News 
On Wednesday, February 18, 2009 NRC hosted a non-partisan Candidate Fair for the 5th Congressional District seat vacated by Rahm Emanuel, President Barack Obama's Chief of Staff, at Northside College Prep High School with co-hosts The League of Women Voters (LWVC), PPIA and 10 other local civic associations. Nearly 400 local community members, business leaders and media attended the event where 19 candidates presented three-minute speeches and hosted informational booths where individuals could ask questions and receive campaign materials.
Candidates paid significant attention to economic and environmental policy issues, as well as tax, education, and health care reform. Immediately following the speeches, attendees spoke face to face with candidates urging them to consider local issues such as after-school program support, flood control and transit-oriented development at public transit locations. The 5th Congressional District democratic Primary nominated county commissioner Mike Quigley as party nominee on March 3, 2009. Quigley will join Republican and Green Party nominees, Rosanna Pulido and Matt Reichel, respectively, at the Special Election Tuesday, April 7, 2009.