University News

Bustos to Deliver Keynote Address for 'Ready to Run Illinois' at WIU-QC

May 5, 2015

Share |
Printer friendly version

MACOMB, IL – U.S. Congresswoman Cheri Bustos, representing Illinois' 17th Congressional District, will deliver the keynote address for "Ready to Run® Illinois," Saturday June 6 at the Western Illinois University-Quad Cities Riverfront Campus.

"Ready to Run®" is a nonpartisan candidate training program for women, sponsored by the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University.

Noted author Rebecca Sive, academic director of the Women's Executive Leadership Program of the Harris School of Public Policy at the University of Chicago, will present campaign and leadership advice from her book "Every Day is Election Day." A book signing will follow.

The day's training also features presentations by area public elected officials, including Illinois Representative Norine Hammond, of Macomb; former Iowa State Senator and Executive Director of Iowa's 50/50 program for women's political equity, Maggie Tinsman; Rock Island/Milan School Board President Linda Dothard and McDonough County Board member and founding member and Vice Chair of Prairie Land Conservancy, Alice Henry.

Political consultants will share their expertise on campaign messaging, strategy, media/social media and fundraising.

Speakers include Robin Johnson, regional political expert and Democratic campaign consultant for local, state and federal elections; Judy Davidson, chair of the Scott County Republican Party and member of the Iowa Republican State Central Committee; Drew McConville, social media advertising and communication expert with Revolution Messaging, a Washington DC-based progressive communications firm and Jim Reis, Republican consultant for legislative and statewide candidates in Illinois.

WIU Professor of Political Science and Director of Public Leadership and Outreach Janna Deitz worked with the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University to secure WIU's designation as the "Ready to Run®" host institution for Illinois.

"Women's political representation from local to federal office still has much room to grow," said Deitz. "In Illinois, for example, women hold 31 percent of seats in the state legislature. Programs such as 'Ready to Run® Illinois' can help spur the growth in women's political representation by demystifying the campaign process."

Registration for the conference is available at wiu.edu/ready2run, and the conference registration fee is $50. For more information about the "Ready to Run® Illinois" program, contact Deitz at JL-Deitz@wiu.edu.

Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
Office of University Communications & Marketing