About Michele

A LIFETIME OF SERVICE

After a long career in both the public and private sector - first at the U.S. Attorney's Office, then as a corporate attorney and working mother – Michele was asked to return to public service by members of the community. After losing narrowly to the incumbent Alderman in 2007, Michele was elected to serve as Committeeman from Chicago’s 43rd Ward in 2008.

Michele has a solid record of accomplishment in informing voters about candidates for Congress, County Board and state-wide office, in meetings attended by hundreds of residents. She has kept the community informed about issues that affect them, including the first ward-wide meeting about the future of development in Lincoln Park, attended by over 200 people. She has developed a reputation for standing for honest, independent government and fiscal responsibility. Her newsletter, posted at www.43rdwarddemocrats.blogspot.com, informs over 6000 people.

Michele has lived in Lincoln Park since 1979 and raised her daughter here.

Former Federal Prosecutor

Prosecuted over 400 narcotics, white-collar, and political corruption cases
Convicted for racketeering and extortion a number of employees of the City of Chicago Sewer Inspection Department
Convicted former State Rep. Doug Huff and other City and County employees for fraud
Shut down the largest commodities “boiler room” (securities fraud) in the United States; convicted over twenty defendants

Recognized Business Leader

Former General Counsel, Engine Group, Navistar International Corporation
Led team responsible for changing Clean Air Act to reduce diesel emissions to near zero in 2007; partnered with environmental groups and industry
Noted for leadership in Contagious Success by University of Chicago Graduate School of Business author

Commitment to Public Service

Organized Hurricane Katrina relief, with 2 ½ tons of supplies shipped to Mississippi, adoption of five families, aid to newly relocated families
Volunteer Leader, United Power for Action and Justice (an interfaith grassroots community organization)
Board member, Facing History and Ourselves
Former Social Action Chair, Chicago Sinai Congregation
Founder, New York Public Interest Research Group
Intern, U.S. House Subcommittee on the Environment

Long Time Lincoln Park Resident and Parent

Girl Scout Leader, Menomonee Club
Volunteer, Old Town Art Fair
Loyal member, Chicago Walkers Club

High Personal Integrity and Skills

J.D., The University of Chicago Law School
Clerked for U.S. Court of Appeals Judge Wm. J. Bauer

Accomplishments

ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF COMMITTEEMAN MICHELE SMITH AND THE 43RD WARD DEMOCRATS

Since Michele Smith was elected Democratic Committeeman of the 43rd Ward in February 2008, she has accomplished many things beyond the scope of a Committeeman’s designated responsibility to run elections. She has kept to her personal mission of educating and informing the voters of the 43rd Ward. She, and her ward organization, introduced candidates for office, as well as elected officials, directly to the voters more than any other ward organization, and kept her constituency informed about matters of local and national importance.

In 2010:

Formed the “Clark Street Task Force” a working committee to deal with the issue of storefront vacancies on Clark Street
Hosted a “Future of Development in the 43rd Ward” panel discussion attended by more than 200 residents
Kept residents informed about important developments in the Lincoln Park Hospital development controversy and building public support to keep future development residential
Our Candidate Fair introduced voters to more than 55 Candidates running for local and statewide offices in the February Primary
Our 43rd Ward Democrats endorsed progressive independent candidates for the February Primary. We did thorough research to help you elect the most qualified judges and other candidates in races that receive little press coverage so you could exercise an informed vote
Our comprehensive research showed how judges are actually selected in Cook County. We took you behind the scenes of the Democratic Party and told you how slating works

In 2009:

Over 300 people (and much of the city’s media) covered our County Board President Candidates Forum, moderated by Andy Shaw
We introduced Candidates for Illinois State Treasurer, State Comptroller and County Metropolitan Water Reclamation District to the voters at our Meet the Candidates Event
The 43rd Ward Democrats’ Candidates Forum in the 5th Congressional District Special Election attracted a crowd of more than 700 people
Our Hear from Your Elected Officials event, featuring Congressmen Danny Davis and Mike Quigley and State Representatives Sara Feigenholtz and John Fritchey, allowed constituents to get direct answers from their representatives
Michele cast the deciding vote in the Democratic Party slating session to ensure that the 5th Congressional District Special Election race would be an open primary, leaving the decision to the voters of the district instead of party bosses
Our community meetings introduced 43rd ward voters to newly elected Congressman Mike Quigley and newly appointed County Commissioner Bridget Gainer
Over 200 people attended our very successful Second Annual Unity Fundraiser

In 2008:

We hosted the 43rd Ward Democrats First Meeting where Anita Alvarez, Democratic Candidate for State’s Attorney, was introduced to voters
Voter Registration - We registered more than 1,000 new 43rd Ward voters
Judge Recruitment – We filled more than 150 Democratic Election Judge slots with a record number of 43rd Ward residents as judges
First Annual Unity Fundraiser - The evening was a tremendous success and brought together elected officials and residents from all over the ward
Our packed Rally for Obama generated 100 students and longtime residents to volunteer to make phone calls, go door-to-door and go to Michigan and Wisconsin to help elect Barack Obama
Our First Election Day – we increased the number of 43rd Ward residents serving as election judges by 100% and a huge number 43rd ward volunteers helped make the day run smoothly