FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Bob Peickert – (630) 421-2405

Turnout, Reception & Youth Involvement in
Seven Parades Gives Operation: Turn DuPage Blue
Reasons to Celebrate 4th, Future

Simply put, the 4^th of July was a banner day for Operation: Turn DuPage Blue.

Approximately 150 supporters—including a robust youth contingent—marched in seven holiday parades to further Democratic fortunes in DuPage County, a longtime Republican stronghold.

“I don’t think there’s been a 4^th in recent memory where Democrats have shown up in such force at so many events, especially without specific candidates to support,” declared OTDB Chair Bob Peickert. “Amy Tauchman, our Executive Director, really did an amazing job organizing us at all the parades and Justin Heath, our Youth Director, helped end things with a bang by getting upwards of 20 people under age 25 to march with us in Lisle, the last parade of the day.”

According to Heath, a 23-year-old Lisle resident, “I got the word out, but credit really goes to everyone who showed up. I think people my age realize what a huge election 2008 will be, with Illinois Democrats likely to come out in record numbers. There’s no reason we can’t turn DuPage blue in the process.”

The day of parades kicked off in Elmhurst, where Operation: Turn DuPage Blue had previously marched in St. Patrick’s and Memorial Day parades. Despite a 9:30am start time and threat of rain, Peickert and roughly 25 OTDB supporters marched alongside a group representing the Addison Township Democratic organization.

Next was Wheaton, where OTDB’s contingent of 30+ marchers expected some fireworks from the large crowd, but were warmly welcomed.

“I didn’t march in Wheaton, but my son and daughter did,” comments Tauchman, who in coordinating 150 people across seven parades could only hope the Fourth of July fell under her “Nights and Weekends” cell phone plan. “I thought they were going to come back saying they were heckled or worse, but they were truly ecstatic with the reception they heard along the parade route.”

Similar good feelings were felt by marchers who carried both Operation: Turn DuPage Blue signs and American flags throughout Lombard, Villa Park, Glen Ellyn, Downers Grove, and finally, Lisle. At all of the parades, the group exhausted its supply of business cards and stickers, which were handed out only upon request.

Peickert sees this as just one more sign that the expanding organization, developed early this year to return a “true two-party system” to a county in which every elected official is Republican, is striking a nerve.

“Someone who was unfamiliar with DuPage’s political landscape would probably think the Democrats were the party in power if they saw how the crowds have reacted to us in these parades,” states the longtime Elmhurst resident, 2006 candidate for DuPage County board and campaign manager for Joe Vosicky’s 299 vote loss for Illinois House in District 46 last November. “And obviously, we’re doing a lot more than marching in parades.”

To date, Operation: Turn DuPage Blue has attracted over 500 individuals to its Strategy Sessions (typically held each month), welcomed 120 people to its initial fundraiser and has had over 2,200 visits to its website—www.TurnDuPageBlue.com—all with virtually no advertising budget.

On August 3-5, the group—in conjunction with Greater Chicago Caucus, another grass roots political organization—will bring Camp Wellstone to the College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn.

“This is really a big deal and we’re thrilled to give local residents the chance to participate without incurring travel costs,” states Tauchman about the 3-day progressive political training event created and conducted by Wellstone Action, an organization developed in homage to the late Paul Wellstone, a popular U.S. Senator from Minnesota who died in a 2002 plane crash. “Only a handful of camps take place each year and they’re really destination events. Anyone who wants to attend in August can visit our site for links to sign-up, or call me directly at (630) 469-4931 to learn more.”

Operation: Turn DuPage Blue is also planning a fundraiser for August 17 and will post information about it in the weeks ahead at www.TurnDuPageBlue.com