Democratic Party - 49th Ward

Vote Tuesday March 21, 2006

Election Day is upon us and voting begins at 6:00 am.  Polls are open until 7:00 pm.  On this site you can identify your polling place.  You can determine your voter registration status and your precinct number at the Chicago Board of Elections site.  Our endorsements are below and can be printed.  Our sample ballot will be left accross the ward over the next couple of days and we will have people passing them out at your polling place.  If you would like a suggestion or two, or want to see who we are supporting please get one anfd take it into the voting booth with you.

Have questions or need additional information?

Democratic Party of the 49th Ward  (773) 973-4949
Chicago Board of Elections (312)269-7900

There are many good candidates running for many offices this time.  the most important thing is that you take the time to go out and vote.  Predictions are for very low turnout.  You can change that one voter at a time!

Early Voting Is Over

Early Voting Has Ended.

Today, March 16, 2006, is the last day you can utilize Early Voting.  The closest location to the 49th Ward is at Warren Park Field House which is located at 6601 N. Western. It is open from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.  Got questions?  Chicago Board of Elections (312) 269-7900 or Democratic Party of the 49th Ward (773) 973-4949.

For those of you who miss it, we'll see you on Tuesday!

Democratic Party of the 49th Ward Sample Ballot

This week you will be receiving  important information from the Democratic Party of the 49th Ward, your Democratic Party of the 49th Ward sample ballot.  While specifically geared to the 49th Ward most of it could apply to any ward or township in Cook County. 

These endorsements are the result of our membership endorsement session.  Our process is simple.  We invite all of the candidates ask them to make a presentation, they answer our questions and the membership votes for those candidates that best represent our progressive values.  Please keep an eye out for it in your mail box.  If you don't have it already you can print one by following the link below. And remember, state law allows you to take this into the voting booth with you on Election Day, Tuesday, March 21, 2006.

Download A Democratic Party Sample Ballot (568.8K)

Qualified Judges for Cook County

Seeking out good judges is a difficult task.  All too often voters enter the poll without a good knowledge of even who the judges are, let alone their experience, background and the evaluation of their abilities by their peers.  The Democratic Party of the 49th Ward believes that the most important factor in becoming a judge is experience practicing law.   There are man who can and do have a good political background, buit we put our faith in those that have the best legal experiences.

That is why we work hard to endorses and support judicial candidates that will make good judges, not good candidates.  All of the candidates we are supporting in this primary election have stood in front of their professional colleauges, put their record out for examination and have stood the test of review by the two leading bar associations in Chicago.  Some are qualified, some highly or well qualified.  Not every race offers "Highly" or "Well", but many do offer "Not Recommended" or "Not Qualified".  If you know who you like, good for you.  If you don'yt know and want some strongly  recommended candidates print the list that follows and take it into the voting both with you on Tuesday, March 21, 2006.

Candidate                                  Chicago Council            Chicago Bar            Punch/
                                                    of Lawyers                    Association             Mark
Michael James Murphy           Well Qualified               Qualified                   53
Joy Virginia   Cunningham      Well Qualified               Qualified                   61
Ann Collins   Dole                      Well Qualified               Highly Qualified      66
Michael J.   Howlett, Jr.           Well Qualified               Qualified                  70
Mike McHale                             Qualified                        Qualified                  72
James Patrick   Murphy          Qualified                        Qualified                  73
Thomas J.   Byrne                     Qualified                        Qualified                  81
Martha Mills                              Highly Qualified            Highly Qualified     84

You can, by law, take this into the voting booth with you to use as a guide.  Please do so.  These recommendations are good for all Democratic ballots in Cook County regardless of ward or township.

Happy Moved Over the Weekend

For those of you who think looking for Happy Heart is an amusing 49th Ward version of "Where's Waldo" he moved up north in the dark of the night on Friday night/Saturday morning.  Happy is worried about threats of kidnapping and coming into harms way from blog terrorists so he is moving more carefully these days.

