DNC Illinois Superdelegates

HuffPost's OffTheBus members produced these superdelegate profiles as part of its Superdelegate Investigation. You can find all profiles here.

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Rev. Willie Barrow
Illinois

Basic Bio * Rev. Barrow was born in Burton, Texas * Barrow has been a social activist since her student days when she lead a protest against her segregated school district in 1940's. * Rev. Barrow was a field organizer for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. from 1953-1960s. She was a key organizer of the march on Selma. Along with Jesse Jackson Sr., Rev. Barrow was a founding member of SCLC's Operation Breadbasket, which served as a model for Rainbow-PUSH. * In a 2005 interview with Chicago's Windy City Times, Rev. Barrow gives her long activist history. "I was discriminated against at an early age so I got started in [the student movement]. Then, there was the women's movement with the Equal Rights Amendment. After that, I was involved in the labor movement; it was then that I learned how to organize. Then the labor movement took me to the civil-rights movement. After my son [ came out to me ] , I then became a part of the gay-rights movement. So, I've been through a lot." http://www.windycitymediagroup.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=6989 * Barrow (83) is known known as the "Little Warrior" and is co-chairperson emeritus of the Rainbow-PUSH Coalition. * In a phone interview, Rev. Barrow said, "I'm proud to say I'm a super-delegate and I'm proud to say I'm with Obama." She has been a super-delegate since 1992 for Clinton.

References
http://www.rainbowpush.org/about/board.html
http://www.thehistorymakers.com/biography/biography.asp?bioindex=32&category=religionMakers
http://www.politicalbase.com/people/willie-barrow/30104/

This profile was produced through HuffPost's OffTheBus Superdelegate Investigation. All profiles will be donated to the Superdelegate Transparency Project. If you have information that should be added to this profile, please join the Superdelegate Transparency Project and update the profile there.

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Margaret Blackshere
Illinois

Basic Bio
* Former president Illinois AFL-CIO
* Blackshere was a kindergarten teacher who rose to become president of the Illinois Federation of Teachers.
* A native of Madison County, Illinois, became politically active in college at Southern Illinois University, and continued her activism by organizing teachers in her community and becoming involved in the teachers union and the state AFL-CIO.
* Now 67, she retired last year but continues to be politically active. http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Margaret_Blackshere, http://www.govtrack.us/congress/record.xpd?id=110-s20070430-22

Political interests and issues
* Blackshere has promoted the interests of teachers, women and union workers.
* Has worked for Democratic candidates from Robert Kennedy, Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton to Paul Simon and Dick Durbin.

Involvement in the Democratic Party:
* Has been in the DNC for 11 years. Is occasionally quoted in the press as a spokeswoman for teachers, women and unions. Here is how one source described her: "Possessor of a brilliant career as the teacher union's top legislative advocate, now Illinois labor's foremost woman leader. Throughout her career Blackshere advanced women's participation in the Democratic Party and organized labor.
* Has served as a delegate of the Democratic National Convention during 1980-1992 and promoted the candidacy of women at all levels within the Democratic Party. Blackshere promoted teachers' rights as the president of the American Federation of Teachers and the Secretary-Treasurer of the Illinois State AFL-CIO. http://www.kentlaw.edu/ilhs/1995.htm

Pledged Status
* Is pledged to Obama. "He truly listens, he never excludes hearing your point of view. That's admirable," she said. She mentioned how he was always willing to listen to her as a spokeswoman for teachers and the union.

Involvement in the 2008 Election
* Has spoken at union events to campaign for Obama, she said, and plans to make similar appearances in Pennsylvania.

Contributions to Candidates
* Has donated $4,450 to Obama in the last year. http://www.campaignmoney.com/political/contributions/margaret-blackshere.asp?cycle=08

Family's Involvement in Politics, the Democratic Party
* Grew up in Madison County, Illinois, where most workers, but not teachers, were unionized. Family was not political, she said.

Other
* Blackshere has always promoted women in politics, but not this time. Regarding Sen. Hillary Clinton she said: "I've met Clinton, watched her, admired her, but not always thought she did the wisest thing. I learned during the Equal Rights Amendment fight in the 70s and 80s out best friends were not gender (linked) but what they stood for. I remember arguing with women who wanted to endorse all women (regardless of their stands on issues). So I never had a conflict in my own heart (regarding Clinton v. Obama). I always felt the best person for working families was who I'm working for. Without doubt that's Obama."

