To all Democrats in the 13th Congressional District of Illinois:
Last Thursday morning the State Board of Elections certified my victory in the Democratic Primary. That afternoon I received a gracious phone call from my former opponent Matt Goetten conceding the race in the 13th Congressional District. I salute Matt Goetten for his service in our military — especially his tour of duty in Afghanistan. I thank him for his work in law enforcement standing up for crime victims. And I commend him for the tough primary campaign he waged.
Now, I want to reach out my hand in friendship to Matt’s supporters, and to personally thank all of you who supported me in the campaign. I am honored to be your Democratic nominee. I am ready to represent citizens from every corner of this 14 county district — from every town, every city, every township, every neighborhood, every street and every farm. We will surely win this fall if we stand together as Democrats united for victory.
This week, we have a Democratic Unity Breakfast in Springfield on Thursday morning, April 26. My friends former Congressman Phil Hare, State Representative Naomi Jakobsson, Champaign County Democrats Chair Al Klein, and many other Democratic county chairs from around the district are hosting this event.
There is no charge; this is not a fundraiser. It’s a celebration of our unity as Democrats and our commitment to move forward together in this new congressional district.
I hope you can join us on Thursday April 26th, 7:30 – 9:00 AM, at the
IBEW Local 193 Hall, 3150 Wide Track Drive, Springfield IL
(1 block south of South Grand at Dirksen/1-55 exit 96)
or write my campaign manager Michael Richards if you can attend, so we can plan for the right number of folks.
David Gill, M.D.
Democratic Candidate for Congress, 13th District of Illinois
It was a little over a year ago – February, 2011 – that several newly elected Republican governors and state legislatures attempted to pass sweeping anti-labor measures with little or no input from the Democratic minorities in their assemblies. The situation was so egregious in Indiana that their Democratic State Senators settled temporarily in Urbana until the Indianapolis ideologues came to their senses. During that period, Champaign County Democrats and labor supported the senators by counter-picketing their hecklers and joining with them in memorable social events and demonstrations. See Welcome, Indiana Legislators
This year, the Republican Party has invited the Indiana Governor to promote his political aspirations and his anti-labor agenda in Champaign County next Thursday, April 19, 2012. This provides everyone with an opportunity to demonstrate solidarity with labor in the belief that working people matter, that the right to engage in collective bargaining should not be deprecated, and that “Right to Work” won’t work in Illinois (RTW-WWII).
Gather from 3 pm at the southwest corner of the Assembly Hall. The rally begins an 4 pm. At 5:15 marchers will depart for the Hilton Gardens Banquet Center for a peaceful demonstration of solidarity until 7:15, when everyone will return to the Assembly Hall and depart. For complete information, see the for more information, or download event flyer (pdf).
This is a labor rally, not a political event, so there will be no political speeches. However, all Democrats are invited, and we will have an opportunity march together if we so desire. Check this page or our on Thursday for the latest information.
DURING THE DAY: Polls are open from 6am to 7pm. Vote only at your own polling place. For the location, check your NEW voter ID card or use the County Clerk’s (which also allows you to preview your ballot). will be open at least from 8 am to 6 pm for questions or other help (such as rides).
RESULTS: Candidates, supporters, and the Press will gather at the Lyle Shields County Board Room at the Brookens Center (). Starting this year, no votes will be tabulated at Brookens; results will processed and transmitted from the Election Service Center for posting, and will be available online at the .
OTHER GATHERINGS:
DAVID GILL friends and supporters are invited to join him from 7pm to 12 am in Decatur for an Election Night Celebration at the Democrats United Party. . Bring friends and family, but PLEASE RSVP FOR HEAD COUNT. Mark D. Wicklund 217-413-1265 marwik2003@yahoo.com.
MATT GOETTEN friends and supporters are invited to join him after 7 pm at in Carrollton IL.
Everyone is invited to join and support us Sunday, March 11, 2012, at the Champaign County Democrats Spring “Decision Time” Dinner at the Hawthorn Banquet Center, 101 Trade Centre Drive, Champaign. The social hour begins at 5 pm; dinner is at 6 pm; our program begins at 7 pm.
In 2012 the CHampaign County Democrats will work to elect a Democrat in the new 13th congressional district; to establish a Democratic majority on the new county board; and to elect Democrats to county offices. Step one in this process is to select the strongest candidates in the March 20 primary to compete in the November 2 general election.
