Donkey Tails
 By Maury Goodman
  February 2008
 For the "Warrenville Today" Newspaper


 

Foster Versus Oberweiss

Special Election Saturday March 8th in the 14th Congressional District

Now that the primary is over, please remember that there is a special election for Congress in the 14th Congressional District, to fill a seat that is now empty.  Incumbents usually get reelected, so this election will take a special effort, but could be one of the most important votes you ever cast. 

 

Bill Foster for Congress March 8th

I asked Bill Foster to send me some text for this column, and this is what he sent:

 

Dear Warrenville Today Reader,

 

I'm Bill Foster -- a scientist, businessman and Democrat – running
for Congress to change the direction of our country. There are huge
opportunities to change America for the better if we make the right
decisions, and real risks if we keep squabbling and making the wrong
ones.

Many of the challenges this country faces are economic and
technological.  As a scientist and businessman, I believe that I can
help solve those problems.  Voters will see in me the background,
experience, shared values, and deep roots in the community that will
bring the change they want to Washington.

As your Congressman, I will change course and immediately begin
removing troops from Iraq -- rather than continuing President Bush's
failed policies -- and enact a phased redeployment to get all of our
troops out of Iraq as quickly and safely as possible.

I also know the importance of keeping jobs in the United States and
protecting the middle class. The theater lighting company my brother
and I started changed the whole industry and created hundreds of good
jobs -- jobs we kept right here in the Midwest.

That speaks to the kind of representative I will be, ensuring that we
keep opportunities here and maintain a skilled labor force. In
Congress, I will also look ahead to prevent predictable crises like
the subprime mortgage fiasco.

Whether dealing with the economy, health care, or energy
independence, I examine the facts. I will make decisions in Congress
based on data and results, not ideology – just as I did conducting
advanced scientific research at Fermilab for over 20 years.  We need
representatives in Washington who forego petty bickering in favor of
real solutions to the problems our district and our nation face.

Bill Foster
Geneva

 

Where is the March 8th Election?

I don’t really know, but I think it will be in the same places as the February 5th primary. 

The polls will be open 6:00 am – 7:00 pm on Saturday March 8th for the SPECIAL GENERAL ELECTION for the 14th Congressional District.  The candidates will be Democrat Bill Foster and Republican Jim Oberweis.  More information about Bill Foster can be found at foster08.com.  Information about Bill’s opponent can be found at http://jimoberweis.com/   (It is my experience that when people just listen to advertisements, they often vote Republican, but when they read about both candidates, they usually vote Democratic.)

 

Analyzing the February 5th primary

For the first time in memory, the number of Democratic voters  in the primary in DuPage County exceeded the number of Republican voters.  The two totals were 132434 Democratic Ballots and 109132 Republican ballots.  The special election which took place in 36 precincts in and near Warrenville did not go smoothly.  I spoke to two election judges who voted early and missed the special primary, because it was on a separate ballot.   In DuPage County, there were 5612 Republican votes in the primary, and only 3955 votes in the special primary with the same candidates at the same time.  There were 5259 Democratic votes in the primary, and only 3214 in the special primary.  Did those 2700 voters who missed the special primary not care?  No, there was confusion, there were ballot problems, and there were signature card problems.   There was confusion in other counties as well, but it did not rise to one third of the voters.  I think the election commission should be giving itself  a low grade on the special primary, and they should work to do much better in the special election.

 

November election in the 14th Congressional District

There is also an election in November.  Bill Foster seems to have won that primary, but it is close enough that there may be a recount.  That process does not affect the March special election.

 

Another special edition

I will try to have another special edition of Donkey Tails before the March Special Election.  If you have any questions about that race, or about Bill Foster, or about anything else, please send them to me by email or phone.

 



Feedback
It is welcomed and appreciated maurygoodman@dupagedemocrats.org