Sheyman, Schneider Supporters Clash
Northfield Township party leaders urge endorsement of no candidate, enough members listen.
Photos
The Northfield Township Democratic Organization will not endorse a 10th Congressional District Democratic candidate for the March 20 primary after attacks by advocates of certain contenders left no consensus choice Saturday in Northbrook.
Supporters of Waukegan community organizer Ilya Sheyman criticized Deerfield management consultant Brad Schneider for campaign contributions to Sen. Mark Kirk (R-Highland Park), while the 25-year-old Sheyman came under fire for his age.
The other two candidates who appealed to more than 150 people in the room were Long Grove business owner John Tree and Mundelein attorney Vivek Bavda. Only 53 of those people had green cards to vote as organization members.
When it came time to vote, 22 people raised their hands for Sheyman, 13 for no endorsement, 12 for Long Grove business owner John Tree, six for Schneider and none for Mundelein attorney Vivek Bavda. A candidate needs 60 percent to receive the group’s backing.
All the barbs motivated state Rep. Elaine Nekritz (D-Northbrook) and Northfield Township Democratic Chair Mike Kreloff to urge organization members to back no one in the primary and unite March 21 to unseat Rep. Robert Dold (R-Kenilworth).
“We tore the organization apart two years ago in a divisive primary between (former state Rep.) Julie (Hamos) and Dan (Seals),” Kreloff said. “Was there damage? Absolutely, and here we go again.”
Kreloff was referring to the 2010 Democratic primary narrowly won by Seals, who then lost a close race to Dold.
Kreloff Asks for Caution
Kreloff urged caution this time. “Now the district is more Democratic, two points more. If we are united we can win. Let’s wait and get behind the winner,” he said. “These are all good candidates.”
Doug Gerelman of Northbrook is a Tree supporter who believes Sheyman is too young, and his association with MoveOn.org would lead to his rejection by independent-minded voters in the Nov. 6 general election.
“The age of an individual does matter,” Gerelman said. “How will you answer people who are critics of MoveOn?”
Others in the room called Move.On the “tea party of the left.” They are concerned how Sheyman will connect with voters in the new parts of the district like Grayslake.
Sheyman was not afraid to answer his critics directly. “When I meet with people no one has ever said I’m too young,” he said. “Most of the (new) people (in the district) are Democrats. They agree with me on the issues.”
Nancy Goodman of Northbrook, a Sheyman backer, had her own answer. She read the names of many signers of the United States Constitution including Thomas Jefferson, James Madison and Benjamin Franklin citing them as supporters of Sheyman's age. The constitutional requirement for being a member of Congress is 25 years old.
Schneider took criticism from a number of questioners for donations made to Kirk between 2002 and 2008. “How can we support you if you supported Mark Kirk,” one asked?
Most of Schneider’s Donations Went to Democrats
Of the $32,030 Schneider gave to federal candidates over the years, $3,300 went to Kirk, according to the filings with the Federal Election Commission. The rest went to people like Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Evanston), Sen. Richard Durbin (D-Springfield) and Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA).
Other donations went to Kirk’s 2000 opponent, former state Rep. Lauren Beth Gash (D-Highland Park) and the 10th Congressional District Democrats, an organization she heads.
Like Sheyman about his age, Schneider was not shy with his answer.
“If we knew then what we know now, I would have done differently,” Schneider said. “He was a strong supporter of Israel. He supported choice. The Sierra Club backed him because of his position on the environment. I made a mistake. I own it.”
In 2010, Schneider gave $1,000 to Kirk’s opponent, former Illinois Treasurer Alexi Gianioulis. “Kirk changed, I didn’t,” Schneider told Patch in May.
Glenview Village Trustee Debbie Karton considers Schneider’s donations to Kirk as a potential advantage for him should he be elected to Congress.
“I want someone in D.C. who can work across the aisle,” she said. “Who can work with people who disagree with him.”
In the 9th District, Schakowsky received the group’s unanimous support. In the campaign to succeed retiring state Sen. Susan Garrett (D-Lake Forest), West Deerfield Township Supervisor Julie Morrison got the nod over Lake Bluff business consultant Milton Sumption, 46-6.
Nancy Goodman
9:35 am on Monday, February 6, 2012
Historical correction! I didn't list Thomas Jefferson as signer of the Constitution - since he wasn't among that group. James Madison, Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, George Washington - yes, they and the rest of the signers, aged 26-81, thought that Ilya's age was just fine. - Nancy Goodman
liz albert
9:40 am on Monday, February 6, 2012
Correction!
The “Brad SCHNEIDER” who contributed $2200 to Hillary Clinton’s Presidential campaign was not the Brad who lives in Deerfield IL, but rather someone with the same name residing in CORONA DEL MAR, CA 92625. (Look it up at the FEC website.)
Correction #2!
The same month (March 2009) that Brad SCHNEIDER (of Deerfield) gave $1000 to the GIANNOULIAS campaign, he donated $500 to the Kirk for Senate campaign. (Look it up at the FEC website.)
$3,300, which is the total of what Brad gave Kirk over the years (in 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009) is not a trifling sum.
Brad’s contributions to Kirk of $3,300 is more than 3 times the amount ($1000) that Bob Dold gave to Kirk. Likewise, it is one and a half times the amount ($2400) that Kirk gave to Dold. Actually, if I remember how story problems work, it would, in fact, entail subtraction (Kirk’s $2400 to Dold in 2009, minus the $1000 Dold gave back to Kirk, equals $1400-- not quite half the amount that Brad gave Kirk over the years.)