For those who think there is a master plot to take over the world through a stuffed plush toy heart, the mystery continues, the intrigue grows and  speculation is running rampant that the Di Vinci code is involved in some way.  Is Happy really an undercover agent or a terrorist in his own right or maybe just your run of the mill subversive threat.

In either case I ask again, Where is Happy?

Support for Illinois Health Care Referendum 2006

Many have asked about the Health Care referendum on the ballot so here is my response.  The Democratic Party of the 49th Ward has been working with the folks organizing the Illinois Health Care Referendum 2006 for some time now.  We are supportive of the idea.  We have made posts here and have spoken with others to insure that this initative will get on the ballot for November . . . yes November.   That continues the timeline set by the leaders of the referendum. 

In order to avoid confussion we will not be list it on our materials for the March 21, 2006 election because it is not going to be on that ballot.  In April, a representative will be featured at our monthly meeting and they will be sharing information about the initative.  They will also be asking us to circulate petitions to get it on the ballot.  I would hearily encourage you to support this initative and to do the work it requires to get on the ballot. 

Lets also be careful though and take our elections one election at a time.

David Fagus

Precinct Polling Places Combined

When you head out to vote on March 21 you may find that your polling place has changed if you live in what was formerly known as precinct 24 and precinct 37.  Precinct 24 is bound by Morse, Lunt, Glanwood and Ashland.  Precinct 37 was bound by Sheridan Rd. on two sides, Kenmore and Rosemont.  These two precincts were combined at the request of the Chicago Board of Elections as an attempt to combine small precincts so that they can be more fiscally responsible, (less judges to pay and less new machines to buy.)  Neither of these changes makes a hardship for the voters, in fact the new location is closer for most voters.

Former Precinct 24 - Now combined with  Precinct 31
Did Vote At:  United Church of Rogers Park, 1545 W. Morse
Now Votes At:  Field School, 7019 N. Ashland-Basement

Former Precinct 37 - Now combined with Precinct 2
Did Vote At:  Berger Park Field House  6205 N. Sheridan Rd.
Now Votes At:  Shoreline Towers Lobby 6301 N. Sheridan Rd.

Former Precinct 43
No boundary changes at all.
Now known as Precinct 37

Former Precinct 44
No Boundary change at all.
Now known as Precinct 24

Those directly effected should be officially notified by the Chicago Board of Elections by mail and will be additionally notified by us through a flyer.

Not sure what precinct number you live in?
Want to see your ballot for election day?
Not sure you are registered to vote?   
Click here for help with all three

Not sure where your precinct polling place is located?   
Click here for help

Judge Candidate Is Impressive

The following is quoted from Laura Washington article (27 Feb 06)  about our one of our judicial candidates and speaks very well of the quality of people our organization thinks should be on the bench

Joy Cunningham is their inaugural project. They've already picked a winner. Cunningham is running in the March 21 primary for a seat on the Illinois Appellate Court. She is the only person of color in a five-way race. A la Barack Obama, she boasts exquisite credentials: Cunningham is general counsel for Northwestern Memorial Hospital, a former Cook County judge, assistant attorney general, appellate court clerk, and former president of the Chicago Bar Association. She should be a slam dunk. Yet, a la Obama, and many other minority candidates, she wasn't slated by the Democratic Party. The bosses favor candidates who are loyal to the party, not to the people. Sometimes, it seems, only hacks need apply.

"I  [Cunningham] have put together a much, much wider base of support than just black/brown. My endorsements come from a broad spectrum of constituencies." She notes backing from an array of Chicago's top business executives, labor unions, gays and lesbians, as well as other elected officials from Rep. Jan Schakowsky to Rep. Danny K. Davis.

Please don't stop short.  Get to the bottom of the ballot and make sure we have a diverse and well qualified judiciary.  If you need help look to our endorsements.