Matt Flamm, a Democratic activist and organizer for President Obama's campaigns, is a candidate for Democratic Committeeman of Palatine Township. Flamm filed his nominating papers with the Cook County Clerk on Monday morning. Flamm is running to succeed incumbent Committeeman Sue Walton, who is not seeking reelection.

"Under Sue Walton's leadership, Palatine Township has changed from a Republican area to an independent one," Flamm said. "Strong Democratic candidates like Secretary of State Jesse White, Attorney General Lisa Madigan, and former Congresswoman Melissa Bean have consistently won the township. President Obama won the township in 2008 and came within 310 votes of winning it again in 2012. Suburban voters are becoming more diverse and more progressive every year."

Flamm, an attorney, has lived in Palatine since 1987 with his wife, Betty. Their two adult daughters graduated from Palatine High School. He was a volunteer for former U.S. Representative Melissa Bean. As an organizer for President Obama's 2008 and 2012 campaigns, Flamm led northwest suburban volunteers who traveled to Iowa, Wisconsin, and other swing states to persuade undecided voters and to increase voter turnout.

"Many suburban voters share the moderate, mainstream positions of today's Democratic Party," said Flamm. "They are progressive with regard to social issues like marriage equality. They're against unnecessary taxes and regulation, but they understand the value of what government does for people."

Flamm's Campaign Committee is chaired by Palatine Township Committeeman Sue Walton. Nancy Shepherdson and Lauren Beth Gash, Democratic State Central Committeewomen for the 8th and 10th Congressional Districts, are Honorary Co-Chairs. The committee consists of dozens of Palatine Township residents from a variety of backgrounds. For a complete list, go to http://mattflamm.org/flamm-announces-formation-of-campaign-committee/

"We will focus on identifying Democratic voters and persuading them to vote," said Flamm. "Voting by mail and early voting have made it easier for working people who may not be able to get to their polling place on Election Day. We need to make sure people know that voting is easy and essential."

"The Obama campaigns showed that millions of people demanding change can defeat billionaires and big corporations," said Flamm. "We will apply that lesson locally."

Matt Flamm, candidate for Palatine Township Democratic Committeeman, has announced the formation of his campaign committee. "I am honored to have the support of so many public-spirited, progressive people," said Flamm.

The committee is chaired by Sue Walton, the incumbent Palatine Township Democratic Committeeman. Nancy Shepherdson and Lauren Beth Gash, Democratic State Central Commtteewomen for the 8th and 10th Congressional Districts, have agreed to serve as Honorary Co-Chairs.

Following is a complete listing of the members of the committee, which is still in formation:

Chair: Hon. Sue Walton

Honorary Co-Chairs: Hon. Nancy Shepherdson, Hon. Lauren Beth Gash

Glenda Abbott
Thakar S. Basati
Merri and Tom Bizjack
Jesus Campillo
Jim Dailey
Henrietta Dombrovskaya
Jim Engel
John and Barb Figlewicz
Shirley Forpe
Mitchell Frazen
Ted and Kay Grabbe
Joe Gump
Frank & Lyn Huckin
Nick Jordan
Jeff Ketelsen
Zubair Khan
Susan MacDonald
Beth Siela Marcin
Rob Myers
Alan Prochaska
Rich Rudd
Laddi K. Singh
Brandon Smith
Dexter Stokes
Duncan Swenson
Teri Williams

We pay too much attention to "bad news." This includes government programs that aren't implemented as well as they might be, inability of politicians to agree on even basic facts, and outrageous things said or done by extremists on either end of the political spectrum.

We don't talk enough about "good news." This includes programs that accomplish what they were designed to do and politicians who do what they said they would. It includes positive things that are happening despite the efforts of some people to hold back the tide. And it includes signs of hope for the future.

This concentration on the negative has destructive consequences. If people think that all government programs are wasteful failures (as too many of my neighbors do), they lose hope that we can ever accomplish anything to improve life for all of us. If they believe all politicians are crooks and liars, they'll vote for the ones who tell lies that justify the voter's prejudice and self-interest. That's why I'm against negative political advertising.

In this blog, I'll try to focus on good news. Looking back, some of my previous posts have been about bad news. It's an easy trap to fall into ("can you believe the latest thing ____ said?"). But it's not helpful. There are lots of other places you can go if you want to get angry -- Fox News, MSNBC, Daily Kos, and many others. I can't do it as well as they do, so I'll try to be a positive voice.

Let me know what you think of this. Good idea? Crazy? Feel free to contribute your own good news stories.