Media
New Media
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Links
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Rodriguez best bet to beat Bean in fall
After learning more about each candidate and attending two debates, I have come to the obvious conclusion that Maria Rodriguez is the strongest candidate for Congress in the 8th District Republican primary.
What separates her from the rest of the pack is not her position on the issues. All of the candidates running are conservatives who are virtually indistinguishable from one another on the issues. Rather, Maria Rodriguez is the candidate Republicans can most confidently expect to unseat Melissa Bean this November.
Unlike her opponents, Rodriguez has demonstrated her strong appeal to voters in several previous elections. As a local mother of three, she did not like how things were being run in her community, and not unlike Sarah Palin, she decided to do something about it. She ran for mayor against an incumbent politician and to the surprise of the local establishment, she won that race by a substantial margin. She remains so popular with voters that she ran unopposed in her last election.
The other candidates in the race either remain untested or bring too many liabilities with them. Dirk Beveridge and Chris Geissler are both well spoken, but have never run for office so their ability to appeal to voters remains unseen. Joe Walsh is a tested candidate, but voters have rejected him at the ballot box in two previous races. Walsh would also be easy for Bean to paint as a flip-flopper since his positions on issues like abortion or gun control have changed back and forth depending on the politics of the area in which he was running.
So Maria Rodriguez is the obvious choice. She is a strong conservative who has demonstrated her appeal to voters and she is the only candidate Republicans can confidently expect to beat Melissa Bean in November.
Jim Uren
Mundelein
Discontent and Anger Motivate Voters
On Jan. 23, about 65 people went to the wood-paneled Gurnee American Legion Hall for a Republican candidates’ event sponsored by the Northern Illinois Patriots, a Tea Party group. Among them were Amy and Jesse Moore of Zion, who have a 2-year-old daughter and a mortgage they struggle to pay.
“We are wondering, Where is our money going?” said Mrs. Moore, 28, a self-described staunch pro-life voter. “What are we paying taxes for?”
Mr. Moore, 28, lost his job in 2005, but quickly found work in Lake Bluff as a machinist. Mrs. Moore is a full-time mother. They said they considered themselves lucky even though their home had plummeted in value in the six years since they bought it.
“We wish we had never bought the house,” Mrs. Moore said. “We’re stuck now.”
She leaned forward in her seat as the candidates, including Dan Proft, a contender for governor, and Maria Rodriguez, the hopeful for the Eighth Congressional District, spoke and fielded questions about the economy, protecting gun rights and their plans to clean up corruption in a state where one in five former governors in the past century have wound up behind bars.
Click here for the full article
PermalinkSBA List Candidate Fund Endorses Maria Rodriguez for Congress in Illinois' 8th District
WASHINGTON, Jan. 28 /Christian Newswire/ -- Today the Susan B. Anthony List Candidate Fund, a national pro-life political action committee, announced their endorsement of Maria Rodriguez, Republican candidate for Congress in Illinois' 8th District.
"The Susan B. Anthony List is proud to endorse Maria Rodriguez for Congress," said Susan B. Anthony List Candidate Fund President Marjorie Dannenfelser. "Maria Rodriguez will be an authentic pro-life voice and passionate advocate for women and unborn children in the halls of Congress. Health care reform legislation could open floodgates to taxpayer-funded abortion, and we need women like Maria to stand firm against such efforts to violate the consciences of pro-life Americans."
"2010 could very well be the year of the pro-life woman," Dannenfelser continued. "We're seeing more and more qualified pro-life women step up to serve their communities as candidates for Congress and statewide office. Maria Rodriguez is the only candidate in this race who holds elected office, and she brings a strong record of support from both sides of the aisle. Maria has both the practical experience and personal pro-life convictions necessary to best represent Illinois' 8th District."
The Susan B. Anthony List Candidate Fund will be contributing the maximum contribution of $5000 to Maria Rodriguez for Congress for use in her primary election campaign. The primary election is scheduled for Tuesday, February 2, 2010.
