Mon. October 29, 2012
Chicago, IL -
Equality Illinois Political Action Committee (EQIL PAC), Equality Illinois' affiliated political action committee, has contributed a record-breaking amount of money to the most number of endorsed candidates in any election in the PAC's history.
The effort is pouring tens of thousands more dollars than ever before into important races throughout Illinois, almost double the amount from the last election and almost four times the amount from four years ago.
"Looking at just how imperative it is to elect pro-LGBT candidates to state and local elected office this year, Equality Illinois PAC decided to ramp up our efforts to support our endorsed candidates at a level we have never attempted before," Jeremy Gottschalk, President of Equality Illinois PAC, said. "We have been working diligently since early 2011 to recruit supportive candidates, raise money for campaign contributions, and line up volunteers in preparation for this historic election."
EQIL PAC endorsed 82 candidates for state legislative and local elections for the November General Election. So far, EQIL PAC has contributed $127,500 in the 2012 primary and general election campaigns – an amount that far surpasses any amount EQIL PAC has doled out in other election cycles. In the 2009 to 2010 election cycle, the total contributions were $68,450, and in 2007-08 the total was $32,950.
"The fact that we were able to raise that amount of money from major donors, at numerous fundraising events and through the generosity of many individuals indicates the seriousness with which our community and allies take this election," said Bernard Cherkasov, CEO of Equality Illinois.
Equality Illinois PAC is the affiliated political action committee of Equality Illinois, the state's oldest, largest and most effective LGBT advocacy organization.
While a great deal of focus is understandably on the presidential campaign, progress on issues important to the LGBT community is more often achieved on the state and local levels.
"It is at the state level that civil unions and now marriage equality is being accomplished. It is at the state level that anti-discrimination laws are being passed and that family law is being recognized to reflect the diverse definition of families today," Cherkasov said. "And strong pro-LGBT state leaders help guide school districts, counties and municipalities to enact their own policies against discrimination and bullying."
With that in mind, Equality Illinois PAC earlier this month announced its endorsements in the Nov. 6 election. In key contested races, the PAC is backing the candidates with contributions that it believes will help make a difference in the outcomes.
ENDORSED CANDIDATES FOR STATE SENATE:
Antonio "Tony" Munoz (D-1)
William "Willie" Delgado (D-2)
Mattie Hunter (D-3)
Kimberly A. Lightford (D-4)
John J. Cullerton (D-6)
Heather A. Steans (D-7)
Daniel Biss (D-9)
John G. Mulroe (D-10)
Martin A. Sandoval (D-11)
Kwame Raoul (D-13)
Emil Jones III (D-14)
Jacqueline "Jacqui" Collins (D-16)
Donne E. Trotter (D-17)
Iris Y. Martinez (D-20)
Michael Noland (D-22)
Thomas E. Cullerton (D-23)
Corinne M. Pierog (D-25)
Amanda Howland (D-26)
David R. Page (D-27)
Daniel W. Kotowski (D-28)
Julie A. Morrison (D-29)
Terry Link (D-30)
Melinda Bush (D-31)
Mike Jacobs (D-36)
Don Harmon (D-39)
Toi W. Hutchinson (D-40)
Linda Holmes (D-42)
Dave Koehler (D-46)
Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant (D-49)
ENDORSED CANDIDATES FOR STATE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:
Daniel J. Burke (D-1)
Edward J. Acevedo (D-2)
Luis Arroyo (D-3)
Cynthia Soto (D-4)
Kenneth "Ken" Dunkin (D-5)
Esther Golar (D-6)
Emanuel "Chris" Welch (D-7)
La Shawn K. Ford (D-8)
Ann M. Williams (D-11)
Sara Feigenholtz (D-12)
Gregory Harris (D-13)
Kelly M. Cassidy (D-14)
Lou Lang (D-16)
Laura Fine (D-17)
Robyn Gabel (D-18)
Robert F. Martwick, Jr. (D-19)
Bruce Randazzo (D-20)
Michael J. Madigan (D-22)
Michael J. Zalewski (D-23)
Elizabeth "Lisa" Hernandez (D-24)
Barbara Flynn Currie (D-25)
Christian L. Mitchell (D-26)
Monique D. Davis (D-27)
Robert "Bob" Rita (D-28)
William "Will" Davis (D-30)
Mary E. Flowers (D-31)
Andre Thapedi (D-32)
Elgie R. Sims, Jr. (D-34)
Al Riley (D-38)
Maria A. "Toni" Berrios (D-39)
Deborah L. Mell (D-40)
William R. Adams (D-42)
Keith Farnham (D-43)
JoAnn Franzen (D-45)
Andrew Bernard (D-50)
Dee Beaubien (I-52)
Curt Renz (D-53)
Richard S. Rudd (D-54)
Martin J. Moylan (D-55)
Elaine Nekritz (D-57)
Scott Drury (D-58)
Sam Yingling (D-62)
Carl R. Wasco (D-68)
Mike Smiddy (D-71)
Angelo "Skip" Saviano (R-77)
Camille Y. Lilly (D-78)
Anthony DeLuca (D-80)
Jehan Gordon (D-92)
Naomi D. Jakobsson (D-103)
Michael Langendorf (D-104)
ENDORSED CANDIDATE FOR COOK COUNTY STATE'S ATTORNEY:
Anita Alvarez
ENDORSED CANDIDATE FOR COOK COUNTY RECORDER OF DEEDS:
Karen Yarbrough
ENDORSED CANDIDATE FOR METROPOLITAN WATER RECLAMATION COMMISSIONER:
Debra Shore
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