Mertens Fights The Machine

She just might be a giant killer. AmySue Mertens is a petite woman with a huge smile and a forceful handshake. Her charm engulfs you instantly. She just might be the anti-Machine giant killer needed to defeat Machine incumbent State Senator Rickey R. Hendon (D). Hendon is the Assistant Majority Leader in the State Senate and was elected in 1993. Hendon has been involved in scandals. Nicknamed "Hollywood," sexist Hendon seems more interested in promoting hip hop artists than in passing serious legislation.

AmySue Mertens is a Democrat running for Illinois State Senate in the 5th District. She is new to the game of running for elected office, but has an extensive background in the public sector. To quote from her bio at the University of Illinois' web site:

"AmySue Mertens has held public relations, communications, events planning, and development positions with local direct service and statewide public policy non-profit organizations. She has worked with issues including adult and family literacy, drug-use and ex-offender re-entry, and homelessness and affordable housing. With Extension, she is focused on branding strategies for Cook County, media and organizational outreach, and marketing support to the more than 40 Cook County Educators."

In other words, Mertens is no slouch. She's studied, she's been involved.

I had the pleasure of meeting Ms. Mertens on October 30 at a restaurant in Rogers Park. She was meeting with some friends there, outside of her district. One of her friends is a friend of mine, so I was introduced.

"What are you running against?" I asked her.

"I'm running against The Machine," she said. Good answer, I thought.

"Really? What's your opinion of Todd Stroger?" I thought I'd push her a bit. She didn't budge. Without a word, she gave me a silent but screamingly loud smirk, the kind of smirk that says "you must be kidding" without making a sound. Again, good answer. Extra points for fine delivery.

Incumbent Hendon claims that Mertens is a "Madigan candidate." IllinoisTimes online reported in September that "Mertens has recently met with some people close to Madigan, but, though impressed with her, they report that she has not put together much of a campaign on her own." Remember, that was back in September. Since then, Merten's campaign has taken off.

The Madigan thing, however, must be addressed by Mertens. To claim that she's working against The Machine, and then linked to Madigan - even falsely - would be a serious blow against her. With people like Jesse Jackson, Jr. speaking out against the corruption of the Cook County Political Machine, and the general distrust of Illinois politicians, now is as good a time as any for an anti-Machine giant killer like AmySue Mertens to be elected.

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