like il-03, there are new endorsements that have been announced since the first post.  john laesch has gotten the
afl-cio endorsement [PDF], the endorsement of pdachicago, and the endorsement of the western regional council of the united electrical, radio & machine workers of america.

bill foster has increased his growing list of endorsements with endorsements by senator durbin, afscme state council 31, planned parenthood, seiu as well as 22 nobel prize winners and a growing list of voters.

jotham stein got the endorsement of harry katz, dean of cornell university's school of industrial and labor relations, which i failed to mentioned before.

Bill Foster will file 1,832 signatures this morning for the special election in IL-14. They like to point out that's after a week with two ice storms and 8 inches of snow. I like to point out that it's a perfectly sufficient number to avoid a challenge.

I think they needed 870 or so, so 1,832 pads their total nicely and they were still able to do other stuff the past week.

I was out helping the Foster campaign in IL-14 yesterday. I was struck by a few things.

Something I had wondered about with the Foster campaign early on was whether or not they would be able to expand their base and their volunteer pool sufficiently. As I read through their volunteer board on the wall of the office yesterday, I really got it that they are doing the right things to diversify their support. I suspected they were doing all the right things before and I had no reason to think otherwise, but yesterday seriously cemented it in my brain.

More after the jump...

each race has a lens through which a political campaign can be viewed.  in the il-03 race, the lens is the emergent scandal surrounding dan lipinski and whether any challenger can coalesce their social and political networks before the bombardment of advertising begins.  in the il-14 race, that lens is the concurrent special election.

denny hastert's resignation announcement last night sets up a special election, who's primary most likely will be conducted concurrently with the primary for the november 2008 general election.  in several ways, this sets back campaigns, because they basically have to start all over again.  illinois' election laws are (from my perspective) quite arcane.  by law, there was no vacancy until hastert's resignation takes effect.  "Dan White, executive director of the State Board of Elections, said he had yet to receive notice of Hastert's resignation."  one assumes that this will come today.  this begins the countdown.  the governor has to call an election within 120 days of the vacancy for both the primary and the "general" (it's easier to call it a special election, and i will) elections.  the governor has five days to set a date for these two elections; the primary is expected to coincide with the february 5 primary in illiois.  apparently, as bill pascoe writes, "NO election (including a primary election) can take place fewer than 50 days after the creation of the vacancy."

But Illinois law also sets periods for collecting signatures, for filing candidacies, and for challenging candidacies. It's my understanding that when you add up these discrete periods, you end up with a time frame of 50-57 days as a minimum requirement before ANY election -- including a primary election -- could be held.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                    Contact:  Joe Serra, 630-364-9489

Thursday October 18, 2007                                                        jmserra3@sbcglobal.net                

Joe Serra Comments on Hastert Resignation

GENEVA, IL - October 18, 2007.  Mr. Hastert's announcement that he will resign is shamefully, one year too late.  While Mr. Hastert was Speaker of the House, he had an abundance of knowledge regarding Congressman Foley's lewd and criminal behavior and chose to protect a potential pedophile and powerful political colleague over a congressional page.   Mr. Hastert was negligent for not taking the evidence that he had fully into account and ordering an investigation - or he deliberately looked the other way for his friend and political ally.   In either case Mr. Hastert is finally doing the right thing.

Joe Serra's position on Child Molestation Laws

Child Molestation Laws need to be toughened.  Child molestation and child sexual assault is the most rapid growing violent crime in the United States.  

Sexual offenders who prey on children are the vilest of all offenders.  A strong message must be sent to these offenders that they must seek treatment or suffer the consequences when caught.  Just as importantly, I want to send a message to mothers and fathers indicating that I

understand their concerns and fears and I am taking steps to contain and control this heinous

crime.

As your representative I will strongly advocate for the following

·         Upon conviction of a second offense, a child sexual predator will receive life in prison.

·         Death of child while committing, requires a mandatory death sentence.

·         I will work to have crimes of a sexual nature against children to become Federal Offenses, enabling the courts to hand down harsher sentences and avoid early releases.

·         I will advocate much longer sentences and advocate a two strikes law enabling our courts to put Sexual Offenders and Sexual Predators away forever upon conviction of their second offense.

·         I advocate Sexual Offenders and Sexual Predators to be fitted with permanent monitoring devices upon their release enabling law enforcement officials to track their whereabouts anywhere in the country.

For more information, please contact: Joe Serra at (630) 364-9489 or jmserra3@sbcglobal.net

Joe Serra is, exactly what the Illinois 14th District and any district that is overwhelmingly Conservative, needs.  Joe Serra is a Moderate Democrat and he will attract the swing voters in the 14th without, whose votes, the race is lost.  Democrats must understand this.

Joe Serra will be discussing this extremely important issue throughout the campaign for Congress.  

Veteran's
Affirmative Action
 (1) Transitional support to finish college.  I've talked with
     many guys that could NOT find a job even though they have
     college degrees and are forced to take positions below
     their capabilities.  I'm rather angry that this sort of    
     thing is happening and want to add protections to our Vets.
     They deserve better.  I am not saying Veterans Affirmative  
     Action is the best choice if there is a better idea I will  
     gladly listen and would greatly appreciate alternatives.

    i) Joe Serra is in favor of a comprehensive plan to aid
        everybody, including Veterans, who seek gainful
        employment, to be employed.
     ii) Joe Serra will keep, soldiers returning from service,
         on their salary until they either find a job or finish
         school.
     iii) Joe Serra will Expand mental-health counseling for  
          all returning soldiers and their familyies, as well  
          as improve training for Iraq-bound soldiers on the    
          emotional hardships of combat.

I think this is great!  Don't you?

31 May, 2007

National Security IS something that Joe Serra is determined to discuss. Joe Serra thinks we need to bring a FORM of the draft back. He wants young adults between the ages of 18 & 25 to be able to be trained for civil service for one year and then begin college or join the military or go to work in whatever field they endevor. They are in a National guard type of arrangement for several years and remain eligible for military service for several more years.

We are not secure. Our Military has been abused, we really do have a hard time enticing young men and women into service and it's not a bottomless supply of soldiers. We need to be ready for anything in today's world and Joe thinks this is the absolute best way to quickly increase our security. Joe is running on this. I tell you what, I hate the thought of a draft because I have a son who is 18, but I agree with Joe Serra that we need to take a VERY serious look at this option.

Joe has been in touch with Congressman Charlie Rangel's office who supports Joe's efforts.