Editorial pages may question my hiring, but I will fight for what’s necessary
Regarding the editorial: “Should a candidate for attorney general hire a guy who scammed Illinois?”
As a Chicagoan, it troubles me that there continues to exist a sustained effort to marginalize and exclude ex- offenders from social, economic, and political opportunities.
I acknowledge and admit to my transgressions and the impact that my actions have had on my family, friends, and the public trust. I have repaid my debt to society and dedicate the remainder of my life to regaining that trust. I am thankful that the law in Illinois terminates felony disenfranchisement upon release from incarceration, allowing hundreds of thousands of state residents to engage fully in our democratic process.
It is my mission to make sure that the voting electorate, especially those in vulnerable African- American communities, is fully informed about the candidates for elected office who will represent them. My job is simple— it is to facilitate potential voter contact with prospective candidates through neighborhood canvassing, phone banking and literature distribution. The primary goal is to provide information to communities that have traditionally been ignored, empowering citizens to make informed decisions about who will best represent them in their various capacities of public service.
Despite the recent attempts by both major newspapers to disqualify me from continuing to work in our electoral process, I will continue to fight for what is necessary and needed. Issues related to education funding, gun laws, property taxes, pension, and health care, are too important to let any back door political character assassination stop me from proving access and information for our distressed neighborhoods. Bamani Obadele, Chicago