This profile was produced through HuffPost's OffTheBus Superdelegate Investigation. All profiles will be donated to the Superdelegate Transparency Project. If you have information that should be added to this profile, please join the Superdelegate Transparency Project and update the profile there.

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Darlena Williams-Burnett
Chicago, Illinois

Basic Bio
* Chief Deputy Recorder for the Cook County Recorder of Deeds in Chicago, Illinois.
* Married to Walter Burnett, Jr. (Alderman, 27th Ward).
* Has 2 sons and one granddaughter.
* Served as Treasurer for First Baptist Congregational Church
* Burnett has a Masters of Art Degree in Psychology from National-Louis University and a Bachelor of Science Degree from Illinois State University

Involvement in Democratic Party
* Williams-Burnett served on the Executive Board for the Young Democrats of Cook County.
* Instrumental in organizing a national campaign that rendered Illinois a delegate seat on the Democratic National Committee.
* Serves as a delegate on the Democratic National Committee (DNC).

Personal political interests and issues
* Burnett works with several community and civic organizations that provide resources to the poor.
* Has served on the Advisory Board for Union Park, as a board member for Aids Care, an advisory board member for Deborah's Place, and on the Community Advisory Board for Haymarket place.
* Burnett was appointed Union Contract Negotiator, and was elected by co-workers as union steward. Burnett lobbied the Illinois for the passage of the Family Medical Leave Act.
* From 1991-1993 Burnett worked for Community-based organizations that serviced the housing needs of Chicago's elderly.

Involvement in 2008 election - campaign appearances, statements
* Superdelegate committed to Senator Obama.
* "I am happy to confirm my support for Senator Obama. I made that commitment to the campaign some time ago." http://demconwatch.blogspot.com/2008/03/illinois-superdelegate-williams-burnett.html

Contributions to Candidates
* Donated $250 to Barack Obama's Senate campaign on 2/5/04.
* Husband, Walter Burnett Jr., donated $1000 to Barack Obama's Senate campaign on 5/13/04. www.fec.gov

Family's Involvement in Politics, the Democratic Party
* Married to Walter Burnett, Jr. (Alderman, 27th Ward of Chicago).

Previous Campaign Work
* Burnett has served as a volunteer with numerous political campaigns, from the local to the national level.
* Serves as Treasurer for Friends of Jesse White.
* Has attended several Democratic National Conventions.
* Was a Delegate for the Gore nomination.
* Special Guest at the 1996 Convention in Chicago where husband Alderman Walter Burnett, Jr. was the host local Elected Official. http://demconwatch.blogspot.com/2008/03/illinois-superdelegate-williams-burnett.html

Connections to Politicians, Leaders On State Level
* Williams-Burnett has an extensive background in city, state and county government, having served as Chief-of-Staff to a State Representative, assistant to a County Commissioner, and as an assistant to a city Alderman.
* Williams-Burnett present and past job responsibilities include constituent services, Budget maintenance and allocation, employee training, union contract negotiations, employee labor relations, interaction with other governmental agencies, media inquiries, special event coordination and attendance.
* Prior to her work in the Recorder's Office, Burnett served as a member of the Cook County Board of Commissioners, from January 1997 to December 1998. She represented the First District and chaired the Public Health and Tax-Revenue sub-committees and served as vice-chair of Roads & Bridges http://www.darlenaburnett.org

This profile was produced through HuffPost's OffTheBus Superdelegate Investigation. All profiles will be donated to the Superdelegate Transparency Project. If you have information that should be added to this profile, please join the Superdelegate Transparency Project and update the profile there.

