BRADY CAMPAIGN TO PREVENT GUN VIOLENCE ENDORSES HARMON  

The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence endorsed Senator Don Harmon for re-election.  The Brady Campaign was founded by president Ronald Reagan's Press Secretary, Jim Brady, and Brady's wife Sarah.  The organization works tirelessly to keep guns out of the hands of criminals. 

Brady Campaign president, Paul Helmke, stated in his letter announcing Senator Harmon's endorsement, "The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence with its dedicated network of Million Mom March Chapters is pleased to endorse your candidacy for the Illinois State Senate.  We appreciate your strong support for common sense laws to reduce gun violence.

Illinois needs strong, effective leaders like you who will work for responsible gun laws to fight the trafficking of guns to criminals and keep our children safe from firearms.  We applaud your work to strengthen Illinois gun laws and your willingness to fight against the gun pusher’s attempts to weaken Illinois’s existing gun laws.

Thank you for having the courage to stand up to the gun lobby and protect Illinois’s children, our families and our communities from gun violence.  We look forward to continuing our work with you to reduce gun violence in Illinois and to make our families and neighborhoods safer."

DAILY HERALD COVERS 39TH SENATE RACE, HIGHLIGHTS HARMON'S PUBLIC SAFETY AND REPRODUCTIVE CHOICE RECORD

Candidates differ on gun rights, abortion

By Ames Boykin
Daily Herald Staff Writer
Saturday, October 28, 2006

Two candidates bidding to represent the 39th Senate District are divided on gun rights, abortion and on how to pay for state services.

Don Harmon, an Oak Park Democrat who has held the seat since 2003, faces a challenge from Republican Jim Rowe on Nov. 7.

Harmon, a 39-year-old lawyer, supports gun control, including laws banning assault weapons and against carrying concealed weapons. Harmon has fought to close loopholes and increase penalties for gun runners and “straw” purchasers, which is someone who feeds guns to those who cannot legally buy one.

Rowe, a 28-year-old Franklin Park lawyer and school board member, posted a message this month appealing to gun rights advocates on www.icarry.org, a Web site that promotes the right to carry concealed weapons. But Rowe said he opposes carrying concealed weapons, and supports an assault weapons ban — just like Harmon.

Harmon questioned why his opponent would post a message to gun rights advocates on a Web site that promotes the right to carry concealed guns.

“He can’t be for guns and against them at the same time,” Harmon said.

But Rowe said he posted on the Web site because he supports gun ownership. “I believe people should have the right to have a gun in their home to protect their family,” Rowe said.

Rowe criticized Harmon for supporting local gun bans, including one in Oak Park. Harmon in 2004 sided with the governor’s veto of a law that would have allowed courts to dismiss local gun bans in cases where the weapon was used in self-defense.

Harmon and Rowe also disagree on abortion rights. Harmon supports abortion rights and parental notification laws. Rowe opposes abortion rights — except in cases of rape, incest or if the life of the mother is in danger.

The two agree that state legislators shouldn’t take up the issue of gay marriage. Rowe said there are more important issues that state legislators should focus on, while Harmon said he doesn’t believe the state is ready to look at the idea.

Harmon last year supported a law to add sexual orientation to the state’s human rights law to forbid discrimination in areas such as jobs and housing. Rowe said he also supports such laws banning discrimination, but he is listed on the Protect Marriage Illinois Web site as a candidate who would support a referendum to define marriage as between a man and woman.

Rowe challenges Harmon’s support last year of tapping into the state pension system to help erase a more than $1 billion debt without raising taxes.

Rowe said the pension raid took money away from those who needed it.

“We have not raided the pension funds,” Harmon said. “In four years in Springfield, we have contributed over $13 billion. That was more than $8æbillion more than we were required by law.”

The candidates also differ on how to raise money needed for state services. Rowe has vowed to oppose tax increases and suggested repealing tax and fee increases approved in Springfield over the past four years.

Rowe instead wants to consolidate the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority and Illinois Department of Transportation to free up money to pay for state services. “They need to do what Illinois families are doing: budget, live within a budget and spend it on their priorities,” Rowe said.

Harmon said legislators have increased the fees used by users of specific government services, including environmental impact fees. Rolling back these fees would force everyone to make up the difference, Harmon said.

“But we increased these fees so the state at large didn’t subsidize these users,” Harmon said.

The 39th District includes Rosemont, Bensenville and Wood Dale.

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE COMPLETE ARTICLE

HARMON GAINS ENDORSEMENT OF CHICAGO TRIBUNE

On October 27, 2006, the Chicago Tribune endorsed Senator Don Harmon for re-election.  Describing Harmon as "thoughtful" and "earnest" the Tribune singled out Senator Harmon's public safety efforts.

"39th District (west suburbs): The first word to describe Don Harmon is 'thoughtful.' The Democratic incumbent brings a sharp mind and sense of earnestness to the legislature, as well as valuable expertise (he's a bond lawyer) on municipal and state finance issues. Harmon is endorsed over the GOP's Jim Rowe of Franklin Park, a gun rights advocate who inadvertently compliments Harmon as "the strongest anti-gun advocate in the Illinois State Senate."