Susan B. Anthony List Candidate Fund endorsements are promoted to the organization's nationwide membership of over 280,000 Americans. The SBA List Candidate Fund endorses pro-life female candidates, as well as pro-life male candidates who run against female candidates in favor of abortion rights. During the 2008 election cycle, the Susan B. Anthony List bundled over $1 million in direct candidate contributions from its members.
The Susan B. Anthony List is a nationwide network of over 280,000 Americans, residing in all 50 states, dedicated to mobilizing, advancing, and representing pro-life women in politics. Its nonpartisan connected Candidate Fund increases the percentage of pro-life women in the political process.
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Curran, Waller Endorse Maria
Prominent Law Enforcement Officials Come Out for Maria Rodriguez for Congress
LONG GROVE - Today, Lake County Sheriff Mark Curran and Lake County State's Attorney Mike Waller endorsed Maria Rodriguez's bid to win the Illinois' 8th Congressional District Republican primary on February 2.
Mark Curran, the popular first term sheriff, stated in his endorsement, "I've known Maria Rodriguez for years. She is an effective, capable mayor with strong integrity. When she makes a commitment, she always comes through. Maria Rodriguez has made a commitment to the 8th district to be a strong fiscal conservative focused on protecting our nation and rebuilding our economy. I am happy to join her team."
Mike Waller is the Lake County State's Attorney. In endorsing Maria Rodriguez, Waller stated, "We could use Mayor Rodriguez's high level of integrity in Congress. She will be a strong, honest voice for her constituents and put the people first, not herself."
Curran and Waller join other prominent county and state officials and conservative organizations in backing Maria Rodriguez's candidacy. Her endorsement list includes:
Media
Chicago Sun-Times
Northwest Herald
Area State Legislators
Pam Althoff, State Senator, 32nd District (McHenry)
Dan Duffy, State Senator, 26th District (North, Northwest Suburbs)
Ed Sullivan, State Representative, 51st District (Northwest Suburbs)
JoAnn Osmond, State Representative, 61st District (Far North Suburbs), Assistant Minority Leader
Christine Radogno, State Senate Minority Leader
Bill Peterson, Former State Senator - 26th District (North, Northwest Suburbs)
Al Salvi, Former State Representative
Penny Pullen, Former State Representative
Lake County Elected Officials
Mark Curran, Lake County Sheriff
Mike Waller, Lake County State's Attorney
Brent Paxton, Lake County Board Member
David Stolman, Lake County Board Member
Linda Pedersen, Lake County Board Member
Aaron Lawlor, Lake County Board Member
Pam Newton, former Lake Country Board Member
Mayors
Rod Craig, Mayor of Hanover Park
Arlene Mulder, Mayor of Arlington Heights
Joseph Mancino, Mayor of Hawthorn Woods
Milt Jensen, Mayor of Beach Park
Rhett Taylor, Mayor of Grayslake
Republican Township Committees
Libertyville Township Republican Committee
Schaumburg Township Republican Committee Preferred Candidate
Republican Officials
Dan Venturi,Chairman of Lake County Republican Party
Mike Adelizzi, Chairman of Schaumburg Township Republicans
Dominic Marturano, Chairman of Lake Villa Township Republicans
Thomas W. Gooch, III, Chairman of Cuba Township Republicans and Cuba Township Highway Commissioner
Lucy Prouty, Ela Township Supervisor | Ela Township Committeeman
Daniel McConchie, Ela Township Committeeman
National Organizations
Illinois Federation for Right to Life PAC
Eagle Forum of Illinois
Family PAC
Concerned Women for America PAC
Eagle Forum PAC
Republican National Coalition for Life PAC
Susan B. Anthony List
Other Leaders
Kathy Salvi, Attorney & former candidate for 8th Congressional District
Peter Breen, Thomas More Society
Sun-Times endorses Maria to take on Bean
The Chicago Sun-Times endorses Maria Rodriguez to take on Melissa Bean:
Long Grove mayor Rodriguez our pick to take on Bean
The prospect of a good Republican election cycle and votes by Democratic Rep. Melissa Bean for controversial issues like the stimulus and cap-and-trade energy bills have produced half a dozen GOP candidates hoping to recapture this northwest suburban district seat held for 3½ decades by Phil Crane. The candidates mostly share similar views supporting lower taxes and less regulation and strong national security measures while opposing President Obama's health care agenda and cap-and-trade regulation.
