Supporters speak out at Brutus kick-off campaign

By ALLISON MATYUS
Staff Writer [Hyde Park Herald]

http://hpherald.com/2016/01/13/supporters-speak-out-at-brutus-kick-off-c...

Patrick Brutus’ kick-off campaign event brought out supporters and volunteers to back him up on his candidacy for the U.S. Representative of the 1st Congressional District in Illinois.

Even though his candidacy has been announced since Nov. 30, Brutus and his supporters celebrated a kick-off event on Jan. 7 at Velvet Lounge, 67 E. Cermak Rd. The event brought out politicians and community members alike who voiced their support for the democratic candidate.

“It’s refreshing to be able to talk strategy with someone who knows what they are talking about,” said Amara Enyia, former Chicago mayoral candidate in last year’s election race.

Enyia echoed what Brutus said in an earlier interview about the need for change outside of what the district has seen over the last two decades.
“We’ve fallen into this habit of not turning over leadership,” she said. “We have been hesitant to support candidates who we know have the knowledge and have the passion because the status quo maintains we have to go along to get along.”

Brutus is pushing for solid economic development across the three main areas that make up the district to increase community development.

“We are looking at policies and communities today that still look like communities did 40 or 50 years ago. There has been no change,” Brutus said at the kick-off event. “We need someone who is going to look at how we rapidly increase the capacity of those who do business in Chicago.”

For Brutus’ supporters, they believe he can be the one to change that landscape.

“It’s wonderful to speak to people like Patrick who ask for information and use that information for change,” said supporter CM Winters Palacio.

Brutus will run against other candidates hoping to push out the long-time incumbent, U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush (D-1), come the March 15 election. To Brutus, this is a people’s campaign, and it was evident by the people who were there to support Brutus at the kick-off.

The next couple of months will mean hard-core campaigning for Brutus to reach out to all the voters in the first district, over 700,000, about his optimistic goal for the future.

“Many folks in this district have been frustrated for years about their representation in office, and so they have not voted,” Brutus said. “We have a number of opportunities to go around and talk to people and really convince them that they have a true option this time around.”

a.matyus@hpherald.com