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Constance Howard
Illinois State Representative
Illinois

Basic Bio
* Constance Howard is 65 years old and was born in Chicago, Illinois. http://votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=6335
* Graduated from Chicago State University. http://votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=6335
* Worked for the Illinois Department of Human Rights and for a South Side Chicago paper as a reporter. http://www.housedem.state.il.us/members/howardc/index.htm

Political interests and issues
* Became interested in politics because of interest in community activism, according to Howard's biography on the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus website. http://www.housedem.state.il.us/members/howardc/index.htm
* sponsored and passed the Illinois African American HIV/AIDS Response Act aimed at HIV prevention among the black population in Illinois. http://www.poz.com/articles/431_2562.shtml
* Secured legislative funding aimed at closing the digital divide between poorer and mainstream communities.
* Sponsored legislation to expunge and seal criminal records for certain types of criminals, in order to promote integrating them into society. http://www.constance-a-connie-howard.org/bio.htm
* Requested that the Illinois General Assembly look into sentencing disparities between blacks and Latinos and whites. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0JAS/is_1_32/ai_96305518/pg_1
* Belongs to the following organizations: Black Elected Officials of Illinois, Black Women's Network, Chicago Urban League, Cook County Democratic Women, Democratic State Central Committee, Illinois Legislative Black Caucus, Independent Voters of Illinois/Independent Precinct Organization, National Political Congress of Black Women http://votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=6335

Involvement in the Democratic Party
* Howard has been the Illinois State Representative for the 34th District in Chicago since 1995. http://www.constance-a-connie-howard.org/bio.htm
* Vice Chair of the Democratic Party of Illinois. http://www.democrats.org/a/2005/06/illinois.php
* Was an alternate to the Democratic National Conventions in 1984 and 1988 and an elector in Conventions of 2000 and 2004. http://www.housedem.state.il.us/members/howardc/index.htm

Pledged Status
* Endorsed Barack Obama along with all of the African American colleagues from the Illinois General Assembly on December 17, 2007. http://www.barackobama.com/2007/12/17/african_american_illinois_legi.php
* Worked with Barack Obama in the Illinois State Senate. http://politics.nytimes.com/election-guide/2008/results/superdelegates/delegates/index.html#222

Contributions
* Donated $200 to Obama for Illinois in June 2004. http://query.nictusa.com/cgi-bin/qind/
* Donated $299 to the DNC in the first quarter of 2004. http://fundrace.huffingtonpost.com/neighbors.php?type=name&lname=howard+&fname=constance&search=Search

Previous Campaign Work and Experience
* Endorsed Barack Obama in the 2004 Democrat primary race for United States Senator of Illinois. http://www.djw.info/senate.htm
* Endorsed Stephen Stern for judge in Illinois' fifth judicial subcircuit. http://electstephenstern.com/

This profile was produced through HuffPost's OffTheBus Superdelegate Investigation. All profiles will be donated to the Superdelegate Transparency Project. If you have information that should be added to this profile, please join the Superdelegate Transparency Project and update the profile there.

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Emil Jones, Jr.
14th District, President of the Senate
Illinois

Basic Bio
* Full-time state legislator; born Oct. 18, 1935, in Chicago; A.A., Chicago Loop Junior College; attended Roosevelt University School of Commerce; strong advocate for funding public education and social justice in Illinois; has received numerous legislative awards; is the parent of four children with his late wife, Patricia. http://www.ilga.gov/senate/senator.asp?MemberID=990
* Born October 18, 1935, Jones was raised in one of Chicago's integrated communities, where was exposed to many different traditions and cultures.
* After graduating from Roosevelt University, Jones held several jobs before becoming inspired, in 1960, by the presidential candidacy of John F. Kennedy.
* Jones volunteered for the campaign and decided to pursue a political career of his own, making important political contacts during the campaign.
* Jones later served as an assistant for Wilson Frost, who was the only African American alderman to head the city of Chicago's Finance Committee.
* In 1972, Jones was elected to the Illinois House of Representatives, a position held for ten years before moving to the Senate.
* In 1993, Senator Jones was unanimously selected Senate Minority Leader, one of the chief spokespersons for the Senate Democrats.
* On January 8, 2003, Jones was elected president of the Illinois Senate in the 93rd General Assembly. http://www.thehistorymakers.com/biography/biography.asp?bioindex=21&category=PoliticalMakers&occupation=Illinois%20Senate%20President&name=Emil%20Jones%2C%20Jr.

