Age: 36
Title: Campaign manager for the Gery Chico for U.S. Senate campaign
Neighborhood: West Loop
Explain your job: Manage the finance, field and communications components of a statewide campaign.
Why do you enjoy your work? Everyday it’s a fast-paced and constantly challenging experience, and I’ve always liked working in that kind of atmosphere. I also enjoy it because I genuinely believe in the objective–I know our team has the right horse and that Illinois will ultimately be better off if the campaign is successful.
Any drawbacks? I will be spending far less time on the golf course this summer. True sacrifice.
How did your interest in politics develop? For several years I worked as a television news reporter in Illinois and in California. From a spectator’s point of view, I was always interested in the competitive nature of the political arena. But the more I covered political races, the more I realized the critical importance of both the process and the results. Now I’ve chosen to be a much more active participant in the process.
What is the biggest misconception about campaigns or politics? Maybe it’s the cynical perception a lot of people have about politics, which is understandable to a certain degree. But I know a lot of people who voluntarily dedicate themselves to political campaigns for the right reasons. They simply believe in something–or someone–and want to get involved.
What do you miss about television news reporting? Probably the scenery of real life you are exposed to up close on a daily basis. I also miss the hilarious work environment that often exists in a television newsroom. It was great fun for a while, and it definitely helped lead me to this next leg of the marathon.
