NASW Illinois PAC State House/Senate Endorsements -2010

While every year’s election seem pivotal, the upcoming November 2010 elections will greatly determine the future of social work and the human services in Illinois. Many of the crucial decisions that impact funding for human services in the state will be made leaders elected by Illinois citizens next month. It is therefore crucial to endorse candidates who support legislation and policies consistent with the goals of the social work profession.

This is one of the main purposes of the NASW Illinois Chapter’s Political Action Committee (PAC) which is separately incorporated and supported by voluntary contributions from NASW members, not association dues. Our endorsement process for much of the past decade has been member-driven, with social workers conducting face-to-face interviews all summer with candidates and incumbents around the state. This process fulfills another purpose of our PAC, that of promoting political education and full participation in the electoral process by members of the social work profession.

At its endorsement session, the NASW Illinois PAC made the following endorsements. The races selected were targeted by the PAC in the spring.

Click the candidate’s name to learn more about them. If you would also liek to volunteer your time to help one of our endorsed candidates please click the Volunteer button above.

Governor

• Pat Quinn

Cook County Board President

• Toni Preckwinkle

Senate

• Heather Steans – 7^th District
• Michael Noland – 22^nd District
• Toi Hutchinson – 40^th District
• Michael Frerichs – 52^nd District

House

• Sara Feigenholtz – 12^th District
• Daniel Biss -17^th District
• Kevin McCarthy – 37^th District
• Kay Hatcher – 50^th District
• Sid Mathias -53^rd District
• Matt Flamm – 54^th District
• Michelle Mussman – 56^th District
• Elaine Nekritz – 57^th District
• Carol Sente – 59^th District
• Lisa Dugan – 79^th District
• Jehan Gordan – 92^nd District
• Michael Puhr – 104^th District

NASWIL PAC is the non-partisan political arm of the Illinois Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers.  As a political action committee, NASW IL PAC endorses and financially contributes to candidates from any party who support NASW’s policy agenda. The national PACE Board of Trustees * endorses (endorsement process and criteria)* and contributes to federal candidates running for U.S. House and Senate seats; state chapter PAC units decide on local and state races.

NASW PAC Illinois would like to thank the following members who interviewed candidates this summer:

• Sue Murphy
• Joel L. Rubin
• Gary Kenzer
• Nancy Hanson
• Ireta Gasner
• Mary Gollings
• Chasity Wells-Armstrong
• Quincy Jenkins
• Joan Lodge
• Vicki Alden
• Marc Feldstein
• Linda Simkins