Personal Political Interests and Issues
* During his time in the General Assembly, Jones has advocated for issues including funding public education and social justice in Illinois. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emil_Jones
* Has been a passionate and consistent advocate for public schools. Commitment to education resulted in the passage of a bill that channeled hundreds of millions of dollars for education of children from disadvantaged families.
* Very active in the promotion of minority-owned businesses, Jones supported legislation that guarantees a portion of state construction contracts to qualified minority entrepreneurs.
* For efforts in civil rights legislation, Jones has been recognized by many educational and labor organizations. Is a member of the National Conference of State Legislators and the National Black Caucus of State Legislators. http://www.thehistorymakers.com/biography/biography.asp?bioindex=21&category=PoliticalMakers&occupation=Illinois%20Senate%20President&name=Emil%20Jones%2C%20Jr.

Involvement in the Democratic Party
* President of the Illinois Senate. A Democrat, was previously a member of the Illinois House of Representatives from 1973 until 1983 . http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emil_Jones
* As the second African-American to head the state senate, the Chicago-based Democrat, who recently won a second term, has tremendous influence over a $54 billion state budget. http://goliath.ecnext.com/coms2/gi_0199-3916090/Statehouse-clout-Emil-Jones-Jr.html

Pledged Status
* Senator Jones was also instrumental in helping Senator Barack Obama with his election to the United States Senate. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emil_Jones
* Has been called, "Obama's political godfather"...
http://www.suntimes.com/news/sweet/244754,CST-NWS-sweet06.article
and "steered sponsorship of important legislation" to him http://www.dallasobserver.com/photoGallery/index.php?id=903292&p=1
* See also "African American Illinois Legislators Unanimously Endorse Barack Obama" http://www.barackobama.com/2007/12/17/african_americanillinois_legi.php

Involvement in the 2008 Election
* 2/6/07: Seeking to solidify African-American backing for Barack Obama's presidential bid, Illinois Senate President Jones told black Democrats meeting here last week they don't "owe" anyone, alluding to, but not mentioning by name, Bill and Hillary Rodham Clinton. Obama, said Jones, "is our son." http://www.suntimes.com/news/sweet/244754,CST-NWS-sweet06.article

Previous Campaign Work
* Jones "stumped for black votes during Obama's contested 2004 Illinois Senate Democratic primary." http://www.suntimes.com/news/sweet/244754,CST-NWS-sweet06.article

Connections to Politicians, Leaders on State Level
* In the late 1960's or early 1970's, "Jones... served as an assistant for Wilson Frost, who was the only African American alderman to head the city of Chicago's Finance Committee." http://www.thehistorymakers.com/programs/dvl/files/Jones_Emilf.html
* Jones has had feuds during his time in office with other Democrats, most notably House Speaker Michael Madigan. He is an ally of Governor Rod Blagojevich. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emil_Jones

This profile was produced through HuffPost's OffTheBus Superdelegate Investigation. All profiles will be donated to the Superdelegate Transparency Project. If you have information that should be added to this profile, please join the Superdelegate Transparency Project and update the profile there.

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Sen. Iris Martinez Illinois

State Central Committeewoman of the 4th Congressional District for the State Democratic Party
Illinois General Assembly
Chicago Reader
Follow the Money
My Barack Obama

Basic bio
* Senator Martinez was born in Chicago
* Martinez attended Northeastern University and the University of Illinois

Involvement in the Democratic Party
* Martinez has been a Chicago machine loyalist and first came to office in 2002 with the assistance of the Hispanic Democratic Organization (a PAC involved in a Federal Investigation on hiring practices with Chicago city hall)
* long time Chicago political strongman Alderman Richard Mell (who was instrumental in assisting his son-in-law, Rod Blagojevic to become Illinois Governor)

Personal Political interests and issues
* During her Senatorial career Martinez has split with her political sponsors and allied herself with the State Senate leader Emil Jones who appointed her Assistant Majority Leader.

Involvement in 2008 election- campaign appearances, statements
* Senator Martinez, who served alongside Barack Obama when he served in the Illinois Senate, is a pledged delegate for his nomination and has campaigned on his behalf

This profile was produced through HuffPost's OffTheBus Superdelegate Investigation. All profiles will be donated to the Superdelegate Transparency Project. If you have information that should be added to this profile, please join the Superdelegate Transparency Project and update the profile there.

