Just seconds after Annisa's Sun-Times endorsement was posted, a friend emailed to congratulate her, to which Annisa quickly responded, “Thanks!!! But you know this means you will get multiple mailers from Deb saying I will raise your taxes right?" The first of these mailers came today and as a result, we wanted to take a minute to thank Deb for injecting a little levity into this race.
We were getting tired of talking about the problems with Mell’s campaign finances or reading about whether or not Mell pressured Cleveland School into posting flyers. And Deb’s “negative" mailer made the whole team laugh. The number of messages we have recieved about the mailer – people telling us how much they laughed – has also brought smiles to our faces. (“Nearly fell on the floor laughing so hard” was our favorite response.)
The “negative” mailer also reinforced that we must be doing something right.
After allowing ourselves a quick laughter break, we got right back to phone banking and talking to voters about the issues that are most important to them. Listening to their frustration with the irresponsible budget decisions being made about their tax dollars, which has resulted in less money in our neighborhoods on schools, streets, and for public safety.
Here is an image of the mailer and the full text of Annisa’s endorsements that are selectively quoted in the mailer (bold ours).
The Chicago Tribune (2/11/15) 33rd Ward: We like Ald. Deb Mell, but we can't say she has proved much since she was handpicked to succeed her father, Dick Mell, in 2013. She seemed distracted in debate with her opponents at the editorial board. She gets high marks from some constituents for ward services, as her father did. But she isn't up to speed on the particulars of city finance or other critical issues. She has two considerable opponents. Tim Meegan, who teaches social studies at Roosevelt High School, is impressive, though he is intent on raising spending and taxes. Annisa Wanat, a consultant, local school council member and former Peace Corps volunteer, promises to "ensure that taxpayers will not be left to pick up the entire burden." She says she would focus on "irresponsible budget decisions" and restoring public trust in officials. Wanat is endorsed.
The Chicago Sun-Times (2/5/15): 33rd Ward: If we were endorsing on the basis of constituent services, incumbent Deborah L. Mell would be our choice. But at a time when the city faces stark financial choices, consultant Annisa Wanat earns our endorsement over Mell, whose family has dominated politics for decades in this ward, which runs through Albany Park, Avondale and Irving Park. Wanat opposes pension restructuring, an unrealistic stance, but says she would be open to raising property taxes after other avenues are exhausted. In her previous job as state representative, Mell supported pension reform, but she won’t touch property taxes and offers no workable alternative to restoring city pensions to health. Roosevelt High School teacher Tim Meegan also is running.
We were getting tired of talking about the problems with Mell’s campaign finances or reading about whether or not Mell pressured Cleveland School into posting flyers. And Deb’s “negative" mailer made the whole team laugh. The number of messages we have recieved about the mailer – people telling us how much they laughed – has also brought smiles to our faces. (“Nearly fell on the floor laughing so hard” was our favorite response.)
The “negative” mailer also reinforced that we must be doing something right.
After allowing ourselves a quick laughter break, we got right back to phone banking and talking to voters about the issues that are most important to them. Listening to their frustration with the irresponsible budget decisions being made about their tax dollars, which has resulted in less money in our neighborhoods on schools, streets, and for public safety.
Here is an image of the mailer and the full text of Annisa’s endorsements that are selectively quoted in the mailer (bold ours).
The Chicago Tribune (2/11/15) 33rd Ward: We like Ald. Deb Mell, but we can't say she has proved much since she was handpicked to succeed her father, Dick Mell, in 2013. She seemed distracted in debate with her opponents at the editorial board. She gets high marks from some constituents for ward services, as her father did. But she isn't up to speed on the particulars of city finance or other critical issues. She has two considerable opponents. Tim Meegan, who teaches social studies at Roosevelt High School, is impressive, though he is intent on raising spending and taxes. Annisa Wanat, a consultant, local school council member and former Peace Corps volunteer, promises to "ensure that taxpayers will not be left to pick up the entire burden." She says she would focus on "irresponsible budget decisions" and restoring public trust in officials. Wanat is endorsed.
The Chicago Sun-Times (2/5/15): 33rd Ward: If we were endorsing on the basis of constituent services, incumbent Deborah L. Mell would be our choice. But at a time when the city faces stark financial choices, consultant Annisa Wanat earns our endorsement over Mell, whose family has dominated politics for decades in this ward, which runs through Albany Park, Avondale and Irving Park. Wanat opposes pension restructuring, an unrealistic stance, but says she would be open to raising property taxes after other avenues are exhausted. In her previous job as state representative, Mell supported pension reform, but she won’t touch property taxes and offers no workable alternative to restoring city pensions to health. Roosevelt High School teacher Tim Meegan also is running.