This race will be watched by political trend-spotters not just because of any threat to Bean but because it pits a tea-party insurgent against a Republican mayor with support from key GOP politicians....
Our endorsement for the Republican nomination goes to Maria Rodriguez, village president of Long Grove. Re-elected without opposition last year, Rodriguez has presided over revitalization of Long Grove's historic business district and worked on a $30 million development project for the town. She pledges to work to create jobs through reforming the federal tax code, starting with a temporary payroll tax reduction to help small business, supports a balanced budget amendment, and backs charter schools and vouchers.
Rodriguez is the only contestant who has won an election. She has been endorsed by state Senate Minority Leader Christine Radogno and several GOP lawmakers and local leaders. Rodriguez is a dynamic and capable mayor whom Republican voters would be wise to select to represent them in their drive to unseat Bean.
Click here to see the original article
PermalinkABC7 News on 8th District Race
Maria Rodriguez Releases Endorsement List
LONG GROVE - With less than three weeks to February 2 when Republican voters in the 8th district of Illinois will select their candidate to run against Melissa Bean in the fall, Maria Rodriguez released her full endorsement list.
Pam Althoff, State Senator, 32nd District (McHenry)
Dan Duffy, State Senator, 26th District (North, Northwest Suburbs)
Ed Sullivan, State Representative, 51st District (Northwest Suburbs)
JoAnn Osmond, State Representative, 61st District (Far North Suburbs), Assistant Minority Leader
Christine Radogno, State Senate Minority Leader
Bill Peterson, Former State Senator - 26th District (North, Northwest Suburbs)
Brent Paxton, Lake County Board Member
David Stolman, Lake County Board Member
Linda Pederson, Lake County Board Member
Aaron Lawlor, Lake County Board Member
Pam Newton, Former Lake County Board Member
Rod Craig, Mayor of Hanover Park
Arlene Mulder, Mayor of Arlington Heights
Libertyville Township Republican Committee
Schaumburg Township Republican Committee Preferred Candidate
Dan Venturi,Chairman of Lake County Republican Party
Mike Adelizzi, Chairman of Schaumburg Township Republicans
Dominic Marturano, Chairman of Lake Villa Township Republicans
Lucy Prouty, Ela Township Supervisor | Ela Township Committeeman
Daniel McConchie, Ela Township Committeeman
National Organizations
Illinois Federation for Right to Life PAC
Eagle Forum of Illinois
Concerned Women for America PAC
Eagle Forum PAC
Republican National Coaliton for Life PAC
Other Leaders
Kathy Salvi, Attorney & Former Republican Candidate for 8th Congressional District
Peter Breen, Thomas More Society
Maria Rodriguez signs the Taxpayer Protection Pledge
PRESS RELEASE FROM AMERICANS FOR TAX REFORM
Congressional candidate promises to protect taxpayers’ wallets
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Maria Rodriguez, a Republican running in Illinois’ 8th Congressional district, recently signed the Taxpayer Protection Pledge sponsored by Americans for Tax Reform (ATR). The Pledge commits signers to “oppose any and all efforts to increase the marginal income tax rates for individuals and/or businesses … and oppose any net reduction or elimination of deductions and credits, unless matched dollar for dollar by further reducing tax rates.”
ATR has offered the Pledge to all candidates for federal office since 1987. To date, 33 U.S. senators and 172 members of the U.S. House of Representatives have signed the Pledge. Additionally, seven Governors and over 1,100 state legislators have signed the Pledge.
“After the passage of the so-called 'Stimulus Package', better known as the Pelosi-Obama-Reid Spending Give-Away, Americans are desperately searching for candidates and politicians that will protect their livelihoods and put their wallets ahead of the federal government’s coffers,” said Grover Norquist, president of ATR.
