Ruben Zamora's personality shines through in his photograph, he's got attitude, intelligence, passion and grace. He is direct and straight forward, on his
Campaign Website, he states that "I am not a politician, and this is not my race for Congress. This
campaign is for the citizens of the 14th District of Illinois." That statement and his sincerity sparkle through Ruben and all his staff and supporters. They are all about the everyday people of the 14th district.
Ruben's campaign was recently challenged both financially and his "boots on the ground" when his primary "partner" and democratic co-hort, John Laesch, broke a campaign promise the two dems had made to each other to keep the primary all about the issues and civil. Instead Laesch supporters chose to do the job of their Republican opponent and filed a petition challenge.
While that slowed the Zamora campaign down for a bit, and cost them valuable time and much money, Ruben and company eventually were victorious and lept over the petition hurdle. Like the energizer bunny they kept right on going. (Though a
donation to help make up the money spent on the petition prank would be a great help!) Ruben Zamora has been endorsed by Jesse White, the Illinois Secretary of State; the newspaper Chicago Deportivo; The Indepent Voters of Illinois - Indepent Precinct Organization (IVI-IPO); El Perioódico Lo Nuestro Bilingual News; and most recently the
Daily Herald.
Ruben's values are mainstream, salt of the earth progressive. He is all about people and how he can best serve his fellow man. See for example, part of his statement of political values.
"Every individual has the right...
To safety at home, in the community and in the world.
To free speech and assembly.
To civil liberties, including the rights of trial by jury, effective counsel, and due process of law.
To privacy, including protection from unwanted invasion or surveillance and unreasonable search and seizure.
To vote and have his or her vote count.
To equal opportunity and protection, with an end to discrimination based on race, ethnicity, gender, religion, physical or developmental ability or sexual orientation.
To economic justice, including decent and safe work that pays a living wage and the right to organize for better working standards.
To security in retirement, including guaranteed, inflation-proof Social Security.
To affordable and comprehensive health care.
To an affordable quality education at any age.
To a clean and healthy environment where pollution is no longer a threat.
To full reproductive privacy.
To a foreign and military agenda that is responsible, achieves goals that are shared by our global allies, and promotes international cooperation.
To a government that promotes freedom, democracy, justice, and peace in domestic and world affairs."
Zamora is not afraid to tell you exactly where he stands on an issue - a refreshing quality in someone running for a political office in these culturally devisive times in America. While many running for office strive for the middle ground of mediocracy and blandness Zamora was quite forth-right in answering questions put to him at Soapblox Chicago:
Carl Nyberg, Soapblox Chicago:
What did you learn about organizing from your last campaign that will allow you to do better this time?
Ruben Zamora:
Thank you. I have to start earlier and raise more money. I had a volunteer staff that worked their butts off for this campaign and I feel a great debt of gratitude for them and my family. I had the right people, I just didn't have the finances and the time (6 months).
Someone mentioned he/she did not get any material from my office, it is probably true. If you were to breakdown the number of votes I received divided into the money spent to get them, it came to 25 cents per vote.
I spent close to $26,000 in 6 months of campaigning and I threw in $8,000 from my personal funds. I don't think we could have run a more efficient campaign for 87,000 votes. Not many people know that I ran after being unemployed for over one year because I no longer qualified to teach because of No Child Left Behind.
My campaign debt was approximately $4,500 at the end of the day. Although it may seem low compared to others, this campaign was a major committment from my family. I worked 17-20 hours per day the last month of the campaign. I had to, there was so much work!
Once again, I cannot thank all the people that came forward that volunteered with fundraising, answering phones, event support, and lit drops. I also want to thank the many voters who trusted me. I will always be grateful. But it comes down to whether people want new leadrship in Congress or more Hastert. What's it worth to you?
Michael in Chicago, Soapblox Chicago:
What do you see as the most important issues facing the 14th District, and what plans, if any, do you have for addressing them?
Ruben Zamora:
There are many pressing needs in the 14th district, but foremost are jobs. We have lost many manufacturing jobs to outsourcing, NAFTA, and WTO. I am especially angered by the laws that allow companies to steal pensions as part of bankruptcy proceedings.
