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The Doings endorses Mark Pera for Congress, Pioneer Press/Chicago Sun-Times News Group's weekly suburban paper rips incumbent


For immediate release
Friday, January 11, 2008
Media contact: Patrick Corcoran (847) 687-7579

Pioneer Press/Chicago Sun-Times News Group's weekly suburban paper rips incumbent

The Doings wholeheartedly backed Democrat Mark Pera's bid for Congress with a ringing endorsement in its Thursday edition.

According to The Doings' editorial board, Pera provides "fresh face" for Democrats:

"Mark Pera is the type of candidate who will spur party leadership, and eventually move to the top tier himself. He deserves the Democratic nomination on Feb. 5."

Pera is backed by the city, county and state's leading independent Democratic reformers, including Cook County Commissioner Forrest Claypool; Illinois Sens. Dan Kotowski and Carol Ronen; Illinois Reps. Sara Feigenholtz and John Fritchey; Chicago Alds. Manny Flores, Joe Moore, Ricardo Munoz, Brendan Reilly, Tom Tunney and Scott Waguespack; and Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Commissioner Debra Shore.

The Doings is the Pioneer Press/Sun-Times News Group newspaper chain's flagship suburban weekly publication.

The editorial board said Pera is part of the tidal wave of change that is moving Democratic voters to the polls in record numbers.

"If change is the theme of this election year, voters in the 3rd Congressional District have a rare opportunity to move away from a political system where positions -- be they government workers or elected representatives -- are bequeathed rather than earned. Of the qualified Democrats seeking the nomination, Western Springs resident Mark Pera is the best choice to unseat incumbent Daniel Lipinski.

Pera, who is president of the Lyons Township High School District 204 Board, provides needed vision for the district. While all four candidates say they oppose the war in Iraq, Pera is prepared to use congressional funding authority to force a change. While all four pledge to get transportation dollars to the district, Pera acknowledges the inevitability of funding in such a busy transportation hub, and sees support of larger ideas such as the 2016 Olympics in Chicago as a way to spark new projects for the region.

He believes in securing the borders and requiring illegal immigrants to go through a process in order to stay, but recognizes reform can't come by making 12 million people felons or keeping them as a permanent underclass.

Pera's school governance background provides needed reality for federal mandates on education, notably the No Child Left Behind Act, which he rightly notes puts too many penalties on high-performing schools. The federal government helps funds local schools and should offer some standards, but Pera sees heavy-handed government intervention in local schools as a detriment to success.

Lipinski was elected in 2004, inheriting his father's seat through political maneuvering. He suggests too much was expected of the Democratic majority this past year, going up against an incumbent president and commander-in-chief. But he acknowledges not enough was done by Democratic leadership to push the party's agenda.

Mark Pera is the type of candidate who will spur party leadership, and eventually move to the top tier himself. He deserves the Democratic nomination on Feb. 5."

To volunteer for Mark Pera for Congress or to learn more, call our campaign headquarters in Countryside at (708) 579-2834.

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