Wednesday, September 25, 2024
In this Issue:In Embarrassing Decision, Republican Candidate For North Carolina Governor Mark Robinson Chosen As Speaker For Local Republicans ● Lake Dems Annual Shades of Blue Awards Reception (It’s Kamala’s Birthday!) ● Candidate Corner: Getting to Know Michael J. Conway, Candidate for Lake County Board District 5 ● Seventy-three New Voters Registered at Two College of Lake County Locations ● Do You Have a Plan for Voting? ● Mark Robinson and Donald Trump–Two Peas in a Pod ● Show Your Neighbors You Support Harris-Walz ● Lake Dems Out and About ● ICYMI (In Case You Missed It) ● Upcoming Events
Contribute or Join/Renew Your Lake Dems Membership
In Embarrassing Decision, Republican Candidate For North Carolina Governor Mark Robinson Chosen As Speaker For Local Republicans
Republican Mark Robinson is running for governor of North Carolina. You may have heard of him. Early last week, Lake Dems sent out an email sounding the alarm that Robinson, a Holocaust denier who’s made news vilifying the LGBTQ+ community and women having abortions, was tapped to headline a Republican fundraiser in the northern suburbs.
Then more shocking details came out. GOP panic set in as Republicans started pointing fingers at each other, desperately trying to distance themselves from Robinson. But, given all he said before then, Mark Robinson never should’ve been invited into our area in the first place. Click here to see what Lake Dems sent out even before the CNN story about Mark Robinson broke.
Lake Dems Annual Shades of Blue Awards Reception (It’s Kamala’s Birthday!)
When: | Sunday, October 20, 2024 from 7:00 to 8:30pm | |
Where: | Ravinia Green Country Club, 1200 Saunders Rd., Riverwoods | |
What: | Celebrate Kamala’s birthday with us! Join us at our annual Shades of Blue Awards Reception, a can’t-miss event. Come to this festive birthday party and help us recognize our outstanding Democratic leaders. Individual tickets are $60 for Kamala’s 60th birthday ($100 per couple). Sponsorships available. | |
To RSVP: | lakedems.org/ShadesOfBlue |
Are you planning to come? We’d love your help with planning and/or staffing the event—please email us at info@lakedems.org to let us know.
Candidate Corner: Getting to Know Michael J. Conway, Candidate for Lake County Board District 5
Michael J. Conway is running for the Lake County Board in northwest Lake County to continue serving as a leader for his community as he has done for more than 32 years.
Michael (Mike) has been providing servant leadership to his community and members of Lake County in many different ways over that time period. He is an attorney with his own practice concentrating in Family Law, Juvenile Law, and Criminal Justice. His experience as an attorney would be a valuable resource on the Law and Judicial Committee of the Lake County Board.
“Educational Leader in the Community and Protecting Tax Dollars
Mike has served as a leader for the Lake Villa District 41 School Board for over 17 years and has been Board President for 12 years. In that capacity, Mike has been monitoring and approving the careful spending of taxpayer dollars for the benefit of the district’s schools, and he will bring that valuable experience to the Lake County Board.
“Education of our youth today is an investment in creating our leaders for tomorrow. Making sound decisions for the benefit of our students directly impacts the community as a whole, both culturally and economically.”
Mike also serves as an Adjunct Professor at the College of Lake County. He has been an instructor in the Business and Social Sciences Division since 1999, and he routinely receives excellent reviews from his students.
Protecting the Environment
Mike is dedicated to protecting the environment and preserving our natural resources. Our area has beautiful forest preserves that require consistent maintenance but also has a substantial portion of the Chain O’ Lakes, which are a crucial resource for business and tourism for Lake County that must be protected.
Mike’s law office has been a sponsor for Lake County Adopt-a-Highway for 22 years. Mike, along with his family, neighbors, and friends in the community, care for the local environment by removing trash and debris from the assigned county road.
It is imperative that community members appreciate the necessity to protect our important natural resources within District 5 as well as all of Lake County.
