Press Release:          For Immediate Release February 10, 2010

I am pursuing the nomination to replace Scott Lee Cohen as the democratic nominee for Lt. Governor of Illinois. I am the right blend of new leadership, demographic reach, and diversity to stabilize the Democratic gubernatorial ticket. I am also the ONLY candidate with a proven ability to bring moderate Republicans and Independents on board come Election day. Throughout this campaign, I reached across the aisle and campaigned at many “9-12” and Tea-Party forums. Now, I am a proud Democrat, but I cannot count the number of non-Democrats who (once they heard our message about working class jobs) nodded their heads and said over and over how impressed they were with my ideas. As proof of this statement, I have included links from a 9-12 event last September.

The truth is I finished less than one percentage point from being in front of two sitting State Senators and a sitting State Representative with a combined clout of 44 years in State Government. The truth is I did extremely well downstate. The truth is I spent less than $15,000 in the final seven months of our campaign and didn't have the resources to run one commercial on radio or TV spot. The truth is that up to this point I have received virtually no help from any established political organization in Illinois. With about 100 yard signs statewide, we were able to energize and mobilize a whole new generation of voters.

Despite all of these significant disadvantages, I earned the support of over 105,000 voters. My message of working class job creation and new leadership resonated with those voters powerfully because, as a card-carrying Union member, I walked the walk. So what if my opponents outspent me in the final seven months between 6 -133 times as much on their campaign. So what if they had the benefit of radio, and TV and signs all up and down the great State of Illinois. On Election Day, it was our volunteers with their non-stop boots on the ground meeting the people of Illinois and discussing the ways we can improve our great state that carried our message.

It is because of the Voters themselves that time and time again in this election cycle, my candidacy has advanced further than conventional political wisdom would indicate possible. Time and again the experts have been proven wrong. Now I need your help. Together as forward-thinking hard working Democrats we still have a chance to get this right. The People of Illinois need to know that our Democratic Party is not just for millionaires and stuffed-shirt old guards. By nominating me Thomas Castillo, the Democratic Party leadership will send a message that our party is still the party of the “little guy” fighting for his community with everything s/he’s got. That is why I am asking for your Support. Let them know that nominating Thomas Castillo will energize our younger base. It will help restore faith in the party regulars and most important because I am going to continue to work my tail off, it will guarantee we have the best possible shot in November so that our Governor can truly send his message that in our party, your party, the DEMOCRATIC Party…it’s everybody in, nobody left out. Let’s make the will of the People, the law of the land!
 

To all of my supporters and especially the 105,000+ Illinoisan’s that voted for me:

I am calling on you to start contacting/writing the paper, blogs and officials in charge of this process and let them know why I should be our next Lt. Governor. Ultimately, public opinion will weigh heavily on this process. The more "noise" Castillo supporters make, the better our chances!

Thomas Castillo
Democrat for Illinois Lt. Governor
Media@Tom4LtGov.com
815-573-5201

http://www.youtube.com/user/Ill912Videos#p/u/13/DfI173VKu-U (1 of 4 and introduction speech)
http://www.youtube.com/user/Ill912Videos#p/u/12/EYkvXf-B5LA (2 of 4 and start of Q & A)
http://www.youtube.com/user/Ill912Videos#p/u/11/p-a6DJrURsQ (3 of 4 Q & A)
http://www.youtube.com/user/Ill912Videos#p/u/10/je0LIsy-qus (4 of 4 Q & A)