Licensed as attorney in Illinois since 1994, according to ARDC, Gonzalez practices from an office on 51st Street in Chicago's Gage Park Community. According to his campaign biography, Gonzalez began his legal career as an Assistant Public Defender, spending eight years in that office before setting up his own practice "focusing mostly on criminal defense but also helping clients with employment, immigration and other civil issues." He was an Administrative Law Judge with the Illinois Department of Employment Security from 2003 to 2012. Since 2005, Gonzalez has also served, according to his campaign bio, as President of the 14th Ward Volunteer Legal Clinic. A first-generation Cuban-American, Gonzalez has been active in the Puerto Rican Bar Association and the Women's Bar Association of Illinois, serving on their respective judicial evaluation committee (his wife, Dawn, is a former WBAI President).
The Gonzalez campaign likewise not wasted any time in launching fundraising efforts: A "Neighborhood Campaign Kickoff Event" has already been set for Friday, August 25, from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m., at the home of Tarick and Megan Loutfi in Oak Park.
This is not a ticketed event, but, according to the campaign committee, "suggested donations start at $50." In addition to the Loutfis, the Host Committee for this event (still in formation) includes State Sen. Don Harmon, David Pope, Luke and Amie Casson, Dan and Liz Seltzer, Mel and Lisa Smith, Bill Kelly and Kathy Carpenter, Wayne Franklin and Peter Erickson, and Randy and Michelle Hess. For more information about the event, or to confirm your attendance, email gonzalez4judge@gmail.com.
I am very curious to see how the name "Peter Michael Gonzalez" will perform against another Hispanic male that is going to run against him and the one or two Hispanic and Irish females that will also certainly roll the dice and jump into this race. Slating means little in CW judicial races and even less so in mid-term elections. Additionally, the McGinnis Vacancy will be far down the ballot rendering slating even less important. Mike, save your hard earned money - IMHO I think this is going to be a train wreak. Think about jumping on the ballot in the 11th. At least one other Hispanic female is going to run against the sitting judge. Arroyo has no real juice in the 11th and I think DH is with you.
ReplyDeleteOF COURSE DH IS WITH HIM, THAT'S HOW HE GOT SLATED. HE'S NOT GOING TO SLAP THE GOOD SENATOR IN THE FACE BY NOT RUNNING IN THE VACANCY DH CALLED IN FAVORS TO SLATE HIM IN.
ReplyDeleteThe evidence doesn't support those generalizations about countywide slating. Slating can mean a great deal in countywide judicial races, depending on what's at the top of the ballot and on the mood of the electorate towards the party at the time. It's been highly variable over the years but the variability is situational and not connected to the presidential/midterm cycle. It also does not decay from one judicial contest to the next on the ballot.
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