At the federal level, we have two worthy competitors for the new and winnable 13th Congressional District of Illinois: DAVID GILL and MATT GOETTEN. Either is vastly preferable to the incumbent, and both deserve your careful consideration for the job. The Champaign County Democcrats do not endorse federal candidates in primary elections; whom do you prefer? Bring your friends, meet both contenders at our “Decision Time” dinner, learn their positions on policy and their plans for victory, and vote your personal decision March 20.
Also in our primary we have a few contested county races (Auditor and Circuit Clerk) and County Board Districts. Here again there will be no party endorsements, but hard decisions must be made, and many of these local candidates will join us and seek your support and vote on March 20.
Individual Dinner tickets at the door are $60, but PAY NOW AND SAVE $10! Use the Decision Time Dinner Form to purchase tickets and ads in the program book.
Featuring congressional candidates DAVID GILL and MATT GOETTEN. Also speaking: Mike Frerichs, Naomi Jakobsson, Julia Rietz; County Clerk candidate Charlie Smyth; Auditor candidates Kevin Sandefur, George Danos, & Ben Carlson; Circuit Clerk candidates Evelyn Underwood & Lori Hansen.
“We are one” in our desire to nominate and elect a Democrat who will support President Obama and be a true friend of labor in the new 13th Congressional District. Join candidates, elected officials, labor leaders, and local Democratic activists at the Sunday, October 30, as we prepare for the March primary election! Social hour at 5 pm (cash bar), dinner and program at 6 pm. All active congressional candidates are expected to attend. Watch this space for the latest information and announcements about this event.
Join Us!Click here for the dinner flier and reservation form (pdf).
Submit an ad! Do you run a business or a campaign? Are you celebrating a birthday or anniversary? Do you need to notify clients and friends about a change in professional affiliation or address? We welcome your ad in our program book. Click here for details.
The Champaign County Democrats annual Volunteer appreciation picnic will be held again this year at the Hays Center near Eisner Park in Champaign. Help us thank the many volunteers and supporters whose efforts make victories possible. Bring a dish to share; donations are accepted but not required. The food is inside, so we can eat rain or shine. Jay Hoffman (Exploratory Candidate for Congress, 13th District) expects to attend, but Matt Goetten had to return home early today to address a family issue.
Friends and professional colleagues attended a memorial Celebration of Life for Robert G. Kirchner at 4 p.m. on Friday, May 20, 2011 at the I-Hotel Conference Center, 1900 South First Street, Champaign.
Bob’s full obituary is reproduced below. Also see from WILL AM-580, and from the News-Gazette, which is the source for the 2008 photo reproduced here.
URBANA – Champaign attorney Robert G. Kirchner died on Sunday (April 17, 2011) at Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana. He was 54 years old.
Private services will be held for his family at 10 a.m. Tuesday, April 26, at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, 708 W. Main St., Urbana, with Father Joseph Hogan officiating. Burial will be in Mount Hope Cemetery in Urbana.
The family invites friends to attend a celebration of Bob’s life at 4 p.m. Friday, May 20, at Kennedy’s Stone Creek Banquet Center, 2560 S. Stone Creek Blvd., Urbana.
Bob was born on June 23, 1956, in Joliet, Ill., the eldest son of Robert and Margaret (Keyser) Kirchner, and grew up in New Lenox, Ill.
He attended Western Illinois University, where he earned a B.A. in philosophy and political science in 1976 and an M.A. in political science in 1977.
He met his wife Gerri at WIU and they were married in Park Ridge, Ill., on Aug. 25, 1979. Bob and Gerri began their marriage in Urbana, where Bob attended the University of Illinois College of Law, earning a J.D. in 1982.
He joined the Champaign law practice of Burt Greaves and Art Lerner, which became Greaves, Lerner and Kirchner, and later, Lerner and Kirchner.
In 2002, Bob opened his own law office in Champaign and was later joined by attorney Ruth Wyman. As a highly skilled trial lawyer, Bob was an intelligent advocate for his clients and was known for his dedication to the law. He was diligent in his research and his knowledge of the law was the foundation of his legal abilities.