“By signing the Pledge, Maria Rodriguez demonstrates that she understands the problems of hard-working taxpayers nationwide, but especially the taxpayers in Illinois’ 8th Congressional district.”
“I challenge all candidates for federal office to make the same commitment to taxpayers by signing the Taxpayer Protection Pledge today,” Norquist continued.
Click here to see the original release at the Americans for Tax Reform website
PermalinkMaria Earns Northwest Herald Endorsement
LONG GROVE - Today, the Northwest Herald newspaper endorsed Maria Rodriguez to win the Republican primary in Illinois' 8th Congressional District on February 2.
Here's what the paper said about their endorsement:
Voters in Illinois’ 8th Congressional District have an important task in 2010.
Of course, voters in every Congressional district in the country have the same tough task.
They must go to the polls during the primary season and again on Nov. 2 and elect candidates to Congress who will put their country’s and their district’s best interests before their own, refuse to continue spending the United States further into debt, and put partisan politics aside to work for reasonable solutions to our many problems.
In Illinois’ 8th District, six candidates are seeking the GOP nomination for a chance to face incumbent Congresswoman Melissa Bean and Green Party challenger Bill Scheurer in the general election. This primary race is a good one, with many solid candidates.
Long Grove Village President Maria Rodriguez has experience in both the business and political arenas. She defeated an incumbent village president in 2005 and owns a small business along with her husband.
She is a fiscal conservative who believes in small government and lower taxes. For the 8th district, her top priority is job creation.
The other candidates in the field – Joe Walsh of Winnetka, Dirk Beveridge of Barrington, John Dawson of Barrington, Christopher Geissler of Barrington, and Greg Jacobs of Mundelein – also bring strong attributes to the race.
On policy, it’s difficult to tell the candidates apart. On experience, Rodriguez’ background in business and politics sets her apart.
We endorse Rodriguez for Illinois’ 8th Congressional District GOP nomination.
Click here to see this article on the Northwest Herald website. Comments can be left on the paper's website in response to the endorsement.
PermalinkGOP candidates in 8th District try to separate from pack
Six Republicans in the 8th Congressional District primary handled a variety of questions at a Sunday afternoon forum in Grayslake, including one on what they bring to the table beyond the party's standard mission statements.
Running in the Feb. 2 primary are the following Republicans: Dirk Beveridge of Barrington, John Dawson of Barrington, Chris Geissler of Barrington, Greg Jacobs of Mundelein, Maria Rodriguez of Long Grove and Joe Walsh of Winnetka.
In an effort to help voters choose between the six candidates, one of the written questions asked at Grayslake Central High School's auditorium was what they offer beyond repeating the GOP's traditional stances, such as reducing federal government.
Beveridge said he brings a desire to focus on spending issues if he went to Washington.
"If you take a look at what we're doing in Washington, we're spending money like it's going out of style," said Beveridge, a business owner. "It doesn't matter if it's Democrats or Republicans in office. Both parties are spending."
Rodriguez, the village president of Long Grove, said her municipal government experience separates her from the Republican pack.
"What I bring to this is some experience as an elected official and knowing you have to be a strong elected voice at the table for the discussion to move the agenda forward," Rodriguez said.
Click here for the full article
Permalink8th Congressional GOP candidates differ on gay marriage
The six Republicans running for Congress in the 8th District generally adhere to the GOP playbook when it comes to gay marriage and oppose it, but their philosophies differ in the details.
Some support amending the U.S. Constitution to ban gay marriage, while others say it's a state issue. One says government shouldn't interfere in marriage at all.....
Rodriguez, the village president of Long Grove, supports a national definition of marriage and would support a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage.
She opposes civil unions as an alternative to marriage for gay couples.
"That devalues the institution of marriage itself," Rodriguez said.
Click here to read the full article
PermalinkConcerned Women Political Action Committee Endorses Maria Rodriguez for Congress in Illinois' 8th
WASHINGTON – Concerned Women Political Action Committee (CWPAC) has announced its endorsement of Maria Rodriguez for Congress in Illinois’ 8th Congressional District.
Concerned Women PAC is affiliated with Concerned Women for America Legislative Action Committee, the nation’s largest public policy women’s organization with more than 500,000 grassroots members nationwide.
