Dear fellow Democrats:

I have worked hard as a DuPage Democrat, as Vice Chair of Bloomingdale Township,
as a candidate for state representative, and most recently as Vice-Chair of the
Democratic Party of DuPage County.  I have worked hard, but I also have been
encouraged by the hard work I see around me from ever greater numbers of DuPage
Democrats.  Members of Operation Turn DuPage Blue have been an important part of
our growth; their efforts further a progressive voice throughout our County, and
I appreciate them.  The work being done by Democrats in the townships and the
county, as well as OTDB, is necessary and vital.  We are growing, and it makes
the hard work worthwhile!

In recent days, some of my fellow Democrats have asked me to provide my
perspective on events affecting our Party.  Thus, today, I would like to share
my personal perspective on two issues:

First, it is obvious that our progress has not taken place without growing
pains, and at times misunderstandings.  In recent months, I have witnessed with
frustration intensifying public acrimony between DuPage Democrats, some members
of OTDB and others members of the Democratic Party of DuPage County.  Words
coming from both sides have crossed the boundaries of civility, and I do not
support them.

We must move away from the divisive rhetoric that has been plaguing us.  We have
many crucial questions that must be answered in the coming months, and I believe
we all share the same goals.  Let's talk about the issues (respectfully
disagreeing when needed), and then let's set forth and achieve our common
objectives.  I genuinely want and need the ideas, experience, energy and
dedication of Democrats from throughout the county.  I am ready to move forward
together with you.  Our challenge of turning DuPage Democratic is great, but
together we can make it happen.

Second, I disagree with recent descriptions of events leading up to my own
announcement of candidacy for Chair of the Democratic Party of DuPage County,
and I would like to set the record straight.  At my suggestion in early August,
Bob Peickert and I sat down for breakfast.   We discussed the possibility of
members of the DuPage County Democrats and OTDB convening and making plans to
further our multitude of shared goals.  I left the meeting feeling optimistic
about working together.

Days later, Bob very publicly announced his candidacy for County Chair.   He did
so without informing me of his intentions, as was his right.  He also quite
publicly announced he was asking me to be his running mate, but without
informing me of any of this at the breakfast, and in fact only informing me
through a letter I received the day following his public unity proposal.  If his
offer was genuine, I believe he would have contacted me directly with his
proposal before making a public statement including my name.  Had the situation
been reversed, I certainly would have offered him that courtesy and respect,
because I do respect him for the work he has done.

Despite Bob?s failure to reach out to me directly, I still agreed to speak with
him about his proposal.  In doing so, I asked him who else would be involved in
leading the organization and if he could generally describe his plans to me.  He
refused to name a single name and made a blanket statement about wanting to
elect Democrats in 2008.   When I responded that we all want to elect Democrats
and asked him for additional information about his plans (to find out if we
could work together), he refused to provide even one detail.  I must admit that
I ended the conversation both disappointed and feeling that his offer was a
political tactic designed to place me in an awkward position?to reject it would
seem to make me to blame for dividing the Party.  That, unfortunately, came to
pass.

I strongly wish to work together with Operation Turn DuPage Blue.  In fact, in
an e-mail to Bob after hearing of his announcement, I suggested to him three
specific ways the two of us could begin working together immediately to further
our joint aims:  participation by Bob in Democratic Party meetings, especially
at the County level; strong attendance by OTDB members at a Bloomingdale/Wayne
Township fundraiser that occurred last month; and mutual effort focused on the
County Golf Outing that will take place September 28.  Bob declined those ideas
immediately without offering any other concrete joint projects for the two of us
to consider.

There is no doubt Bob has his reasons for chair.  I welcome the exchange of
ideas and perspectives, and I think competition for the leadership position is
healthy.  In fact, I would like to offer to debate Bob in the coming weeks.  I
do not claim infallibility.  I believe I can learn from others.  But, I also
believe that the right thing for me to do?what I owe myself and what I owe
fellow Democrats?is to stand up and explain my positions, the logic I used to
come to my conclusions and my plans.  I have nothing to hide, and I would like
to set the record straight on a number of issues?including my integrity, which I
believe has been unfairly called in to question.  We are at a critical juncture
as a Party, and our decisions matter.  I hope Bob will accept my offer of a
debate before the upcoming special election.

While recognizing certain successes across the years, particularly in these last
months, I understand our pent-up frustration with the failure of the DuPage
County Democrats to secure electoral victories.  Like many volunteers, on both
sides, I am working hard to fix this failure.  I want to win badly, and I want
an organization that has the same hunger and dedication.  DuPage Democrats
deserve an organization that wins.   In the few months since I was elected Vice-
Chair of the County organization, we have focused our work in a few specific
areas: candidate recruitment, fundraising  and precinct committeemen
recruitment.  We will not stop until we have strong candidates in every
electoral race, until our candidates have the funds they need to win, and until
every precinct in the County has a committeeman.  That is my pledge.

In addition to the three aforementioned points, I am painfully aware of many
other things that must be done.  Most of us are volunteers; none of us have
unlimited time.  However, that is no excuse.  We must do what it takes to win!
In the coming weeks, I hope to share my plan with you, exchange ideas and join
forces to further develop our Party.

If you have any questions about this message or my intentions, please feel free
to call me at 630-229-4108.  I would appreciate your call.

Sincerely,

Rob Bisceglie