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Steve Powell Illinois

Basic Bio
* Steven M. Powell, 44, is Secretary/Treasurer of Local 881, United Food and Commercial Workers International Union, based in Rosemont, Il., a close-in Chicago suburb.
* In 2004, Steve Powell was appointed by the UFCW International President as the special assistant for legislative and political affairs. He rose from being a union representative in 1985 to working in the International's headquarters in 1991 as its director of political affairs. In 1995 he returned to the Chicago local to serve as executive vice president until he was elected secretary/treasurer in 1999.
* He also is Central Committeeman in the 8th Congressional District and Trustee for the UFCW Midwest Health Benefits and Pension Funds, according to his union biography.
* Powell's union, a part of the Change to Win labor federation, has endorsed Barach Obama. http://www.local881ufcw.org/ and http://www.seiu.org/

Family's Involvement in Politics, the Democratic Party
* His father, Ron Powell, is president of the local and vice president of the International union. http://www.local881ufcw.org/881%20Officers/881%20Officers.html Both live in Mundelein, Il., a Lake County suburb of Chicago.
* Ron Powell ran as a Democratic Convention delegate in the Illinois 8th District pledged to Barack Obama in the Illinois primary election on Feb. 5.
* A Dec. 22, 2000 Chicago Tribune article summarized the race: "Mundelein Trustee Steve Powell, who recently announced his intention to run for mayor, has more than $50,000 in his campaign fund--which is a virtual fortune for a municipal mayor's race. Powell, secretary-treasurer of Local 881 of the United Food and Commercial Workers union, which is headed by his father, Ron Powell, has received thousands of dollars from union interests. Several big-name politicians, including U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), also have contributed. Powell, 37, a village trustee since 1997, believes he can do a better job directing Mundelein's future than Marilyn Sindles, who plans to run for a fourth four-year term in next year's spring elections. Though most suburban elections are nonpartisan, several Lake County Democrats are expected to stand behind Powell's candidacy in an attempt to make more inroads into the GOP-controlled suburbs."
* Powell lost the race then resigned from the village board.

Previous Campaign Work
* In 2004 Powell was an alternate delegate to the Democratic Convention pledged to John Kerry.

This profile was produced through HuffPost's OffTheBus Superdelegate Investigation. All profiles will be donated to the Superdelegate Transparency Project. If you have information that should be added to this profile, please join the Superdelegate Transparency Project and update the profile there.
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John Rednour Mayor DuQuoin, Illinois

Basic Bio
* Mayor John Rednour was born in Percy, Ill.
* He grew up in Cutler and has spent the last 35 years residing in DuQuoin.
* Mayor Rednour has been the chief official of DuQuoin since 1989.
* Has a construction business
* He currently also serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors and Major Stockholder at DuQoin State Bank.
(http://www.duquoin.org/mayorrednour.htm; www.duquoinstatebank.com/about.shtml)

Involvement in the Democratic Party
* Per John Croessman, publisher of the DuQuoin Evening Call and good friend of the mayor, Rednour has been a party of the Party for 40 years.
* Rednour was a delegate to Democratic National Convention from Illinois, 1972 (alternate), 2000 and 2004; a Presidential Elector for Illinois, 1992; and a member of Democratic National Committee from Illinois, 2004 (http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/redd-redwood.html#S5S0Z0L7U)
* People outside of Southern Illinois may not really now Rednour at all. The town of which he is the mayor is less than 6,500. There is little recent traditional press on the mayor, outside of the cute mistaken identity story: he is in Obama's camp, but his son (a "junior") works for Hillary in Illinois (not a superdelegate).
* New media coverage (bloggers) has not been as kind to the mayor. They basically state he is an old school machine type (not worth listing the specific blogs -- they seem more personal).

Personal political interests and issues
* At the present time, one of his top concerns is trying to keep the Amtrak station in DuQuoin. After President Bush had cut a considerable amount of money from the Amtrak's budget, it may leave many citizens of the town without a main form of transportation. Mayor Rednour is also working on his campaign for his re-election this April. He is also helping officials fight the war on Meth, improving DuQuoin's water and sewer lines, and working on economic development. "Not only do we want businesses to grow here in DuQuoin, we want them to stay in DuQuoin as well." (http://www.duquoin.org/mayorrednour.htm)

Involvement in 2008 election - campaign appearances, statements
* Has pledged publicly to Obama. No record of event attendance in 2008, but has had Obama over to his house before. Made a $1,000 donation to Obama (http://www.pantagraph.com/articles/2008/02/20/news/doc47bb72f287360904605323.txt)

