"It is all the more important that we have leaders that are paying attention to the MWRD, because the media is not."
TODD CONNOR ANNOUNCES CANDIDACY FOR METROPOLITAN WATER RECLAMATION DISCTRICT
Contact: Bridget Houlihan-Kennedy
bridget@toddconnor.org
For immediate release: May 15,2009
CHICAGO, IL — Veteran, businessman, and good-government advocate Todd Connor, Democrat, announced today his candidacy for Commissioner of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD).
“We know very little about this agency that spends more money than the CTA, and that should raise some questions,” Connor said in his announcement on Facebook, making Connor the first candidate for the MWRD to use the popular networking site to reach out to voters.
“For an agency that spends as much as a Fortune 1,000 company, a business perspective at the table is long overdue,” Connor said.
If elected, Connor will be the only member of the $1.6 billion agency with an MBA and business background.
Connor is committed to public service. Growing up in Northfield, Connor attended New Trier High School and graduated from Northwestern University. He was a Lieutenant in the U.S. Navy, and received numerous awards and decorations for his service aboard USS BUNKER HILL in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Connor investigated government waste, fraud and abuse while working for the Illinois Inspector General. After earning his MBA from the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business, Connor worked in the private sector at Booz Allen Hamilton, one of the nation’s leading management and consulting firms.
Leveraging his experience in the public and private sectors, Connor launched Todd Connor Consulting to maximize how public sector clients spend tax dollars.
Connor’s decision to run for Commissioner of the MWRD came after attending numerous MWRD meetings, where he was frustrated by the out-of-date procurement processes, including the renewal of no-bid contracts.
“There is a real need for a fresh set of eyes,” Connor said. “There is so much insider-dealing in Illinois politics that people have understandably tuned out. Taxpayers deserve a candidate who will do the right thing and ask the tough questions.”
Connor said he is ready to begin the county-wide campaign and is looking forward to meeting people, educating them about the MWRD, and hearing their concerns.
"It is time to renew confidence, and competence, in all levels of government. There is important work to be done, and like you, I think it is time for some new faces and new perspectives in Cook County government,” Connor said.
Friends of Todd Connor will host its first kick-off fundraiser on Tuesday June 2 at 6 p.m. at Vine's in Wrigleyville, 3554 N. Clark St. in Chicago. Ticket prices begin at $25. Visit for www.toddconnor.org/events.html more details.
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Connect.
TODD CONNOR CAMPAIGN CONTINUES TO BUILD MOMENTUM TO 2010 MWRD PRIMARY ELECTION
Contact: Andy Shapero
andy@toddconnor.org
For immediate release: July 28th,2009
Chicago, IL –- While candidates for statewide office have been jockeying for positions, one candidate has been pounding the pavement with a message of reform and environmental responsibility. Todd Connor, 31, candidate for Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Commissioner, has shown not only his viability but also his front-runner status in only a little more than a month since kicking off his campaign.
The Connor campaign was the first and only campaign to file a D-2 for the position among non-incumbents. To date, he has raised $25,000 from over 200 contributors.
Connor, a Navy Veteran, earned a Navy commendation medal for exemplary wartime service while serving served aboard the USS Bunker Hill during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Returning home, Connor went to work for the Illinois Inspector General to fight waste, fraud, and corruption throughout state government. Connor subsequently earned an MBA from the University of Chicago and joined Booz Allen Hamilton, a leading management consulting firm.
The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District is an agency with over 2,100 employees and an annual budget of $1.6 billion. This year alone they will spend more than the CTA. It is responsible for the network of canals, sewers, and waste-processing plants required to manage the area’s storm water and water waste. Connor’s experience in working with large bureaucracies in order to derive value, eliminate inefficiency, and root out corruption is well suited for an agency that has long been plagued by waste, inefficiency, and complacency.
Since announcing his campaign on June 2nd, the Connor campaign has had a strong presence across Cook County, with four fundraisers, and frequent attendance at ward, county, and township events. Andy Shapero, an experienced fundraiser and field organizer has been hired as the campaign manager and has assembled a robust intern program with 13 full time interns. The campaign office opens this week at 2727 N. Halsted. Describing the campaign, Connor said, “As the would-be-youngest member of this board by over 20 years, I am running a different kind of campaign. We are utilizing Facebook, Twitter, and other social media in ways that have never been done here in Cook County in order to reach people, educate them about this important office, and share our message.”
