Following are my recommendations for the November 8th General Election.

My first recommendation is, VOTE EARLY! Don't put it off until Election Day. You can apply online now to vote by mail. Just click on this link. Or you can vote in person beginning October 24th at any early voting site. The nearest early voting site to you is the Edgewater Library at 6000 N. Broadway.

Candidates:    I encourage you to vote for the entire Democratic ticket, led by Hillary Clinton (ballot position 2) and Tammy Duckworth (9). I also recommend:

• Susana Mendoza (16) for State Comptroller
• Jan Schakowsky (22) for Congress
• Barbara McGowan (51), Mariyana Spyropoulos (52), Josina Morita (53), and Martin Durkan (58) for the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District
• Kim Foxx (62) for State's Attorney

Judges: The 13 countywide Democratic candidates for judge are uncontested, but they deserve your vote.

Retention Judges:   I follow the recommendations of the Chicago Council of Lawyers, who recommend a "NO" vote on Nicholas R. Ford (#232), Daniel Joseph Lynch (#242), and Bonita Coleman (#302). Vote "YES" on the others.

Referenda:   There are several referenda on your ballot. The first one is at the top of your ballot, and the others are at the end.

   1.  On the "Proposed Amendment to the 1970 Illinois Constitution," vote "NO." This is a special interest proposal that would benefit a few large roadbuilding companies and unions while requiring the State to prioritize roads over every other need, even in a depression or other crisis. Click here for an explanation by our State Rep. Elaine Nekritz.

   2.  On the proposal to merge the office of the Cook County Recorder with the Cook County Clerk, vote "YES." The Recorder is doing a good job, but there's no reason to have a separate elected official whose only duty is to record deeds and other legal documents.

   3.  On the Cook County referendum to allow Illinois workers to earn sick time, vote "YES." This will help families and good companies who want to treat their employees without being at a competitive disadvantage.

   4.  There are three Chicago-only advisory referenda, none of which are binding. I don't know enough about them to make a recommendation.