I believe we need to create new opportunities. We need to take advantage of federal funds for small business start ups and encourage residents to become entrepreneurs.
We have concerns about traffic congestion and I propose a network of electric rails to transport commuters and products. Alongside the rails, we could bury internet and DSL cables to reach areas currently without service.
I also believe we need to create a system of renewable sources of energy. Wind and solar technologies would be best. Although I could harp on what we don't have, I believe we should concentrate on what can be. Although other issues such as healthcare and education are prominent, jobs are still foremost.
Here are more Zamora Values:
"A nation ruled by hope, not fear.
A democracy where the citizens are the first priority instead of corporations.
Security at home through diplomacy and mended international relationships.
Protecting human, civil, and immigrant rights.
Campaign finance reform.
A fair, re-prioritized system of taxation."
Contrast Ruben to Laesch who SAID, "Here in Kendall County, I have been working with the local Progressive Democratic Council to overthrow the stagnant Democratic Party. We have recruited 42 Precinct Committeemen and the Republicans only have 41. A strong structure will be essential to defeating Dennis Hastert." While DOING this.
And then there is this insightful comment Laesch left on Soapblox Chicago today. Here's an excerpt: "I wanted to write and let you know that I truely enjoyed blogging on DailyKOS because it wasn't the same 5 angry people that try and tear me apart over here on SB/C. ... The truth about my Naperville trip is that I was going to see Marcos (KOS), the one who invented DailyKOS. Marcos was speaking at the event, so I purchased a table and took the staff out for dinner to a fundraiser (we lost money). Part of politics is "who you know" and I saw an opportunity to develop a relationship with a key on-line player in the movement to take back our country. Ruben could have made the same trip and "sold his candidacy" to KOS just like I did. I didn't write Ruben's strategy and I can't really help him make such decisions. I have several other BLOG interviews with national-level bloggers."
You could plug in Hastert's name instead of Laesch's and the comment would ring true. Laesch and Hastert both seem to want to keep going with politiics as usual. Zamora is a refreshing change.
Zamora's biography states that he is the fourth youngest of a Mexican-American, migrant family of 11 children.(That right there proves he has the skills to survive and thrive in Congress.)
His beginnings are humble--born on June 21, 1966, in Union City Indiana, to Israel and Josefina Zamora. His father abandoned the family soon after a move to Ft. Myers, Florida, when Ruben was 1½ years old. Consequently, Ruben was raised in farm-provided housing, a vermin-infested, 2-bedroom home with poorly maintained plumbing. In order to provide basic necessities for the family, his mother and two older brothers worked Florida's gladiolus fields. Ruben's three oldest sisters left school to help support the family as well. At age 11, Ruben and his older brother, Pilar, were given new opportunities when teachers Ed and Barbara Boulton became their guardians and made education a priority. Both brothers graduated from high school; Ruben with honors (and a cross country championship) from Cypress Lake High School in Ft. Myers, Florida.
Although he was given opportunities that allowed him to flourish, Ruben did not take anything for granted, working hard to achieve his goals. In 1984, Ruben attended North Central College (Naperville, Illinois) where he participated in track and cross country. Working his way through college, he graduated in 1989 with a B.A. in business management. Ruben has more than 10 years of experience in food service management, manufacturing, and retail sales. Recently, he completed eight years of substitute teaching in the East Aurora School District and earned his M.A. in education from Aurora University in 2004.
Ruben enjoys computer games and is a diehard Cubs fan (and a fair-weather Sox fan). He participated in competitive sports as a road race and marathon runner and established a cross-country program for middle school students in East Aurora. He has also shared his talents with children and adolescents through various children's and youth programs at church and in the community and as a coach for youth soccer, high school track, basketball, and softball teams. Ruben finished his student-teaching requirement at O'Donnell Elementary where he was assistant coach for the softball team. Most recently, he worked with disadvantaged preschoolers as a Head Start teacher. Ruben also participates in other community activities such as the Christmas in April program, which helps seniors maintain their homes.
Ruben and his wife, Nadia, have been married 18 years and have two teenage sons, ages 17 and 15. They live in Aurora, Illinois.