For immediate release: Wednesday, March 12, 2019
Contact: Kristi Sanford, 773-456-4024 or kristi@thepeopleslobbyusa.org
Neighbor, father, and customer service manager poised for big city council upset: Reclaim Chicago’s Andre Vasquez draws union support in quest to unseat O’Connor
Chicago, IL — Inspired to be active in politics for the first time by Bernie Sanders’ campaign for president, Andre Vasquez connected with Reclaim Chicago in early 2016 to knock doors on Chicago’s northside for the Senator. Since then, Vasquez has been active in Reclaim Chicago’s core leadership on Chicago’s north side, leading voter contact programs for Daniel Biss for Governor and Ram Villivalam for State Senate and fighting for a fair elections ordinance that would help get big money out of municipal political campaigns in order to level the playing field for campaigns like his against corporate and machine backed candidates.
Today, several major unions announced support for Andre Vasquez: Chicago Teachers Union, AFSCME Council 31, SEIU HCII, SEIU Local 73, and CCCTU.
Reclaim Chicago runs a campaign leadership school with tracks for candidates, staff and super volunteers that want to run visionary campaigns that call for bold reforms and are powered by grassroots leaders. With more than 2,500 door knocks per week, dozens of weekly volunteer shifts and more than $100,000 raised before today’s endorsements, Vasquez has the strength to defeat O’Connor on April 2, 2019.
“A majority of voters in the 40th Ward are done with O’Connor’s ties to the machine, to politicians that are going to jail, and to racist policies that put downtown before Chicago’s neighborhoods,” says Andre Vasquez, candidate for alderman in the 40th ward. “For the past two years, we’ve been organizing with The People’s Lobby and Reclaim Chicago to build the base to run an effective campaign rooted in shared priorities of getting big-money out of politics, ensuring aldermen serve their wards and making Chicago much more equitable. ”
“Unless we’re born into wealthy or well-connected political families, we all get the message that we don’t belong in elected positions of power. This is especially true for people of color and women,” says Marta Popadiak, Organizing Director of The People’s Lobby and Reclaim Chicago. “Andre Vasquez’s campaign shows that when we reject that message, we inspire others to give the time and energy needed to elect people from our communities who will stay true to their roots while in office.”
The People’s Lobby recruited, trained and supported Daniel La Spata in his run for first ward alderman. Additionally, The People’s Lobby mobilized well-trained volunteers to do voter contact work with Jeanette Taylor in the 20th Ward, who finished first in a field of nine with almost a third of the vote.
The People’s Lobby, National Nurses United, and Reclaim Chicago also ran voter contact programs in support of winning candidate Maria Hadden in the 49th Ward and Rossana Rodriguez who pushed incumbent Deb Mell into a runoff in the 33rd Ward. Reclaim Chicago endorsed Alderman Carlos Rosa who was elected to a second term in the 35th Ward after having played a key role in his 2015 election. We recognize the years of strong neighborhood organizing by 33rd Ward Working Families and United Neighbors of the 35th Ward that laid the foundation for tonight’s election results.
Reclaim Chicago is supported by The People’s Lobby and National Nurses United.