CHICAGO, Nov. 19, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In preparation for a 2016 ballot referendum on Illinois legislative redistricting reform, the Independent Maps coalition on Thursday announced the addition of Hilltop Public Solutions as campaign consultant and Dave Mellet as campaign manager.
"With the petition drive on target to meet our goal of 600,000 signatures, we now can begin to gear up for a larger education campaign and the expansion of our statewide network of volunteers," said Dennis FitzSimons, Chair of Independent Maps. "Our campaign is well underway, and we have added two seasoned veterans of statewide campaigns to help lead us to victory at the polls in 2016."
Hilltop Public Solutions specializes in coalition building and managing high-stakes, high-profile campaigns by using the strategies and tactics it takes to win modern campaigns.
"Hilltop's Bill Hyers, who managed New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio's 2013 campaign and has extensive campaign experience across the country, will lead the Hilltop team in Illinois for the Independent Map Amendment," FitzSimons said. "Hyers, who has been named a rising star by Politics magazine, has a reputation as one of the top campaign managers and political strategists in the United States."
"Its time to bring fair elections back to Illinois, and I'm thrilled to be a part of this talented and experienced team," Hyers said. "For too long, voters in Illinois have suffered from a partisan process that has called into question the very concept of fair elections. With the gridlock in Springfield, now more than ever Illinoisans need an open, transparent government that puts people before politics."
Hilltop's Elizabeth Lucas will be part of the team assisting Independent Maps. Lucas, founder of The Initiative Group, served as Political Director at the Ballot Initiative Strategy Center and field director for the Ohio Democratic Party against the anti-union SB5, a statewide voter referendum defeated by an overwhelming majority in 2011.
"Dave Mellet, who was campaign manager for former Lt. Gov. Sheila Simon's 2014 campaign for comptroller, will be our campaign manager and execute the non-partisan coalition's campaign strategy," FitzSimons said.
Mellet has worked on campaigns for close to 10 years. Mellet started his career working on Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell's successful 2006 reelection campaign. He went on to staff and manage campaigns for mayor, city council, state senate, and alderman. He has lived in Illinois for several years, working as a staffer for a direct mail firm and as the campaign manager for Simon last year.
Cindi Canary, who has been serving as executive director since June, will continue in that position during a transition period through the end of the year, when she will become a senior consultant to our board.
Visit www.MapAmendment.org to read full news release.
Paid for by Support Independent Maps. A copy of our report filed with the State Board of Elections is (or will be) available on the Board's official website (www.elections.il.gov) or for purchase from the Illinois State Board of Elections, Springfield, Illinois.
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SOURCE Independent Maps
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