An Open Letter to DFA Edgewater/Rogers Park

God Bless Beata Riedlmayer for having the courage to write this letter. She is responding to a shameful "open letter to Don Gordon," sent out by the Edgewater/Rogers ParkDemocracy for America, a local chapter of Democracy For America (DFA). It seems, however, that not all of the DFA agrees with the letter to Gordon. Ms. Riedlmayer sums it up well in her own open letter (below). She has lived in Rogers Park for more than 30 years (she graduated from Senn High) and is a freelance writer. She is a member of three DFA chapters: DFA-Evanston North Shore; Edgewater/Rogers Park DFA; and Democracy for Illinois. An open letter from one voter in the 49th Ward to Shannon Fisk, Jim Ginsburg, Carol Levy, Melissa Lindberg, Michi Schulenberg and Sandra Verthein Edgewater/Rogers Park Democracy for America Steering Committee You need to be aware that not every DFA member agrees with your letter and all of its messages. I have had conversations with more than a dozen people, none of whom is in favor of what you suggest. You do NOT speak for us. Whether you have our names from the Dean days or from MoveOn, the Democratic Party, or from some other source, you have no right to represent us without consent on this issue. DFA stands for "Democracy for America," and I believe that if the democratic process in the 49th Ward runoff was followed in compliance with the laws, you have nothing to fear from an examination of the facts. Many, many of us DO NOT want Mr. Gordon to rescind his suit. We have seen and heard from reliable sources much that bears investigating. Let the legal process do its job and satisfy all of us about the outcome and how it was reached. If Mr. Moore won the election fairly, you have nothing to worry about. I request that you send around another open letter, in which you acknowledge that you have not consulted your membership, but are acting only as a group of individuals who happen to be members of a committee -- and are not speaking for Democrats and Independents in this ward. Beata Riedlmayer Chicago, IL 60626