The 8th District is currently represented by liberal Democrat Congresswoman Melissa Bean. Congresswoman Bean has garnered an anti-family, pro-abortion record in her three terms in Congress. This Congress alone Rep. Bean has only voted with the CWALAC position one time.
Rep. Bean voted against the Stupak Amendment that would have prohibited coverage for abortions by insurance companies in the overall government take over of health care. She also voted in favor of the overall government take over of our health care system.
In addition, she voted in favor of the recent omnibus bill which included an increase of $10 million for Title X funding with the bulk of those taxpayer dollars going to Planned Parenthood. The omnibus bill also gave $103 million to international “family planning” organizations, in effect forcing the American taxpayer to indirectly promote and fund abortions abroad.
“Maria is just the woman to take on Melissa Bean and win,” said Beverly LaHaye, founder and chairman of Concerned Women PAC. “Maria will be a strong pro-life voice in Congress.”
Concerned Women Political Action Committee was started in 2002 to help elect solid pro-family, pro-life conservatives to Congress. Concerned Women PAC sends out a monthly letter to members encouraging them to financially support candidates like Maria Rodriguez. For more information on this race, please contact Mike Mears at 202-408-4941.
PermalinkPhyllis Schlafly's Eagle Forum Endorses Maria
L
ONG GROVE, January 4 - Phyllis Schlafly's Eagle Forum has endorsed Maria Rodriguez to be the next U.S. Representative from the 8th district of Illinois.
In response to the news, Maria Rodriguez stated, "I am very pleased to have the backing of Phyllis Schlafly's Eagle Forum in my race to be the next Congresswoman from the 8th district of Illinois. Eagle Forum is a great organization promoting pro-family values both in Congress and in state capitols across the country. Their network of citizen-volunteers helps to ensure our elected officials are held accountable for their votes. I look forward to working together with Eagle Forum as a Member of Congress come next year."
Maria Rodriguez is candidate for Congress in Illinois' 8th district. She is the current mayor of Long Grove, Illinois. Maria and her husband Ray have lived in Lake County for nearly 25 years where they have raised their three children.
To see the list of Eagle Forum endorsed candidates, visit www.eagleforum.org/election/endorse-2010.html
To learn more about Maria, please visit: www.MariaRodriguezForCongress.com.
To see a complete list of Maria's endorsements, visit: www.mariarodriguezforcongress.com/endorsements-a2984
PermalinkDaily Herald | Candidates flock to social media to connect, influence
If John Kennedy was the first presidential candidate made for television, Barack Obama might have been the first made for the Internet.
With his campaign's heavy reliance on e-mail, Twitter, MySpace and other Web-based tools, Obama used the Internet to attract volunteers, connect supporters and raise money like no one before him.
Now, a year after Obama's historic election, candidates across the country - and throughout the Chicago suburbs - are using his high-tech model as a blueprint for their own political bids. Candidates running for federal, state and even county offices are campaigning via Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and e-mail.
Click here to read the full article
PermalinkMaria Rodriguez Condemns 'Dark of Night' Health Care Vote
LONG GROVE - In the middle of the night, the U.S. Senate voted to limit debate on the health care takeover bill setting up an expected final vote on the bill late Christmas Eve.
In response, Maria Rodriguez, candidate for Congress in Illinois' 8th district, stated, "I categorically reject the artificial deadlines and unnecessary haste that has brought about this dark of night vote to fundamentally restructure one-sixth of the American economy during a holiday week when most Americans are focused on their families.
"Health care reform is necessary, but this is the wrong way to do it. 
Not only must reform be done with complete transparency, it must be done in a way that expands options for the American people, not forces them to lean more on the government.
"We should reject any plan like this one that raises taxes on working Americans, hurts our seniors by cutting payments to hospitals, nursing homes, and hospices, and imposes massive burdens on states they cannot afford.
"The Democrats have violated the trust Americans have placed in them in 2008. It's time for real change, and that will come November 2, 2010 when I go to Washington to represent the 8th district.