Connecting with the Community
“I will continue to establish and maintain connections in our community. As a Lake County Board member, I will be engaged with the people I represent. Truly listening to understand the issues of concern for the residents of District 5 is critical. Simply sending out an email once a month with updates isn’t engaging the community. I will have regular meetings or town halls and other similar events to truly be connected with the members of my district. That is the best way to make informed decisions for the community I represent.”
Mike, a 28-year resident of Lake Villa, lives with his wife Lori and their two daughters. To learn more about Mike’s campaign, please check out his website at ConwayForLakeCounty.com or email him at MichaelJConway24@gmail.com.
County Board District 5 covers all or part of Lake Villa, Antioch, Fox Lake, Ingleside, McHenry, and Spring Grove.
Seventy-Three New Voters Registered at Two College of Lake County Locations
Democracy was on display at the College of Lake County (CLC) last week as 73 new voters were registered over a busy two days. Deputy Voter Registrars (DVRs) worked at two CLC campuses, Grayslake and Lakeshore in Waukegan.
CLC student and Lake Dems volunteer Martin Maillard organized the event. Lake Dems Voter Registration Co-Chair Susan Moore made sure each location was staffed with our trained DVRs. More Voter Registration events are planned. Watch your email for more information.
Do You Have a Plan for Voting?
Lake County Early Voting Begins Thursday, September 26, 2024
Starting September 26, all registered Lake County voters are eligible to vote early at the Lake County Main Courthouse lobby in Waukegan. More early voting sites will be open across the county beginning on October 21. Unlike on Election Day, Lake County voters can vote at any site countywide regardless of where they live. Click here to find a complete list of early voting locations. |
The Lake County Clerk to Begin Sending Vote-by-Mail Ballots Thursday, September 26, 2024
Vote-by-Mail ballots will be mailed starting Thursday—40 days before Election Day. It’s not too late to apply for a Vote-by-Mail ballot! The Lake County Clerk’s office must receive your completed ballot application by 5:00pm on the Thursday before Election Day, October 31; but don’t take a chance and wait that long.
Note that you do not have to use the US Postal Service to vote by mail. There will be drop boxes in every early voting location starting October 21, and six 24-hour permanent drop boxes available from September 26 until 7:00pm on Election Day, November 5.
Click here for a complete list of drop box locations.
Mark Robinson and Donald Trump—Two Peas in a Pod
This past week, CNN uncovered a series of troubling posts made by North Carolina’s Republican Lieutenant Governor Mark Robinson on a pornographic website. These posts included explicit, racist, and offensive content. Robinson referred to himself as a “Black Nazi” and posted comments supporting slavery.
But what is particularly odious is Robinson’s inflammatory written remarks about the legendary civil rights leader, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., referring to him as a “commie bastard,” “worse than a maggot,” and a “huckster.” Robinson further wrote, “I’m not in the KKK. They don’t let Blacks join. If the KKK did allow Black members, I would use an anti-Black slur to refer to King as “Martin Lucifer Koon!”
Another example of his hypocrisy is that despite a recent history of anti-transgender rhetoric, Robinson says he enjoys certain adult websites featuring transgender individuals.
Based on these facts, it’s incomprehensible that anyone would ever support such a disturbed and repulsive individual for any political office, let alone the governor of North Carolina.
But here we are in a new age, one in which Donald Trump has normalized so much that was once considered grotesquely offensive by everyone. That includes Trump’s endorsement of Mark Robinson for governor of North Carolina. In fact, Trump has referred to Mark Robinson as “Martin Luther King on Steroids” and “Martin Luther King times two.” Trump’s nauseating comparison of Robinson to King is an absolute affront to King’s legacy.
A normal person, a person with any sense of being rational, a person who is just a little bit respectful, kind, and compassionate would never in a million years support, let alone endorse the repugnant likes of a Mark Robinson. But not in Trump’s case. Trump loves Robinson’s disgustingly racist, sexist, misogynistic, hypocritical, and needlessly provocative comments and views. And why is that? They fit right into Trump’s own views of a racist, sexist, misogynistic, and hypocritical view of the world. They are two peas in a pod.
To see related article, click here.
Show Your Neighbors You Support Harris-Walz
(Delivering to the Lake County and 10th Congressional District area only)
And we have signs for our Lake County Democratic candidates! Watch your email for more information.
