La Shawn K. Ford
Party: Democrat
Age: 34
Campaign Headquarters/Contact:
5104 W. Chicago Ave.
Chicago, IL 60651
(773) 378-5902
www.vote4ford.com
info@vote4ford.com
Profession: Real Estate Broker, Teacher, Community Organizer
Education: Loyola University, B.S. in Education with a minor in Political Science.
Experience: Former Chicago Public School Teacher at Bridge Elementary; Broker/Owner, Ford Desired Real Estate, Inc.; Founding Organizer of the Zawadi Youth Group; Vice President, not-for-profit Changing a Generation Foundation; Board of Directors, Austin YMCA; Former Precinct Captain, 37th Ward, City of Chicago.
Top Three Issues:
1) Education is Ford’s highest priority. He would like to make schools safer, less dependent on property taxes, with greater availability of early childhood education, and more teachers better trained and equipped through Continuing Education Development programs.
2) He supports an affordable and quality health care program for all people, with improved access to prescription drugs, preventative health education programs, and school lunchrooms serving nutritious foods to combat obesity.
3) Ford is an active supporter of affordable housing initiatives for seniors and low-income residents. He supports economic development by providing businesses that show net increases in well-paying jobs over the years with special consideration for state contracts. He encourages active negotiations between labor organizations and employers to keep good jobs in the community.
Nathan Paul Helsabeck
Party: Green
Age: 30
Campaign Headquarters/Contact:
1139 Gunderson Ave.
Oak Park, IL 60304
(708) 955-1120
helsabeck.campaign@gmail.com
http://nathanforthe8th.blogspot.com/
Profession: Teacher
Education: Evergreen State College, B.A. in Education; Currently working on Med at University of Illinois at Chicago.
Experience: Active Member of Sierra Club, Amnesty International, Chicagoland Bicycle Federation, Oak Park Cycling Club, and Environmental Defense; A Volunteer for Dean for America, Kerry for President, and Wright Ride.
Top Three Issues:
1) Education reform is Helsabeck’s highest priority. He would vote to pass HB750, which would supplement local property tax relief by raising the income tax on upper-income earners. He also supports a more holistic approach in assessing student achievement. The standardized tests have proved inadequate.
2) He would like to increase investments in public transportation, with the goal of making Illinois the nation’s leader in renewable energy production and use. He would increase protections on natural wildlife areas, limit urban sprawl, and provide tax incentives to businesses and residential organizations that implement more efficient water and energy conservation practices.
3) He supports Universal Single Payer Health Care for Illinois, which he says would assure that doctors are paid fairly while patients receive the care they need. It will require fewer tax dollars by eliminating wasteful expenses associated with
billing, referrals and emergency room
care.