Contributions to Candidates
* Gave Obama's campaign $1,000, according to records (http://www.pantagraph.com/articles/2008/02/20/news/doc47bb72f287360904605323.txt)

Family's Involvement in Politics, the Democratic Party
* His uncle was the Perry Country chair for 40 years and handed the reigns over to him. His son, John Rednour Jr., serves on Clinton's Illinois steering committee and supports the New York senator and also has served as county chair (http://www.pantagraph.com/articles/2008/02/20/news/doc47bb72f287360904605323.txt)

This profile was produced through HuffPost's OffTheBus Superdelegate Investigation. All profiles will be donated to the Superdelegate Transparency Project. If you have information that should be added to this profile, please join the Superdelegate Transparency Project and update the profile there.

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Carol Ronen Illinois

Basic Bio" * Senator Carol Ronen (D) * 7th District * Full-time state legislator; born March 28, 1945, in Chicago; B.A., political science, Bradley University, Peoria; M.A., public administration, Roosevelt University, Chicago; single. * Years served: 1993 - 2000 (House); 2000 - Present (Senate) * Committee assignments: Health & Human Services (Chairperson); Sen. Comm. Whole; Education; Higher Education; Labor. * Information for this section comes from ILLINOIS GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Involvement in the Democratic Party
* Contributions made by Carol Ronen to DNC
* DNC SERVICES CORPORATION/DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE (D) $300 primary 12/20/00
* DNC SERVICES CORPORATION/DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE (D) $300 primary 09/13/00
* DNC SERVICES CORPORATION/DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE (D) $300 primary 08/15/00
http://www.newsmeat.com/fec/bystate_detail.php?zip=60660&last=RONEN&first=CAROL
* Ronen has been associated with the LGBT vote in Chicago's north side.
"Assumptions about the gay vote could play out in the race for the seat being vacated by longtime LGBT ally State Sen. Carol Ronen (D-Chicago). Her district covers the Uptown, Ravenswood, Edgewater and Andersonville neighborhoods, and both Suzanne Elder and Heather Steans are actively seeking LGBT support in their campaigns."
http://news.medill.northwestern.edu/chicago/news.aspx?id=76239

Personal political interests and issues
* "Carol was the lead senate sponsor of the Illinois Human Rights act, landmark legislation protecting Illinoisans from discrimination based on sexual orientation. Governor Blagojevich signed this legislation on January 21, 2005 culminating 12 years in which they worked together to pass this bill. It also fulfilled a personal commitment she made when she first ran for office - to extend equal protection to Illinois gay, lesbian and trans-gendered citizens. Illinois is now one of only five states in the nation to pass such sweeping protections.
* "Also in 2005, led the successful effort to pass the Equal Pay act, which increases the number of women covered by equal pay protections and provides for strong state enforcement."
* "A strong, committed voice in the Jewish community, Carol sits on the Government Affairs Committee of the Jewish Federation of Chicago and is a member of the Chicago Chapter of Hadassah."
http://www.carolronen.net/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={2D4343B2-FF21-459F-B10D-CAEFB6776D4B
* "In the 7th District on the North Side, the seat vacated by Sen. Carol Ronen (D-Chicago) became billed as a race between "establishment" candidate Heather Steans and grass roots progressive "reformer" Suzanne Elder.
* Steans was endorsed by Ronen soon after Ronen announced her retirement. But that move irked some local online activists, who thought Ronen had tipped off Steans and given her an unfair advantage.
* Ronen announced her retirement less than two weeks before the filing deadline for the primary election, forcing any interested candidate to scramble to collect 1,000 registered voters' signatures in order to be eligible." http://news.medill.northwestern.edu/chicago/news.aspx?id=77213

Involvement in 2008 election - campaign appearances, statements"
* Found no information on Ronen support for Obama or her attendance at candidate events.

Contributions to Candidates
Contributions by Sen. Ronen to any of the presidential candidates were not found.

