The Lee County Democratic Party has a long, proud tradition of supporting working class families in our County, and I look forward to doing everything I can to continue that tradition as the newly elected Chair of the Lee County Democrats. I am proud to have spent the first 11 years of my life right here in Lee County in a Union household where I learned about working class values and solidarity, and I am proud to say that my wife and I will be raising our family right here in Lee County as well.
One of my favorite sayings that my dad borrowed from the late United States Senator Paul Wellstone was “we all do better when we all do better.” To me, those 9 words sum up what it means to be a Democrat. Democrats understand that looking out for each other and working together to improve the lives of working class men, women, and their families is the only way that we can truly make progress.
I’ve spent the last seven-plus years of my life working for Democratic candidates all across Illinois. I’ve worked for candidates who have won and for candidates who have lost, but the common thread for all of the campaigns that I’ve been a part of is that we worked. When the other side is willing to accept corporate money to push back against our working class agenda that means we have to outwork them. That is the most important lesson I’ve learned in politics, and I promise to carry that work ethic with me on behalf of the Lee County Democratic Party.
Make no mistake, we have our work cut out for us. It’s no secret that Lee County leans Republican, but if we all work together I believe we can change that and elect Democrats up and down the ballot. I’m looking forward to working hard with all of you to make that happen!