The dates and times for the packet assembling parties are:

Saturday September 4, in two shifts: 10:00a.m. to noon and noon to 2:00 p.m.

Tuesday September 7 from 7:00pm to 9:00pm

We will be building the packets on at the MTDO office, 442 Central Avenue — 2nd floor (above Enaz Boutique) in Highland Park.

We estimate that we need 3,600 packets.  Will you join us?  We could surely use your help.

For more info, or to RSVP, please contact Sam Piro, Precinct Committeeman 226, (874) 732-6764, Sampiro1@comcast.net

Paid for by the Moraine Township Democratic Organization.

Stephen Ark

Not many teenagers can qualify as political organizers, but 18-year-old Stephen Ark can and does.

A Gurnee native, Ark first headed for Chicago’s North Shore in 2008 to work on the Obama campaign for president and soon became involved in local electioneering. Last summer he interned with Tenth Dems, doing research, canvassing, and marching in parades, working out of the Moraine Township Democratic Organization (MTDO) office in Highland Park.  This summer he returned to manage the internship program — a staff position. Along the way, he redesigned the web sites of MTDO and Tenth Dems.

“I wanted something I could learn from—not like slinging subs at Quiznos,” Ark explains. “I’m glad I did it.”

“All of our interns are impressive,” says Democratic State Central Committeewoman Lauren Beth Gash, who chairs MTDO, “but Stephen stood out from the very beginning as a true leader. Stephen can oversee projects from vision to completion, excels at every step, and can motivate, garner respect, and cultivate friendship from not only the rest of the interns, but the adult volunteers with whom he works as well. He is an important part of the Tenth Dems Team.”

Ark, a May 2010 graduate of Carmel Catholic High School, has never formally studied either politics or web design—he learned by doing. That may change now that he is off to Macalester College in St. Paul, where he plans to study political science and economics and perhaps go on to law school. Eventually, he hopes to return to Illinois, which he likes for its diverse landscape and ethnic mix. In particular, he appreciates the North Shore and its people, who are politically aware and involved and take their politics seriously.

His friends and colleagues at MTDO and Tenth Dems wish Stephen success in this new phase of his life.  We are glad that he will be only a phone call or email message away!

Democrat Anne Flanigan Bassi’s bid for re-election to her Lake County Board District 23 seat was met with rousing enthusiasm by scores of supporters gathered to kick off her campaign on June 8. Campaign Co-Chairs Barbara Lippai, Gail Feiger Brown and Sulie Holt, Highland Park Mayor Michael Belsky and Campaign Finance Chair Cindy Wolfson as well as Bassi addressed volunteers and supporters who crowded into the two-term incumbent’s home.

“My energy and enthusiasm for this important work has not dimmed in the last eight years; in fact, I have learned that with more experience, I’ve become more effective, working across party lines to form the coalitions necessary to advocate successfully on behalf of issues like the environment, public health and safety, local healthcare, flood control, open space and fiscally-responsible, accessible government,” Bassi told the crowd.

As a CPA and businesswoman, Bassi has served on the County’s Finance Committee for her entire tenure on the Board and as Vice Chair for two of those years.

“In my role on the Finance Committee, I work to ensure that Lake County government lives within its means with a balanced budget, healthy reserves, and triple-A bond rating from both S&P and Moody’s. We are one of only 38 counties nationally with that distinction,” Bassi pointed out.

Bassi Supporters Feast and Have Fun

Highland Park Mayor Belsky introduced Bassi, detailing her many accomplishments and lauding her efforts on behalf of residents, saying “Anne has made County government relevant for our citizens.”

Bassi commented that “together we’ve made real progress and a difference on access to healthcare for our residents, environmental protection, flood reduction efforts, affordable housing, open space preservation, and a host of issues impacting the quality of our lives.

“While I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished, there is more work to be done. Throughout this campaign, I will be asking for voter support so that I can continue to make a positive difference on issues of importance to area residents.”

As District 23 representative, Bassi has played an instrumental role in obtaining key grants for local groups: $380,000 to the Park District of Highland Park to help create and restore wetlands at Skokie Woods (Routes 22 and 41); $100,000 to the City of Highland Park for environmental remediation at Karger Center (the planned location for the Community Family Center); and nearly $800,000 for affordable housing opportunities in Highland Park, which was used to leverage almost $10 million in other funding.

As a County Board representative, Bassi also worked with the City of Highland Park, the Lake County Health Department and community groups to bring the County’s North Shore Health Center primary care clinic to a transit-oriented downtown Highland Park location to serve uninsured and underinsured residents in southeast Lake County.

During her tenure, Bassi opened the lines of communication with area residents at no cost to taxpayers by distributing a periodic e-newsletter on County issues.

According to Mayor Belsky, “Anne Bassi is one of the hardest working and most effective public officials I have ever encountered.”

Anne Flanigan Bassi Listens

Lippai, past president of the League of Women Voters of Illinois, commented that “Anne’s role as our Forest Preserve District representative is very close to her heart; she is a true environmentalist, but as an accountant, also fiscally responsible.”

Agreed Feiger Brown, “Her financial expertise is invaluable to us all. We know that Anne is judicious with our tax dollars. We’re lucky to have her careful eye on the budgets.”

Bassi Team Leaders Listen

“Anne networks, communicates and builds coalitions,” added Holt. “Her tireless efforts on behalf of our residents have earned our best efforts to assure her re-election. We need her experience and effectiveness on the County Board.”

Anne Flanigan Bassi, a Highland Park resident since 1973, is a CPA with a Masters in Taxation from DePaul University and has her own private tax practice. She was first elected to the Lake County Board/Forest Preserve District seat in 2002.

Bassi’s District encompasses the City of Highwood, most of Highland Park and portions of Lake Forest.
The Bassi for County Board campaign committee welcomes involvement from the public. Contact them at (224) 234-3753, email Anne@AnneBassi.com or get the details at www.AnneBassi.com.

On the weekend of March 20th and 21st, I will be hosting a series of Constituent Outreach Meetings in the district (see locations and times below). This is an opportunity for you to provide input about local and state issues, and for us to listen to your concerns.

Come to one of the following locations to participate.

I look forward to hearing what is on your mind, and to offer ways in which to help!

Sincerely,