Toni Preckinkle has swept the endorsement phase, now receiving the support of Crain's Chicago Business. She has also received the endorsement of the Chicago Tribune, the Chicago Sun Times, the Daily Herald, the Southtown Star.
If you want to know anything about running a campaign county-wide, there is one person that can answer that question and qualify as an expert. That one person is Chicago 4th Ward Alderman Toni Preckwinkle, who is running an old-fashioned "grassroots campaign" to win the position of Cook County Board President.
As I detail in my book, Mr. and Mrs. Grassroots: How Barack Obama, Two Bookstore owners, and 300 Volunteers Did It, a "grassroots campaign" entails a slow, tedious, detailed, highly organized, comprehensive political campaign. The campaign captures one voter at a time, recruits one volunteer at a time, one donation at a time.
Another key factor is hiring the right managers for the campaign. Toni's campaign is run by John Keller and Scott Cisek and they have done a fabulous job getting the word out about Toni Preckwinkle and getting her to the right places at the right time.
As I state repeatedly in my book, "Change comes slowly, gradually, incrementally, and suddenly." And that is the nature of a solid political campaign: slowly, gradually, incrementally, and suddenly.
And Toni Preckwinkle has hit the "suddenly" time in the campaign, taking all of her opponents by surprise. Our informal political group, The Reading on Walden Political Discussion Group, hosted Toni Preckwinkle on April 1, 2009. We were the first appearance she made outside of her 4th Ward home. She then spent the following months going from political group to political group, from community group to community group, from person to person. Campaigning relentlessly. Meeting with elected officials to seek their support, even if she knew she would not get it.
To volunteer for election day, visit the campaign's website, or call (773) 924-5042 or visit the campaign office located at 4659 S. Cottage Grove Ave., Suite 205. Chicago, Illinois, 60653
This is the Toni Preckwinkle I know. She is President Barack Obama's Alderman, when he is in Chicago. Soon, no longer President Obama's alderman. Let me introduce to you, the next President of the Cook County Board, Toni Preckwinkle. Chicago City Hall Examiner and The Chicago Grassroots Political Examiner. And be sure to read the Midland Book Examiner and a recent review there of my book.
John is the author of an upcoming book, Mr. and Mrs. Grassroots: How Barack Obama, two Bookstore Owners, and 300 Volunteers did it. The book can be ordered from many places, preferably your local independent bookseller at Indie Bound. It can be ordered from another great independent, Powells Bookstore in Portland, OR. Or if you insist, from Amazon.com. Or Barnes and Noble. Or Borders. Or even Sears.
Read the Chicago City Hall Examiner's and the Chicago Grassroots Political Examiner's recent pieces on many issues: First booksigning for the Obama book that celebrates books and bookselling. Robert Gibbs lashes out at Limbaugh. Mayor Richard M. Daley is vulnerable. Obama book is a celebration of books and bookselling. Pamela Cotten is endorsed for Subcircuit judge of Cook County.