Mary Rita's Nov. 3 Election Guide

Hannah's Notes

A few notes if you want to channel election anxiety into action! 

  • Help us win the Fair Tax by signing up for remote text-, phone-, or friend-bank here. We always begin with a training.
  • If you want a Fair Tax yard sign, sign up here. 
  • If you want to defeat Trump with a method 102x more effective than traditional presidential persuasion conversations, call voters in Wisconsin on Mondays from 5-8pm with ONE People's Campaign or call voters in Michigan on Thursdays with Jane Addams Seniors in Action. Both our organizations are partnering with People's Action. Phone banks are remote.


Finally, we also need to shift our expectations that we will not know the results of the election on Election Night or in the days immediately following. It will take a while to count all the mail-in ballots. Organizations around the country and at the local level are coordinating to respond in the event the election results are contested or Trump attempts a coup. He's said repeatedly he will not commit to a peaceful transition of power. We should be ready to take to the streets if either of those scenarios occurs. ONE People's Campaign is planning zoom gatherings for Election Night, Wed. Nov. 4, and there are plans for a nation-wide march on Sat. Nov. 7. Sign up to learn about them here.  I found this article to be tremendously useful in understanding how to stop a coup. The best way to stop a coup is VOTE and to make sure Biden & Harris win with a landslide in the electoral and popular votes. I hope to see you on the phones!

Onward, 

Hannah

Mary Rita's Guide

November 3 is the day we have been waiting and planning for since November 8, 2016. Chicago residents can find all information about early voting and voting by mail here: https://chicagoelections.gov. All other Cook County residents can find their voter information here: https://www.cookcountyclerk.com/agency/elections.

Vote YES on the Constitutional Amendment. Aside from the Presidential election, the most important issue on the ballot is the proposed amendment to the Illinois constitution. This amendment will amend the Illinois constitution to allow for a graduated income tax. This will bring Illinois in line with the federal government and 34 other states, all of which have a graduated income tax. Currently the Illinois constitution requires that all income earners be taxed at the same rate. Under the Legislature’s proposal, higher income earners will pay a higher rate of tax on income over $250,000. That represents the top 3% of income earners in the state. Retirement income would remain exempt from state income tax. The revenue from a graduated income tax are necessary to address our aging infrastructure, support our schools, and pay for the social services we want to provide for our most vulnerable citizens. VOTE YES! on the Constitutional Amendment.

As for the presidential race, I doubt that (m)any of you have any doubt about who you will vote for in this election, but I know that there may be still some resistance from the left. If you have ANY hesitation, I strongly urge you, as an elected delegate for Bernie Sanders to the 2016 convention, to vote for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. As does Bernie Sanders himself. The stakes could not be higher. We have seen during the past four years that the current president represents the worst of who and what we are as a nation. Even with a new president/vice-president, it will be very difficult for this country to emerge from the pain of the quadruple crises of police violence, coronavirus, a resurgence of white supremacy, and the economic recession. A vote for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris is the first step in the work that is needed for us to begin the healing and rebuilding. Please vote for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. (HG note: Another reason I'm voting for Biden and Harris is because they need to win the popular vote in a landslide, as well as the electoral college vote. We play a role in that here in IL.)

For Cook County State's Attorney, vote for Kim Foxx, who has been a leader in reforming the criminal justice system from within.

As for judges, when you look at your ballot, you will find that (most) judges are running unopposed. There are however, many judges who are up for retention. I have listed only judges below who are not recommended for retention. I have also included links to the ratings by the respective organizations for you to use your own judgment in determining how you vote.

Chicago Council of Lawyers recommends retaining all judges up for retention except:

  • Mauricio Araujo - Not Recommend
  • Pamela Manila Martin - Says she is retiring, but is still on ballot.

Their full report is here.

Vote for Judges (they compile evaluations from 12 different bar associations). Here is a 2nd resource they provide. Current judges were 100% recommended for retention except:

  • Pamela Manila Martin - Says she is retiring, but is still on ballot.
  • Laura Marie Sullivan - 90% favorable (BWLA says NO)
  • Mauricio Araujo - 100% NO
  • Jackie Marie Portman-Brown - 33% yes (AABAR, DSL, HBA, HLAI, ISBA, LAGBAC, WBAI say NO)
  • Daniel J. Kubasiak - 90% favorable (BWLA says NO)
  • John J. Mahoney - 73% favorable (CCBA, ISBA, LAGBAC say no)
  • Diana Rosario - 82% favorable (ISBA and WBAI say NO)

   
Injustice Watch also puts together a list of judges both up for retention and those in contested races (just in the 12th and 13th judicial sub circuits). They also note whether the candidate has had past controversy, negative ratings, or notable reversals and whether they were formerly a state’s attorney, public defender, or appointed judge.
Judges with past controversies were:

  • Michael P. Toomin* Check out Mark Brown's article in support of retaining Toomin.
  • Kerry M. Kennedy
  • Mauricio Araujo*
  • Dominique C. Ross
  • Daniel J. Kubasiak
  • Megan Elizabeth Goldish
  • Jackie Marie Portman
  • Kenneth J. Wadas

Sorry, you will have to do your own research to determine the nature of the controversy and whether you believe it to be grounds for non-retention.

* Not recommended for retention by the Cook County Democratic Party.

Those with negative ratings:

  • Patricia Manila Martin
  • Mauricio Araujo
  • Diana Rosario
  • John J. Mahoney
  • Jackie Marie Portman


Thank you for all you are and have been doing to promote decency, kindness, and democracy during these difficult times.

Best, Mary Rita

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