Previous Campaign Work
* "When Harold Washington was elected mayor, that's when I really became more involved with legislative issues. I headed the city's human services department of the Office of Legislative Affairs; I worked on the city's legislative agenda in Springfield."
* "When Rich Daley became mayor, I moved over to head up the women's commission, [ which ] I did for a year. While at the commission, I met David Wilhelm, who had run Mayor Daley's 1989 campaign. When the '91 campaign was about to start ( back then, the mayor's term was two years ) , Dave asked if I'd like to become deputy campaign manager-- [ and that ] booted me into the political arena. It was the first time I had worked professionally on a campaign. After that campaign, I tried to figure out what I wanted to do next, and that's when David Wilhelm [ said ] , "Why don't you look into running for office?" ... Because I was at a crossroads; I had spent my entire professional life working on child-care and health issues; and I had the experience of the Daley campaign, I saw how [ everything ] could fit together.
* I also had people like David Wilhelm, Pete Giangreco and [ U.S. Rep. ] Rahm Emanuel, who [ were parts ] of the Daley campaign; I learned how to put together a political campaign. At the same time, my friend, [ Alderman ] Mary Ann Smith ran in '91; at the local level, I helped her campaign, so I got to know some local people."
Information for this section came from WINDY CITY MEDIA GROUP

This profile was produced through HuffPost's OffTheBus Superdelegate Investigation. All profiles will be donated to the Superdelegate Transparency Project. If you have information that should be added to this profile, please join the Superdelegate Transparency Project and update the profile there.

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Edward Smith
Illinois

Basic Bio
Information in this section comes from Laborers' International Union. (Note:
* The Laborers International is part of the Change to Win labor federation which has endorsed Sen. Barack Obama. But the Laborer's International has so far refrained from an Obama endorsement, based on a pledge that it would not endorse until 60 percent of the membership approved an endorsement.)
* Smith is Midwest Regional Manager of the Laborers' International Union of North America, a position he has held since 1994. http://www.midwestlaborers.org/
* He was elected a Vice President of the International Union in 1996 and serves on the International's General Executive Board. In 2001, Smith was appointed as Assistant to the General President for the International Union, which has about 500,000 members.
* Smith's many roles within the union include the Laborers' National Pension Fund, Chairman of the Central Laborers' Pension Fund, Laborers' Home Development Corporation, Laborers' International Federal Employees Credit Union, Southern Illinois Laborers' Fringe Benefit Funds, Railroad Maintenance Health & Welfare Fund, and the Illinois Laborers' & Contractors Joint Apprenticeship & Training Fund.
* In addition to his many union roles, Smith is the former Chairman of the Illinois State Board of Investment, serves as a member of the Illinois Department of Labor Advisory Board, and is Chairman of the National Alliance for Fair Contracting, and is Executive Vice President of Union Labor Life Insurance Company (ULLICO).
* In his role as a financial officer, Smith tried to use his clout to reform labor practices. In 2005 he signed a letter with others calling on Wal-Mart to investigate its "workplace practices." The letter "was signed by Thompson; Litvack, director and head of governance and socially responsible investment at F&C Asset Management; Edward Smith, chairman of the Illinois State Board of Investment; and Jason Fletcher, Americas Equities Manager at Universities Superannuation Scheme Ltd.," according to a Chicago Tribune/Bloomberg News article published on April 15, 2007. (The group held about 11.5 million shares of Wal-Mart stock worth $545.8 million at the time. The letters "show how the shareholders pressured Wal-Mart and were rebuffed," the story says.
* Smith and his union were named as defendants with several other defendants in a complicated vote buying and vote fraud lawsuit in southern Illinois, stemming from the 2000 election when he won a delegate spot pledged to Al Gore. http://www.thesouthern.com/articles/2005/06/04/local/103915.txt
* Smith's union has been controversial. http://www.laborers.org/
In the past it had a history of mob connections and was placed under government oversight

Involvement in the Democratic Party
* Smith is also a member of the Democratic National Committee, and was a delegate to the Democratic conventions in 2000 and 2004. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Smith_(Illinois_Democratic_politician)

Contributions to Candidates
* In 2000, Smith contributed $1,000 to Sen. Hillary Clinton's campaign, according to federal election records, and also $1,000 to the Democratic National Committee.

This profile was produced through HuffPost's OffTheBus Superdelegate Investigation. All profiles will be donated to the Superdelegate Transparency Project. If you have information that should be added to this profile, please join the Superdelegate Transparency Project and update the profile there.

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