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Oct 1995
Chicago New Party Update

by Bruce Bentley

About 50 activists attended the Chicago New Party membership meeting in July. The purpose of the meeting was to update members on local activities and to hear appeals for NP support from four potential political candidates. The NP is being very active in organization building and politics. There are 300 members in Chicago. In order to build an organizational and financial base the NP is sponsoring house parties. Locally it has been successful both fiscally and in building a grassroots base. Nationwide it has resulted in 1000 people committed to monthly contributions. The NP’s political strategy is to support progressive candidates in elections only if they have a concrete chance to “win”. This has resulted in a winning ratio of 77 of 110 elections. Candidates must be approved via a NP political committee. Once approved, candidates must sign a contract with the NP. The contract mandates that they must have a visible and active relationship with the NP.

September - October, 1998 Letters Dear Editor: I would like to urge DSA members and other progressives to support the candidacy of William “Willie” Delgato, Democratic Nominee for State Representative, 3rd District. Willie, who is New Party member and supporter, won a close race with critical New Party help in the 35th Ward. He is a progressive independent candidate whom I think we should all support. In Solidarity, Ron Baiman Editor’s Note: I confess! I asked Ron to email this letter to the editor when he expressed dismay at Willie Delgato’s absence from the Executive Committee’s “recommended” candidates. I agree it was a significant omission. In the Executive Committee’s defense, I’d add that the main reason we felt compelled to say anything at all was because, at the time, it looked like DSA member Marc Loveless might make it on the ballot. The list was never meant to be comprehensive. There are a number of other very good candidates that were not mentioned. For my part, I would nominate State Senator Barak Obama (13th District) and County Clerk David Orr. Outside of Chicago DSA’s area is Congressman Lane Evans, who is actually facing a tough reelection fight. But this is just my opinion; I’m sure our readers can think of others as deserving, or disagree.http://www.chicagodsa.org/ngarchive/ng60.html