Presenting for Lt. Governor consideration

Here is my speech in its entirety... after they ask the questions, if you are involved with the dems or did any campaigning, what one thing would be your passion as lt. governor to change, and something special or unique about yourself that you can offer. I think my honesty about my "dirty laundry" is what lost my consideration, even though i have a clean record. I only got through the first of the 3 sections... but much of this is what was in the forms i had to submit, including my honesty about my potential dirty laundry issues...

Speech:
Hi, My name is Sari Hurtig and I am from Mundelein, IL. I am a Libertyville Township Trustee, I am a single mom age 40 and have a masters degree and I am an attorney.

Did you know that 51 percent of the voting population in IL is female? Of that population 67% are registered to vote. We have only had one female lieutenant governor in IL and she was a republican. In addition are you aware that in the 40 years of my life 30 of those years the governor/lt. gov. positions were held by a republican. Of the 10 years held by a Democrat they were the last 6 up until today.

The reason I am running and I should be selected to represent the democratic party for the Lt. Governor position is because we need change. I mean some extreme change if we are going to keep these offices under control of the Dem. Party. I know there is at least one well known woman who has held political office for many years in IL vying for this spot as well as at least one male with much political experience as well. I would assume they would be the first to be considered for this spot and at first glance that makes sense. They have the political experience and they have the backing and financial support needed to run a campaign as well as name recognition. But here I am saying, please reconsider. Based on IL statistics I believe we need a woman as Lt. Gov. and one who can relate to the people and is one of the people. Not the same old politics or the same old politicians.

I can offer you my age at 40 years, young, and fresh, new blood. I am able to relate to the people of this state. I am a single mom able to work full time and raise a child with little assistance. I am highly educated, but not necessarily highly paid. I am also bilingual in Spanish. I can relate to so many people of our state, being female, bilingual and having a job working everyday 8-5 to support my family. I am not a lifelong politician and I have much business know how and some political experience to bring to this job and to help improve our state.

Many say the Lt. Gov. job is insignificant and although the duties may be light, one of the duties is to do what the governor requires. I think this is a great time for the governor to use the lt. governor to help review all of our major departments, streamline processes and 80/20 the government. 20 percent of the programs, procedures and policies cover 80 percent of the needs of our population. In IL we need change, we need an overhaul. With my education and business know how I can go into these departments, review budgets, look for cuts, make recommendations and streamline our governmental system. We can 80/20 IL. Being a single mom I have learned how to save money, be frugal, cut costs, do only what is necessary. I can advise how to save money so we don’t have to raise taxes, so we can improve our government and make it work better, function better. In addition we need to work on the relationships between the governor and the Speaker. They need to find a way to have mutually beneficial goals that will help the people of IL, NOT the government officials. We need to remember we are here for the PEOPLE, not for our own personal gains.

Having lived day to day life on a regular average, “two” figure salary, I am not looking for favors or political gains. I am one of the people and I am for the people. As Lt. Gov. my goal would be to help liason between the Governor and Speaker, to facilitate the relationship and make it work for all to the benefit of IL so that we can 80/20 our programs and spending to benefit IL overall.

The people have been talking around the nation and they are saying, do not increase taxes and that is what they are saying in IL too. If we don’t get out of our budget crunch and make a viable plan to get into the black we will not be able to hold that seat. I believe an 80/20 approach, streamlining processes will be the way to succeed in IL.

Secondly, my plan to get elected is two-fold. I would seek the backing of the state democratic party and hopefully work with our governor along with his campaign to make us known and develop a plan together we can present to the people as mentioned above to show why we together are a viable team and the candidates that need to be elected for this next term.

I would also go grass roots and go town to town as feasible to meet the people, one on one. The more people you touch the more support you can gain. It is important to connect with local democratic organizations in each community and go introduce yourself and meet the people. Let them get to know you, your plan and thoughts. You need to make that personal connection to help gain that vote.

Of course fundraising is also important. I would seek the backing of my local democratic organizations to which I belong as a start and then grow from there. I would reach out to the many other organizations for support, besides the Libertyville Township Dems and the Eighth Dist. Dems, I would look for backing from the IL state Bar and the American Bar as well as the Intl Compl Prof Assoc of which I am members. I would also contact the Decalogue Society, Hadassah, and the Puerto Rican Heritage Organization seeking support and any other organizations that I am affiliated or active in. I would go to my company Illinois Tool Works and seek backing from their political action committee who have supported me in prior campaigns as well. I also am close friends to a person who does fundraising in non for profit and he has worked in DC in the political arena in the past and seek his assistance too.

Thirdly, I can not say that I have the perfect background. But I can say that I do not have a criminal record or anything that can be held against me. While a law student, 13 years ago my father passed away from cancer, and then my mom was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and I found out I was pregnant. As this was all going on when I was 7-1/2 months pregnant my daughter’s father left me. 3 weeks after he left me, I went to talk to him at his job to try to work things out and found him on the phone with a woman. I was not happy and proceeded to hit him 3x. Realizing what I had just done and being in law school, I went to the police dept. and admitted what I did. I was arrested. I was guilty and had admitted it b/c I didn’t want to screw up my chances of becoming an attorney. The next week, my daughter’s father through his boss told me if I gave him money he would drop the charges. I passed that information along to the state’s attorney’s office and the case was dropped. I had the file expunged and have no criminal record. I did however reveal all this information to the IL State Bar when applying to be licensed in IL and I have been admitted and am a practicing attorney, licensed in IL. I know what I did was wrong and regret it, but I chalk it up to first love. I make no excuses.

I would ask that you seriously consider me, Sari Hurtig, as the right candidate for the Lt. Governor position. Maybe after what I just told you, you are thinking I am not the one. But remember every day people all have skeletons in their closet and can still make great businessman, politicians and ethical people. I am very ethical, moral and have great ideas to help IL grow, succeed and KEEP our democratic seat in IL in 2010.

Thank you for your time.