Volunteers assemble! Once again, GPAD is a sponsor of the Palatine Jaycees' Hometown Fest! We will need volunteers to help set up our booth on the morning of Saturday, July 6 AND we'll need more volunteers to march with us in the Palatine Fourth of July Parade, which is also the morning of Saturday, July 6. OR you can volunteer to staff the booth the afternoons of Saturday, July 6 and Sunday, July 7. We are looking to present a river of Democrats in the parade, AND present a robust, patriotic and interesting booth at the Hometown Fest. 

And!! We're marching in the Rolling Meadows Fourth of July Parade on Thursday, July 4!!

Join us as we celebrate our country's democracy!

Walk with GPAD at Rolling Meadows Fourth of July Parade: https://www.gpadems.org/4th_of_july_parade_2024_rolling_meadows

Walk with GPAD at Palatine Fourth of July Parade: https://www.gpadems.org/4th_of_july_parade_2024_palatine

Help Set Up GPAD Booth at Palatine Hometown Fest: https://www.gpadems.org/help_set_up_gpad_booth_at_2024_palatine_hometown_fest

Help Staff GPAD Booth at Palatine Hometown Fest July 6-7: https://www.gpadems.org/palatine_hometown_fest_gpad_2024

Congratulations to Nicolle Grasse, the new Illinois State Representative of the 53rd District! On June 5, a committee composed of the Democratic Committeepeople whose townships are part of the 53rd District gathered to interview six candidates to be appointed to the seat. In the photo at top are, from left, Elk Grove Twp. Committeeperson Ted Mason, new State Rep. Nicolle Grasse, State Senator and Wheeling Township Committeeperson Mark Walker, State Senator and Maine Township Committeeperson Laura Murphy, and Palatine Township Committeeperson Maria Galo. Schaumburg Township Committeeperson Mike Cudzik sent a proxy vote. 

The seat was vacated in May, when then-State Rep. Mark Walker was appointed to be the State Senator of the 27th District, after Senator Ann Gillespie stepped down to lead the Illinois Department of Insurance. State Rep. Grasse is also an Arlington Heights Village Trustee, and she works as a hospice chaplain based in Palatine. While she lives in Arlington Heights, she has been an enthusiastic participant in Greater Palatine Area Democrats' events over the years.

All the candidates who stepped forward to be considered for the appointment had excellent professional credentials. The committee considered the candidates' professional credentials, elected office experience, Democratic voting record, and history of volunteering for their local township Democratic organizations.

State Representative Grasse will be on the November 2024 ballot, so she will need volunteers to canvass for her to help her win her election against a Republican candidate. Her district includes the southeast part of Palatine and much of Rolling Meadows.

With the appointment of State Representative Mark Walker to the 27th State Senate seat, the 53rd House Seat is now vacant. Local Democratic Committeepeople are seeking candidates seeking to be appointed to the 53rd State House seat. In the map of the 53rd House Seat, the northern-most boundary is Euclid Road, and the far western corner is Harper College.

Those who would like to apply for appointment to the 53rd State Representative District should send a resume and cover letter to [email protected] by 10pm on Tuesday, May 28, 2024. To be eligible for appointment, a candidate must be a United States citizen, at least 21 years old, and have been a resident of the 53rd District for at least the last two years prior to appointment. According to the Illinois Constitution, because former-Representative Mark Walker is a Democrat, his replacement must also be a member of the Democratic Party.

The appointment will be conducted by the Democratic Committeepeople on Wednesday, June 5 at 6pm at the Mount Prospect Library, 10 S. Emerson Street, Mount Prospect, in Room 154, Meeting
Room A.

If you would like to attend the meeting to observe the appointment process, please RSVP to [email protected].

The Democratic Committeepeople comprising the 53rd Legislative District and deciding the replacement are Elk Grove Township Democratic Committeeperson Ted Mason, Wheeling
Township Democratic Committeeperson Mark Walker, Palatine Township Democratic Committeeperson Maria Galo, Maine Township Democratic Committeeperson Laura Murphy,
and Schaumburg Township Democratic Committeeperson Mike Cudzik. All interested candidates will received the best available contact information for each Committeeperson after
submission of their application.

Anyone with questions on this process should email their name, address, and question to [email protected].