Yes, Brad gave lots of money to Dems, but fact is Brad never did figure out (what we did long ago) that Kirk will say one thing to get elected and then, once on the House floor, behave in a completely different manner.
I am supporting Ilya Sheyman, a true Progressive & a true Democrat.
Steve Sadin
11:16 am on Monday, February 6, 2012
Liz, thanks for the catch on the Clinton donation. We corrected the story.
Therese
9:50 am on Monday, February 6, 2012
That's all we need is another Republican like Brad Schneider in Congress. I am for Ilya Sheyman so that we can get the votes to help President Obama and the nation with passing some bills in Congress that will get jobs coming back from across the ocean, keep and maintain Social Security, work on health care issues, and bring the country to an ever-lasting peace.
Frank E
1:35 pm on Thursday, February 9, 2012
I wish more "republicans" would give 3 out of 4 donation dollars to Democrats. In fact, I wish more Democrats were giving to Democrats at the rate Brad Schneider does - we wouldn't need to worry about Bob Dold's little $1.2 million war chest as much!
Ellen Beth Gill
10:26 am on Monday, February 6, 2012
It's funny that Sheyman says no one says he's too young. I've said it and many others have said it to me. However, age is not my primary motivation in not supporting Sheyman. I'm unhappy with how MoveOn moved off the progressive health care position so early on and how they attacked single payer advocates who continued to fight for universal health care access.
flower child
9:40 am on Tuesday, February 7, 2012
So while others (based on his MoveOn involvement) are making claim Ilya is too d*** progressive, you are stating (based on his MoveOn involvement) he is not progressive enough.
Love you Ellen!
Lololololoolololol!
Robert Boggs
10:54 am on Monday, February 6, 2012
Brad Schneider is a Republican. Ilya Sheyman is a joke. Vivek Bavda who?
John Tree looks to be the best of the bunch and can beat Dold in the fall. He is viable.
flower child
9:55 am on Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Ilya (in addition to being an all-around great human being) is a terrific candidate with a huge team of capable, dedicated volunteers. He will have what it takes to go the distance.
Frank E
1:30 pm on Thursday, February 9, 2012
Who is John Galt? Erm, John Tree, who is John Tree?
Fred
10:59 pm on Monday, February 6, 2012
Schneider donated to Republican Sen. Johanns and Sen. bennett both of who are 100% pro-life. How can progressives support him?? We need a bold choice. Sheyman!!
flower child
9:45 am on Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Right on! (Left on?)
Fred
11:00 pm on Monday, February 6, 2012
We need Sheyman, let's rally around the hope of the progressive movement! Ilya may be our chance to reclaim the 10th!
marco sangria
8:06 am on Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Did Sheyman take money from move on.org?
flower child
9:42 am on Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Think so. It was a job. Your point?
Frank E
1:29 pm on Thursday, February 9, 2012
Every day, in fact, you can go on MoveOn right now and donate to him through them if you like.
Abigail
9:43 am on Tuesday, February 7, 2012
This moveon.org thing and his age worries me about Sheyman.
Frank E
1:28 pm on Thursday, February 9, 2012
You are far from the only one. I wish I could get behind him, but - as they say - he has some high negatives.
flower child
9:47 am on Tuesday, February 7, 2012
from article:
"In 2010, Schneider gave $1,000 to Kirk’s opponent, former Illinois Treasurer Alexi Gianioulis. 'Kirk changed, I didn’t,' Schneider told Patch in May."
The same month (March 2009) that SCHNEIDER gave $1000 to the GIANNOULIAS campaign, he donated $500 to KIRK's Senate campaign. (Look it up at the FEC website.)
flower child
9:48 am on Tuesday, February 7, 2012
So much for Kirk's having changed.
Frank E
1:00 pm on Thursday, February 9, 2012
I'm 26 and hold a job as a marketing director. My 26 year-old wife is a manager for a local health care provider. Neither of us are too young to have good ideas. That said, as democrats the last thing we want is a general election for which we provide the opposition with a quiver full of great barbs. Bob Dold and the GOP will spend millions of dollars to denounce Ilya as an 'idealist too young to appreciate the cost of the tax-and-spend programs he supports' and as 'a left wing radical with close associations to MoveOn.org - an organization that ran a full page ad accusing a military hero of treason just because he did his patriotic duty to report on Iraq when called upon by congress.' Much as I may disagree with both of these characterizations, the fact is they are very low-hanging fruit for the general election. As a 10th district democrat I want a liberal, progressive Representative to win in November but I don't think electing Ilya in March gets us there.
Swallow
4:02 pm on Friday, February 10, 2012
At age 26, John F Kennedy saved his crew members when their patrol boat was struck down in the Pacific. At age 29, he became a Congressman. At 43 years old, JFK became President. People in their 20s can and have accomplished great things. MoveOn has been standing up for the rights of the American people rather than massive oil companies and the military industrial complex. I'm supporting Ilya. I know he will be a congressman who will listen to his constituents and fight for us.
Deadcatbounce
7:32 pm on Friday, February 10, 2012
At 45 President Kennedy was having an affair with a 19 year old in the white house. At a later date He asked this 19 year old to "take care” of an aide. He watched as she took care of this aide! At a later date, Kennedy asked her to “take care of my baby brother,” meaning Ted Kennedy, during a Democratic fund-raiser. BTW, the saving the crew story has been disputed