“I believe it’s time for new faces to ask new questions,” Connor said. “Taxpayers in Cook County have gotten a bad return on their investment. With my background I know the right questions that need to be asked, and I will be asking them from day one. We can do better, in fact a lot better, than we have been doing – both for the environment as well as your pocketbook.”
The Victory Fund, an influential national Political Action Committee, has endorsed Todd Connor, recognizing him as a unique, highly qualified, and also viable candidate. The Governor has yet to fill the vacancy left by former Commissioner Pat Young who resigned her Commissioner seat in January 2009 in order to work for the MWRD.
The campaign, along with Honorary Co-Hosts Commissioner Debra Shore, Rep. Greg Harris, Rep. Sara Feigenholz, Ald. Tom Tunney, and Ald. Mark Tendam (Evanston) invite the press to Minibar on Tuesday, July 28th from 6-8pm for a fundraiser celebration of Todd Connor’s endorsement by the Victory Fund.
# # #TODD CONNOR STRESSES MESSAGE OF REFORM, TRANSPARENCY, AND SERVICE IN DEMOCRATIC SLATING MEETING
Contact: Andy Shapero
andy@toddconnor.org
For immediate release: September 11th,2009
Chicago, IL – Yesterday, Navy veteran, management consultant, and good government advocate Todd Connor, a candidate for Commissioner of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District, spoke before the Cook County Democratic Slating Committee stressing his message of reform, transparency, and the importance of service.
Connor highlighted his two tours of duty in the Navy aboard the USS Bunker Hill, including 9 months overseas during Operation Iraqi Freedom and his extensive history of rooting out waste fraud, and abuse while working for the Illinois Inspector General upon leaving active duty. Connor also spoke to his management background helping public agencies such as NASA become more efficient and effective.
Connor’s aggressive approach to this campaign was also discussed with the committee, as he outlined his travels and appearances on the campaign trail. He spoke of his time spent meeting with voters from every corner of the district, and appearing in public events ranging from the Bud Billiken and Oak Park Fourth of July parades to Taste of Polonia and the African Festival of the Arts.
Connor’s overall message to the committee was clear: He is not afraid to work hard and fight for every person in the district in order to protect the environment and save taxpayers money by leveraging his years of serving both his country and the public.
# # #TODD CONNOR CAMPAIGN LEVERAGES INNOVATIVE SOCIAL MEDIA TECHNIQUES IN BID FOR METROPOLITAN WATER RECLAMATION DISTRICT COMMISSIONERSHIP
Contact: Andy Shapero
andy@toddconnor.org
For immediate release: July 28th,2009
Chicago, IL –- Integrating social media tools with traditional campaign methods, the Todd Connor Campaign for Commissioner of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation (MWRD) District is bringing a new face to Cook County politics this election season.
To date, the Connor campaign has amassed over 1,000 members on its Facebook group, and over 450 followers on the microblogging site Twitter.
“In a race for such an important, yet little known and often misunderstood agency, it’s crucial that we use every tool at our disposal,” Connor said. “Social media tools such as Facebook and Twitter not only help us raise awareness of our campaign, but give us new ways to build excitement and interact with voters across the district,” Connor continued.
Nick Hornsberry, the Connor campaign’s Facebook outreach director has worked tirelessly to target Facebook users receptive to Connor’s message. “Facebook has really changed the way in which campaigns can target voters. Based on the groups that individual voters are a part of, we can reach out to those who otherwise would not have heard about Todd, but should be sympathetic to our message,” Hornsberry said.
“Our 450 plus Twitter Followers are made up of business leaders, students, green groups and individuals that are concerned with, and have something to say about clean water and clean government,” Connor’s Twitter guru Brendon Troutman said, “Short messaging in real time means that there are thousands of conversations going on at once, many of them about reform in Cook County. We can be part of those conversations and Twitter users can not only hear Todd’s message of reform but also be part of the campaign.”
The Connor campaign’s Field Director Sean Kennedy is quick to note the effect Facebook and Twitter have had in terms of voter outreach, “We consistently find ourselves speaking with people on the street and at events who are members of the Facebook group or follow Todd on Twitter. When they tell us they learned about Todd through social media sites, and that Todd has their vote, it’s amazing.”
“Facebook and Twitter allow me to run this campaign the way I want the MWRD to operate, with complete transparency and openness,” Connor said, “I love it when a voter who follows me on Twitter asks how a meeting went. They know what I’m doing as I candidate, and as a Commissioner every voter will know how I am serving them on the board to protect the environment and usher in an era of fiscal responsibility.”
For more information regarding the Connor campaign, visit: www.toddconnor.org
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