Office Opening Shows Broad Morrison Appeal
People from all walks of political life join forces to support West Deerfield Township supervisor.
Photos
West Deerfield Supervisor Julie Morrison is finding help for her campaign to replace retiring state Sen. Susan Garrett (D-Lake Forest) from a variety of places.
Morrison’s support from established Democratic politicians, first time student interns and even an independent Republican activist were all evident at the opening of her campaign office Saturday in Highland Park.
One person who will be volunteering her support to Morrison is Linda Reed of Northbrook. The two first met when Reed was on the local staff of then Rep. John Porter (R-Wilmette) and Morrison was the former Congressman’s field director.
“I’ve returned because of Julie (Morrison),” Reed said at the office opening. “I’m an independent and Julie (Morrison) is right on the issues. I wouldn’t be doing this for any other person.”
The last time Reed worked on a campaign was in 2004 when she helped then Rep. Phil Crane (R-Wauconda) when the 15-term Congressman lost to former Rep. Melissa Bean (D-Barrington).
“That’s what being an independent is all about,” Reed said. “The first time I took a Democratic ballot was last time (in 2010) because I didn’t like (former Cook County Board President John) Stroger.” She supported current Board President Toni Preckwinkle in that election.
Another Morrison supporter there was North Shore Sanitary Board President Dan Pierce. Pierce is a former Highland Park mayor who served 10 terms in the Illinois General Assembly as a Democrat and is the currently sits on the Democratic State Central Committee.
“She will be a great successor to Susan Garrett,” Pierce said. “Susan (Garrett) has endorsed her, (state Rep.) Karen May has endorsed her and I’m happy she has opened her office in Highland Park.”
Morrison, who has been the West Deerfield Township Supervisor for 14 years, believed it was important to locate her office in Highland Park. The township includes all of Deerfield as well as parts of Highland Park and Lake Forest.
“I want the people in Highland Park to be accessible to me,” Morrison said. “We’re very happy to be here.”
A person making her first effort working for a campaign is intern Ally Dunne of Lake Forest. The Lake Forest Academy junior learned about campaign opportunities from a teacher and chose the Morrison effort.
“She believes in the same things I do,” Dunne said. “She is pro choice and I like what she has done with the (West Deerfield Township) Food Pantry.”
Morrison will face Lake Bluff business consultant Milton Sumption in the March 20 Democratic primary with the winner to run against the Republican candidate, Highland Park pediatrician Arie Friedman. Friedman has no Republican primary opponent.
Sumption announced Sunday at the Patch sponsored Lake Forest-Lake Bluff League of Women’s Voters debate he just received the endorsement of former Sen. Majority leader Tom Daschle (D-SD) to go with the nod from the Independent Voters of Illinois.
In addition to Garrett, May and Pierce, Morrison has the backing of Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Evanston), state Sen. Jeff Schoenberg (D-Evanston), state Sen. Terry Link (D-Waukegan) and state Rep. Elaine Nekritz (D-Northbrook) as well as a number of organizations.
Louis G. Atsaves
8:22 am on Monday, February 20, 2012
An "independent Republican activist" who hasn't participated in a political campaign since 2004? As the Moraine Township GOP Chairman, all I can ask is who makes up these titles and definitions? :-)
Rick Edwards
9:01 am on Monday, February 20, 2012
This Stave Sadin article reads like a press release for West Deerfield Supervisor Julie Morrison
I could not agree more with Moraine Township GOP Chairman Louis Atsaves as he wrote above: "all I can ask is who makes up these titles and definitions?"
Nick
9:09 am on Monday, February 20, 2012
Not to mention it is word for word identical to a STEVE Sadin article I just read.
Shelly Jaffe
9:20 am on Monday, February 20, 2012
The Patch continues to disappoint. There is so little local coverage of Elections that the public needs journalists to do an accurate and objective job in covering these races. With headlines that read like this one, it's obvious the Patch is already in the tank for Ms. Morrison.
Milton Sumption receiving the endorsement of the former majority leader of the U.S. Senate is a bigger story than an office opening. Yet he gets a small blurb in a the Morrison puff piece. Simply put, bad journalism.
Steve Wilneff
5:43 pm on Monday, February 20, 2012
I know Steve Sadin personally and I am sure that the Patch coverage will be even handed and fair for the duration of the campaign. I am very interested in reading more about the local races also.
Nick
9:44 am on Monday, February 20, 2012
@Shelly "... in a the Morrison ..." Simply put, bad writing.
Shelly Jaffe
9:44 am on Monday, February 20, 2012
Wow! Editing a mistyping in a comment section. Somebody needs to get a life.
Nick
9:49 am on Monday, February 20, 2012
@Shelly Somebody needs to get an education.
Daniel Krudop
10:42 am on Monday, February 20, 2012
We need to do everything possible to keep the Democrats in charge of the State of Illinois. Eventually, the government will need to bite the bullet in regard to our debt, especially the unfunded portion. A few Republican Governors went along with the Democratic legislature, but, in the end, this disaster was created under Mr. Madigan and other minions of the public unions. If the Republicans gain control and put corrections in place, they will face Greek like wrath and suffer the fate of Republicans in Wisconsin. The Democrats created this mess. Let them face the consequences of trying to fix it.
Gary
10:02 am on Monday, March 12, 2012
What evidence do you have that the Democrats would ever try to fix the problem?
Daniel Krudop
10:51 am on Monday, March 12, 2012
@Gary
I didn't necessarily say they would try voluntarily. They would be forced to. As the old saw goes, socialism and progressivism work well until you run out of other people's money. To see what would happen if fiscally responsible legislators intentionally tried to correct the problems we face, look to the North.
Nick
11:01 am on Monday, February 20, 2012
@Daniel I like your idea in theory but I can assure you it would not work in practice. No one but a Greek can create even a Greek-like wrath, and there simply aren't enough of us in Illinois.
Steve Wilneff
5:32 pm on Monday, February 20, 2012
FORMER US SENATE MAJORITY LEADER TOM DASCHLE ENDORSES MILTON SUMPTION FOR THE ILLINOIS STATE SENATE
LAKE BLUFF, IL – Former US Senate Majority Leader Thomas A. Daschle announced that he is endorsing Milton Sumption for the Illinois State Senate. In his statement, Senator Daschle said, “I am very excited that Milton Sumption is running for the Illinois State Senate. Milton was a trusted legislative assistant in my U.S. Senate office, a hard working staff member who dedicated himself to serving my constituents’ needs and solving problems. Since then, Milton has gained valuable business experience he can use to address Illinois' serious fiscal challenges and get the economy growing again.”
Mr. Sumption is a life-long Democrat who is running for the Illinois State Senate in the 29th Legislative District. In addition to working in Senator Daschle’s office, he was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Africa and has worked for over fifteen years in business and finance.....for full text and more information visit http://sumptionforstatesenate.com
Steve Wilneff
5:39 pm on Monday, February 20, 2012
I am happy to be a part of the Milton Sumption Campaign and I think that this endorsement from Tom Daschle is important and newsworthy. http://www.sumptionforstatesenate.com
Ellie
10:41 pm on Wednesday, February 22, 2012
An endorsement from Tom Daschle - important? Daschle was thrown out of office by Republican John Thune; apparently, Daschle had lost touch with the values of the people of South Dakata. Then when President Obama wanted to make Tom Daschle his HHS Secretary, it was learned that Tom Daschle WASN'T PAYING HIS INCOME TAXES! Daschle - what a role model for financial integrity!