includes New Trier's northernmost precincts.   

Robyn Gabel, IL 18th District State Representative. The 18th District includes much of New Trier up to Hazel Avenue and Dundee Road.
 
Laura Fine , IL 17th District State Representative.
The 17th District includes the East Glenview and West Wilmette areas of New Trier Township.

Scott Drury IL 58th District State Representative. 
The 58th District includes the northernmost precincts in Glencoe.

Larry Suffredin, Cook County 13th District Commissioner. The 13th District includes all of New Trier, Evanston and Niles Townships. 
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Have you visited Senator Biss' website "The Road Back" --
click on the link to his video -- then, throughout the year follow his plan's development on the website.

Daniel explains a lot about how Illinois got where it is today and how we can begin the journey on the road back toward achieving our state's tremendous economic potential.

Dear Fellow Democrats, 

If you are not already an NTDO member, and enjoy our Newsletter, we hope you consider joining us as a dues-paying member. NTDO is a not-for-profit political action organization. We depend on our membership dues to support our Democratic causes and candidates.

There are two options for dues payments: by check or credit card.

 

By Check: Make check payable to NTDO and mail to our office:

NTDO

800 Oak St., Suite 112

Winnetka, IL 60093

OR

By Credit Card: visit our website by clicking  here 

Click on the "Join/Contribute" button

Find the link for "contribute with ActBlue"
or go directly to ActBlue by clicking here. 
Still not a member of the New Trier Dems? Your participation in grassroots political action will make a difference. -- Come join us.

When you're a member of the New Trier Democratic Organization, you have an active role in affecting the political process; participating in grassroots campaigns, staying in touch with elected officials, playing a role in deciding which candidates are endorsed. You'll also gain free admission to select forums and events throughout the year.

Come be a part of New Trier's grassroots political community.    
About Us:
The New Trier Democratic Organization is made up of hundreds of grassroots volunteers dedicated to advancing progressive ideals through the political process. We welcome your participation.

Sincerely,
Dean T. Maragos, Committeeman New Trier Township

We are located at 800 Oak Street, Suite 112, in Winnetka, IL. Ph: 847-446-8030
Contact: newtrierdemocrats@gmail.com.

*This Internet communication paid for by the New Trier Democratic Organization and  not authorized by any federal or state candidate or campaign committee. A copy of our report filed with the State Board of Elections is available for purchase from the State Board of Elections in Springfield, Illinois.