CHICAGO TRIBUNE - October 27, 2006

RECORD ON EDUCATION AND FAMILY ISSUES EARN SUN-TIMES ENDORSEMENT

Citing Senator Don Harmon's record on early childhood education and family issues, the Chicago Sun-Times endorsed Harmon for re-election Friday, October 27.  The Sun-Times also singled out Senator Harmon's constituent service efforts.

"39th:  Democrat Don Harmon from Oak Park has been the senator for his district since 2003.  He has been instrumental in supporting families, intitiating the Right to Breastfeed Act, which allows mothers to nurse their babies in public, and the Illinois Early Learning Council to improve early childhood education.  He is sensitive to the needs of his constituents, co-sponsoring, for instance, a bill to ensure funding for paratransit services.  We endorse him over Republican lawyer Jim Rowe."

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES - October 27, 2006

HARMON ENDORSED BY ALL SUBURBAN PIONEER PRESS NEWSPAPERS

    Suburban newspapers from throughout the 39th District endorsed Senator Don Harmon for re-election on October 25.  Highlighting Harmon's record of accomplishment in the Senate the Elm Leaves, Forest Leaves, Franklin Park Herald-Journal, Northlake Herald-Journal, Oak Leaves, and the River Grove Messenger urged voters to return Senator Harmon to the Illinois Senate.

"Education was the top priority on Don Harmon's list when he ran for the 39th State Senate seat four years ago and he didn't disappoint.

During his first four years, he helped pass legislation to create the Illinois Early Learning Council to improve and expand existing early childhood programs.

He was active as a first-term Senator, sponsoring legislation creating the Senior Citizen Prescription Drug Discount Program to provide senior citizens and people with disabilities with significant discounts on their prescription drugs. And he authored the Illinois Civil Rights Act of 2003 to prohibit discriminatory policies by state, county or local governments.

Harmon is chairman of the Senate Revenue Committee and the vice-chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

He will continue to be an advocate for education and sees the need for the state to get involved in health care.

Don Harmon deserves to be re-elected."

ELM LEAVES, FOREST LEAVES, FRANKLIN PARK HERALD-JOURNAL, NORTHLAKE HERALD-JOURNAL, RIVER GROVE MESSENGER - October 25, 2006

DAILY HERALD ENDORSES SENATOR HARMON

    Citing Senator Don Harmon's record on early childhood eduction and advocacy for property taxpayers, the Daily Herald endoresed Harmon for re-election on October 19, 2006.  Harmon is one of only two Democrats for the Illinois Senate endorsed by the Daily Herald.

    Democrat Harmon, 39, of Oak Park touts a record including legislation that established the Illinois Early Learning Council and a bill that closed the property tax loophole brought to light by the Daily Herald. He supports early childhood education and more public transit funding. He’s skeptical of proposals to sell the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority and says if such a sale does occur, proceeds should not be used for one-time operational costs."

DAILY HERALD - October 19, 2006

HARMON'S PUBLIC SAFETY EFFORTS EARN A+ RATING

Illinois Citizens for Handgun Control gave State Senator Don Harmon an A+ rating for the 2006 General Election. 

Harmon's sensible public safety record includes Senate Bill 382 which closes loopholes and increases penalties for gun runners and “straw” purchasers.  A "straw" purchaser is someone who purchases a gun legally and then transfers it to someone who cannot legally possess a firearm.  Far too often these guns purchased by "straw" purchasers end up in the hands of criminals.  This bill is now law.  Senator Harmon also sponsored a bill, now law, requiring all firearms sold in Illinois be equipped with a trigger lock.

Click here for more information on these and other bills Senator Harmon has sponsored.

CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTOR BILL HEADED FOR GOVERNOR'S DESK

    A bill mandating carbon monoxide detectors be installed in all apartments and homes in Illinois passed the General Assembly and awaits the Governor's signature.  The bill, sponsored by State Senator Don Harmon, could save the lives of many Illinoisans every year.

Click here to see the Chicago Sun-Times article.

HARMON EARNS RESOUNDING PRIMARY VICTORY

    State Senator Don Harmon earned a significant mandate from Democratic Primary voters, garnering almost 80% of the vote on Tuesday, March 21st.  Citing his progressive and independent leadership, Harmon told supporters, "I am grateful to those who voted in the Democratic Party primary and supported my nomination for re-election to the State Senate. Thanks to you, I was able to celebrate a resounding victory."

    Harmon then looked forward to the November General Election stating, "I now stand for re-election as the Democratic nominee in November.  I am proud of my record in the General Assembly, and I intend to run a strong issues-based campaign."

    Ending his comments, Harmon again echoed one of the strong themes of his campaign, "When it comes to serving the communities I represent, I feel duty-bound to serve all the people, not just the ones who vote for me.  Over the next seven months, as I campaign for re-election, I’m going to focus on the things that unite the people of the 39^th Legislative District.  I don’t subscribe to a jaded politics of divisiveness that trades the support of one group of constituents for another."

IT'S UNANIMOUS:  HARMON PICKS UP ALL NEWSPAPER ENDORSEMENTS

    Every newspaper issuing an endorsement in the Democratic Primary race for State Senate endorse Senator Don Harmon.  Senator Harmon received the endorsement of the Austin Weekly, the Chicago Sun-Times, the Chicago Tribune, and all Pioneer Press newspapers in the suburban portion of the 39th District.