Lake Dems Out and About
We love to include event photos in our newsletter! To be considered for inclusion, please send yours to info@lakedems.org with a brief description of the event. Have an event coming up? To submit future events for consideration for our website and emails: lakedems.org/submit-an-event.
Saturdays & Sundays Through September and October: Help Win Over Wisconsin (WOW!)
Lake Dems Knock Doors with Peter Barca, Democratic Candidate for U.S. Rep., Wisconsin. |
Wauconda Township Dems Prepare for Canvassing at September Meeting
A Beautiful Day for Antioch and Grant Township Dems Highway Cleanup |
Lake County Treasurer Holly Kim’s Korean BBQ and Karaoke Birthday Party |
Brad Schneider Pro-Choice Evening Reception with Amanda Zurawski
Pro-Choice Personal PAC Annual Luncheon Featuring Nancy Pelosi
Meet Your Illinois State Reps Event – Tracy Katz-Muhl and Dan Didech
ICYMI (In Case You Missed It)
‘People who should be held are being held’: Pretrial Fairness Act marks first year this week
Lake County Celebrates New Solar Array to Power Central Permit Facility
Upcoming Events
WEDNESDAY, SEP. 25
Write Postcards with Lake Dems to Elect Democrats. 2:00pm, Highland Park.
THURSDAY, SEP. 26
McHenry County Democrats Veteran Committee Community Forum. 6:00pm, Woodstock.
League of Women Voters Forum with Candidates for House District 58 and Lake County Board District 12. 7:00pm, online via Zoom.
SATURDAY, SEP. 28
Highland Park School District 112 FUNd Run. 8:00am, Highland Park.
Lake Dems Writes Postcards in the Grayslake Office. 10:00am, Grayslake.
Rep. Nabeela Syed Fall Fundraiser. 11:00am, Palatine.
Day of Action for Sara Knizhnik for Lake County Board. 12:00pm, Lake Zurich.
Knock Doors with Lake Dems to Help Win Over Wisconsin (WOW!). 12:00pm, carpools leave Lake County locations.
Fremont Dems Day of Action. 2:00pm, Mundelein.
Young Democrats of Lake County Day of Action. 5:30pm, Grayslake.
PADS (Providing Advocacy, Dignity, and Shelter) Presents A Night at the Speakeasy Casino. 7:00pm, Vernon Hills.
SUNDAY, SEPT. 29
Knock Doors with Lake Dems to Help Win Over Wisconsin (WOW!). 12:00pm, carpools leave Lake County locations.
Day of Action with State Sen. Mary Edly-Allen, Cong. Brad Schneider, and State’s Atty. Eric Rinehart. 12:00pm, Zion.
West Deerfield Township Democrats Maureen Wener Public Service Award. 2:00pm, Deerfield.
Sandy Hart Re-Election Event. 2:00pm, Lake Forest.
Reception Honoring Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart. 4:00pm, Highland Park.
MONDAY, SEPT. 30
Hilary Winiarz’s Birthday Party. 5:00pm, Mundelein.
Reception in Support of Mike Frerichs, Illinois State Treasurer. 5:30pm, Chicago.
TUESDAY, OCT. 1
Ela Township Dems October Meeting. 7:00pm, Deer Park.
WEDNESDAY, OCT. 2
Write Postcards with Lake Dems to Elect Democrats. 2:00pm, Highland Park.
Sierra Club Phonebank for Nabeela Syed. 5:30pm, Palatine.
For the complete list of Upcoming Events, go to lakedems.org/events.
Click here to submit your event for consideration.
How Do I Join Lake County Democrats?
Lake County Democrats is made up of people like you, people who are passionate about building better communities and a better world. We’re a grassroots political organization, working with Democrats in all parts of Lake County – from Antioch to Highland Park, Libertyville to Waukegan, Barrington to Zion. Become a member online now (individual: $35/couples $60 – though more is always appreciated), or send a check payable to Lake County Democrats to P.O. Box 671, Lake Zurich, IL 60047. Questions? Contact info@lakedems.org.