As it does every cycle with key political races, in the lead up to the election on Nov.4, the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago met with the candidates for Illinois Governor. These discussions help the candidates learn more about issues of importance to the Jewish community, and for community leaders to learn more about the candidates.

The Federation’s Government Affairs Committee (GAC), in partnership with the network of affiliated agencies that provide critical, life spanning human services, works closely with federal, state, county, and municipal levels of government. In addition to successfully advocating for over $400 million in government funding annually for agency-provided services, the GAC serves as a trusted resource for government officials, from brainstorming new public policies to the actual provision of effective services with taxpayer dollars.

Governor Pat Quinn (Democrat) and Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Rauner, on Sept. 4 and Sept. 19 respectively, addressed health care delivery, reimbursement rates and delayed payments for government-contracted services, community based models for engaging people with disabilities, security at Jewish institutions, and expanded opportunities for cooperative partnerships between Israel and Illinois, among other issues.

David Golder, GAC Chairman, said, “Our meetings with both candidates were significant, providing an important opportunity to discuss how, together, we can better serve the people of Illinois. These sessions reflect and reinforce the reality of how Federation prioritizes our relationships with leading public officials in a non-partisan, trusting way. The community relies upon our ability to work with whoever wins any election.

“This approach is another way we have earned and seek to deepen the community’s trust.”

Suzanne Strassberger is the Associate Vice President, Government and Community Partnerships, at the Jewish United Fund/Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago.