Welcome to the home page of the Moraine Township Democrats! This is the front page, on which you will find news, announcements, and upcoming events. For a chronological list of events, click here. Check back frequently for updates!
Welcome!
Tenth Dems Offers Summer Internships
The Tenth Congressional District Democrats (“Tenth Dems”) is now accepting applications for its Summer Internship Program. Internships are available to high school juniors and seniors, college undergraduates, and graduate or law students. Numerous former interns have gone on to professional political careers in Washington, D.C., or currently staff national nonprofit organizations.
The 2012 campaign makes this the perfect time to complete a political internship. General assignments include door-to-door canvassing with candidates, work in campaign offices, and staffing of events and issue forums. Specialized assignments are available in the areas of research, new media, IT management, and political outreach. In the past, interns have staffed Tenth Dems events featuring then-state legislator and now President Barack Obama, Senator Evan Bayh of Indiana, Senator Russ Feingold of Wisconsin, former presidential nominee George McGovern, Governor and presidential candidate Howard Dean, and Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, as well as numerous Illinois state and local elected officials. The program offers interns a great degree of flexibility to tailor their responsibilities to their interests.
Acceptance into the program is selective and generally contingent upon an interview. Applicants should submit a brief paragraph explaining why they are seeking the internship, along with a resume outlining their ducational background and activities. (Neither need be formal.) Although the internships are unpaid educational volunteer positions, course credit is readily available with cooperating high schools and colleges. Summer interns are expected to commit sixteen to twenty hours per week. The organization is particularly interested in applicants with web administration and/or data management skills.
The work that interns do has long been appreciated and recognized. At a recent fundraiser, keynote speaker Senator Mark Begich of Alaska noted with pleasure the presence of 2011 summer interns. He called their presence particularly exciting “because the future rests not with us but with young people, especially those here.”
The Illinois Tenth Congressional District Democrats is a volunteer group with members from all parts of the 10th Congressional District. The 10th District contains portions of both Cook and Lake Counties stretching from Winnetka through Zion and from Lake Michigan west through Round Lake. The District includes all or part of the following townships: Avon, Benton, Deerfield, Grant, Libertyville, Moraine, Shields, Waukegan, West Deerfield, Vernon, Zion and parts of Fremont, Lake Villa, Maine, New Trier, Newport, Northfield, Warren, and Wheeling. Inquiries may be directed to Rian Watt, Intern Coordinator, at ianwatt@tenthdems.org or Lauren Beth Gash, Chair, at laurenbethgash@gmail.com.
Reception for Scott Drury in Highland Park
Scott Drury
Sunday, May 20, 4:00 – 6:00 pm
Home of Thomas & Kathryn Vanden Berk
Highland Park
You are invited to a reception in support of Scott Drury, Democratic nominee for state representative (IL-58th). To join the host committee, purchase tickets ($100 and up), RSVP, or get more information, contact Carolyn, 847-525-8245,or email events@drury2012.com.
Tenth Dems Seeks Fundraising Director
The Tenth Congressional District Democrats (Tenth Dems) is considering hiring a Fundraising Director. This position is responsible for all aspects of fundraising to help Tenth Dems in its efforts to elect Democrats to all levels of office in every part of the 10th Congressional District of Illinois. This is a full-time position, probably based out of an office in Highland Park, although that may be negotiable.
Responsibilities Include:
1) Raising money through direct contact with prospective donors.
2) Working with others who can contact donors and giving them the necessary resources they need to be successful.
3) Helping to coordinate fundraising events.
4) Leading our efforts to recruit new members and renew existing memberships.
5) Developing new revenue sources for Tenth Dems, and managing any others we pursue.
6) Ideally, making absolutely certain that we comply with all political fundraising laws, and/or working with the person who manages reporting.
7) Ideally, overseeing all reporting requirements for federal and state political campaigns, and/or working with the person who manages reporting.
8.) Supporting all Tenth Dems’ efforts to help elect Democrats.
Necessary/preferred skills and experience Include:
1) Past experience in fundraising, ideally in political fundraising, or a similar transferable skill.
2) Working knowledge of the political campaign finance laws, or the aptitude to learn them.
3) Excellent computer skills. A high degree of comfort with computer databases and technology.
4) A commitment to the beliefs which form the foundation of the Democratic Party, and a strong desire to see Democrats elected to public office.
