Political Quotes

“Mr. President, I want to take a moment to thank a friend of mine who is leaving public service soon after more than four decades of service in Winnebago County, IL. Doug Aurand won his first political race in 1970 when he was elected Winnebago County treasurer. Truth be told, he wasn't supposed to win that race. The voters of Winnebago County had not elected a Democrat to a countywide position in 138 years. Apparently, nobody told Doug. He ran as a write-in candidate and campaigned in his first election like it was the most important race he could possibly run. He filled out the campaign schedule every day by knocking on every door and talking to every voter he could find. When the votes were counted on election night, Doug Aurand made history by becoming the first Democratic treasurer in Winnebago County, IL. He was reelected seven times. Doug Aurand was born in Dixon, IL, hometown of Ronald Reagan, and he was every bit as proud to be a Democrat as President Reagan was to be a Republican. But Doug never allowed his political affiliation to influence the way he treated his constituents. When you walked into the county treasurer's office in Rockford, you weren't Republican or Democrat; you were a taxpayer who deserved straight answers, good service, and respect. That is how Doug saw it, and that is why voters reelected him to the treasurer's office many times. Two stories will tell you what kind of treasurer he was.…”