He argued many cases before the Appellate Courts and the Illinois Supreme Court, winning several that established legal precedents. Bob championed many legal causes that other attorneys would not take on.
Bob’s interest in the law prompted him to run as a Democratic candidate for state representative in 1996. He lost the election, but his campaign engaged public participation by hosting a series of monthly symposiums on key issues impacting state legislation, including education funding, crime, drug abuse and gun control, child welfare, women’s rights, health care, employment laws, and campaign finance reform.
Bob later served on the Champaign County Board as the District 9 representative, appointed in 2001 and elected in 2002 to a two-year term. As a member of the board’s Democratic majority, he voted to pass laws to guarantee a living wage for all full-time county employees, to prohibit employment discrimination on the basis of race, gender or sexual orientation, and to establish free dental care for low-income children.
Bob chaired the county nursing home sub-committee and worked on the successful passage of the referendum proposal to fund its construction. He ran for election to the county board again in 2006 and lost a closely contested Democratic primary.
Bob served as Vice President of the Champaign County Bar Association from 1994 to 1995. In 1994, he helped establish Best Interest of Children, a local 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to child and family advocacy, and served on its board.
Bob was blessed with many friends and a loving family. He is survived by his wife of 32 years, Gerri; his sisters, Marlene (Dennis) Gallagher of Joliet and Lorrie (Robert) Chaplin of Macomb; brothers, John (Carol) Burkhart of Palm Coast, Fla., Ron (Laura) Kirchner of Dover, Tenn., and David Kirchner of Harbor City, Calif.; brother-in-law, Paul (Sue) Geissler of Palatine; sister-in-law, Shelly (Paul) Kotecki of Buffalo Grove; four nephews; and seven nieces.
Bob was an avid softball player for many years. He was also famous among family and friends for his delight in winning at everything, including volleyball, bocce ball, bowling, ping pong, bridge, hearts, pinochle, poker and games.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Best Interest of Children, 803 Kettering Park Drive, Suite 203, Urbana, IL 61801.
Spring elections are mostly about local contests and referenda in cities, towns, and taxing districts. But this Tuesday there is a COUNTY WIDE referendum on EVERY BALLOT which affects EVERY RESIDENT of Champaign County.
The Champaign County Democrats ask you to turn out Tuesday April 5 and vote “NO” to the proposition that would ELIMINATE ELECTIONS FOR COUNTY AUDITOR in Champaign County.
The County Auditor is the only official with the legal authority to monitor, question, investigate, or even disallow the disbursement of county funds by any county agency, official, or administrator. In addition to the legal authority, it is the elected status of the Auditor that provides the political status and motivation to carry out these duties effectively. Recent events remind us that it is futile to expect accountants, CFOs, or other employees to effectively question the activities of their superiors or clients. A few county officials and administrators may be chafed by the fact that someone outside their control routinely oversees their use of public money. But that’s no reason why we should eliminate that oversight – quite the contrary! We urge you to vote “NO” on Tuesday and keep your right to ELECT the Champaign County Auditor.
The polls are open from 6 am to 7 pm. You can check your voter registration, find your polling place, and preview your ballot . Our office, at 110 S Neil Street, Champaign, will be open all day; Drop by or call us (217-359-3760) about rides, or to discuss candidates and issues in this election.
As you may know, many Democratic legislators from nearby states have come to Illinois to forestall radical Republican legislation in their states which would severely curtail the rights of working people, especially teachers, state employees and union members. Currently, a caucus of Indiana representatives are staying at an Urbana hotel.
The Champaign County Democratic Central Committee welcomes these travelers as they defend the rights of all workers in Indiana, Illinois, and the entire country.
Thanks for choosing Champaign County – you have our support!
UPDATE: Join us in Ubana tomorrow (Saturday 2/26) at the .
There is only one contest in Champaign County: the Democratic primary to select our candidate for Urbana City Council member from the second ward. The contenders are Eric Jakobsson (803 W Main St, 217-390-7024) and Brian Dolinar (303 W Locust St, 217-621-5827). The winner of this primary will appear on the ballot in the April 2, 2011 consolidated election. Meet the candidates, make your decision, and vote!
Early/Absentee voting is underway at the County Clerk’s Office, Brookens Center, 1776 E Washington Street, Urbana (217-384-3724).
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Posted by
Al Klein on
April 23, 2012