If interested, send your resume and cover letter to info@tenthdems.org, or call 847-266-VOTE (8683).
Schneider Wins Congressional Nomination
Brad Schneider
With 100 percent of precincts reporting, Deerfield businessman Brad Schneider won the high-profile race for the Democratic nomination for Congress in Illinois’ 10th Congressional District.
Schneider received 45 percent of the vote in the Lake County portion of the district and 51 percent in the Cook County portion, according to the two county clerk’s offices. Ilya Sheyman received 40 percent in Lake County and 35 percent in Cook. The other two candidates — John Tree and Vivek Bavda — received 10 and 5 percent, respectively, in the Lake County portion and 7 percent each in the Cook County portion. Schneider will now face Rep. Robert Dold (R-Ill.) in the November election.
In other contested races, West Deerfield Township Supervisor Julie A. Morrison was nominated for state senator in the 29th District, to replace retiring Senator Susan Garrett; Chris Kennedy was nominated for Lake County states attorney ; and Thomas A. Rudd received the nod for Lake County coroner. (All totals rounded.)
Thanks to all the candidates for their efforts! Now it is time to unite to win the November election!
More than 300 Democrats Rally at Tenth Dems Convention
Keynote speaker Fay Hartog-Levin
More than 40 candidates and elected officials at the 10th District-wide Democratic Convention raised their voices in support of working families, inspiring more than 300 enthusiastic conventioneers Sunday, March 4, at Vernon Hills High School.
The convention was hosted by Tenth Congressional District Democrats, or Tenth Dems. Candidates running for election at all levels of government from all parts of the district were able to meet active and passionate Democrats and interested independents. The convention featured rousing music, sign-waving to support Democratic candidates, and more.
Tenth Dems members conducted a straw poll for their favorite congressional candidate in the March 20 primary. Ilya Sheyman won 73 percent of the votes; John Tree, 20 percent; Brad Schneider, 6 percent; and Vivek Bavda, 1 percent. Although the convention was open to the public, only Tenth Dems members were eligible to vote.
Fay Hartog-Levin, the 65th U.S. ambassador to the Netherlands, was keynote speaker. Ambassador Levin’s speech reminded everyone of the task at hand—getting out the vote and sending Democrats to Washington, to Springfield, and to the many local offices in the district. “The country needs Barack Obama,” Levin said. “But the world needs him even more.”
“There was a generation in the world that only saw America through George W. Bush’s eyes,” Levin added. “The international community needed to see America through President Obama’s eyes. The Dutch and the international community never understood, for example, how a country with the wealth and influence of the United States did not allow many of its citizens access to health care.”
Levin was a senior consultant at Res Publica Group from 2006 to 2009, vice president for external affairs at Chicago’s Field Museum from 1997 to 2005, and an attorney in private practice and at Seyfarth, Shaw, Fairweather and Geraldson. Her parents were Dutch citizens who left the Netherlands during World War II and immigrated to the U.S. thereafter.
Local speakers at the convention vowed to unify after the primary to change the direction of the country and the district and spoke in amazement at the number and the energy of the attendees. “The rally was a fun event and a great way to energize voters,” said Northfield Trustee Karen McCormick.
The chair of the event was John Hmurovic, a recognized expert in area politics. Hmurovic has been chair of Tenth Dems since 2006 after three years as vice-chair and served as a precinct committeeman in Libertyville. He was campaign manager for State Rep. Karen May in 2006, 2008, and 2010, and for Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering in 2009.
Tenth Congressional District Democrats, or Tenth Dems, is a group of grassroots political volunteers who formed the organization in late 2003 to help elect Democrats to all levels of government throughout the 10th District. For more information or to volunteer, go to www.tenthdems.org, email info@tenthdems.org, or call 847-266-VOTE (8683).
Listen to the Congressional Candidates Debate on Podcast
Candidates (l. to r.) Ilya Sheyman, Vivek Bavda, John Tree, and Brad Schneider
If you were one of the nearly 400 people that Tenth Dems packed into the Deerfield Hyatt on Saturday, February 26 for a congressional candidates’ debate, or in case you missed it, you can hear the entire discussion on a Podcast provided by WCPT’s Dick Kay, who moderated the debate. The event featured the 10th Congressional District’s four Democratic candidates in the March 20 primary election: Vivek Bavda, Brad Schneider, Ilya Sheyman, and John Tree.