About Mechanics

Mechanics is the politics section of Gapers Block, reflecting the diversity of viewpoints and beliefs of Chicagoans and Illinoisans. Our Latin slogan you see on the banner, Dubitando ad veritatem venimus, means "Through skepticism, we arrive at truth." Truth is much more fun than spin.

Editors

Ramsin Canon, Politics Editor - Mechanics
Ramsin Canon works and lives in Chicago. He has worked in and written about local and state politics for the last six years, and currently writes about the big issues at SameSubject.com. Ramsin wrote GB's political column Revenge of the Second City from 2003 to 2008, and Bears in Five for the 2005 and 2006 seasons. Email him at rc@gapersblock.com.

Andrew Huff, Editor & Publisher

Staff

Bruno Behrend
Bruno Behrend is a lifelong Illinois resident who grew up in Lake Forest, Illinois, graduated from University of Illinois (1983) with a degree in Finance and from IIT-Kent College of Law (1989). He is the host of the Extreme Wisdom Radio Show, recently heard on WKRS - 1220 AM out of Waukegan. His show features cultural and political discussion ranging across international, national, state and local issues, but with a strong focus on the State of Illinois. He is also the co-author of Illinois Deserves Better - the Ironclad case for an Illinois Constitutional Convention, which laid out the case for a "Yes" vote on the recent referendum.

James Bube
James Bube lives and works in Chicago.

Mike Fourcher
Mike Fourcher is a Democratic political consultant from and based in Chicago. Besides managing a slew of Illinois campaigns, Mike worked on Clinton '96, Gore 2000, took a turn as a Hill staffer and served in the Clinton Administration at the US Department of Energy with then-Secretary Bill Richardson.

Aviva Gibbs
Aviva Gibbs is a public affairs professional at Resolute Consulting, as well as the Executive Director of the Illinois Technology Partnership, a non-profit policy advocacy organization. Prior to these roles, Aviva served as chief of staff to the Hon. John Fritchey (D-Chicago). where she oversaw all legislative and community affairs, and managed interaction with news media, intergovernmental affairs, local organizations and residents. Before working with the Illinois House, Aviva was a fundraising coordinator at the Goodman Theatre(theater being the obvious predecessor to working in politics). An active member of both the arts and political communities, Aviva is also an accomplished vocalist who performs with other local musicians throughout Chicago. She resides on the city's northside, where, in good times and bad, she proudly cheers for her Cubs and Michigan Wolverines.

Ramona Gupta
...helps edit Mechanics.

Levois
Levois is a lifelong Chicago resident and a longtime political junkie. He's a current college student and has been blogging at It's My Mind since 2005. You can also catch some of his postings at not only Illinoize, but also The Sixth Ward.

Jacob Lesniewski
Jacob Lesniewski is a full time graduate student at the University of Chicago, a part time activist and full time observer of the great political theatre of Chicago. He's originally from New York, but now craves Luisa's pizza of Crestwood more than Vincents of Lynbrook. He lives in Hyde Park, which seems to be a problem for alot of people.

Brad Loberg
Brad Loberg is a practicing attorney and writer in Chicago.

Richard Lorenc
Richard Lorenc is the director of outreach for the Illinois Policy Institute, Illinois's free market think tank. A libertarian, Richard has worked previously with the Sam Adams Alliance and Americans for Limited Government. He is a graduate of Emory University, where he continues to play the double bass as a member of the Emory Symphony Orchestra. Richard additionally serves as the director of communications for Lorenc+Yoo Design, an Atlanta-based exhibit and museum design firm.

Charlotte Lynn
Charlotte Lynn lives and works in politics in the greater Chicago area when she's not laying low in a suburb of Cleveland.

Conor McCarthy
Conor McCarthy is a graduate of Wheaton College. He loves everything about Chicago except, of course, the unGodly winters. He founded, edits and writes for The Talking Mirror, an online humor and satire publication. He loves America, death metal, beer, and "Grey's Anatomy."

Timothy Morin
For better or worse, Timothy Morin has lived his whole life thus far within 90 miles of Lake Michigan.  Born in Wisconsin, raised in Michigan, and living in Chicago, Tim is an urban planning nerd, a Springsteen fan, and a lover of all things literary and political.

Jerry Morrison
Jerry Morrison is the Executive Director of the Service Employees International Union's Illinois State Council, and a founder of and contributor to Progress Illinois.

OneMan
...writes One Man's Thoughts, an Illinois politics weblog.

Kenzo Shibata
Kenzo Shibata is a public school teacher, educational policy researcher and graduate student at Northwestern. He lives on the North Side, teaches on the South Side, and spends the rest of his time shlepping between the two. He has coached two championship debate teams -- so in other words, arguing with him can be insufferable.

Jeffrey Paul Smith
Jeff, a Chicago native and Harvard law grad, is a veteran activist, organizer, and former Democratic committeeman for the lakefront 9th District. Currently president of a community organization in Evanston, Jeff is known for political independence, passionate progressive advocacy, and tweaking conventional wisdom. He professes to have no life outside of policy wonkdom, but some whisper that he plays a half-decent rockabilly guitar and is involved in a tragic love affair with a certain North Side team.

Daniel Strauss
Daniel is a University of Michigan student majoring in history. All he really does is read, write, and occasionally watch t.v. (online of course). He currently lives in a house with nine beautiful girls who are good friends and great housemates. He has a growing interest in three things: politics, urbanism, and Chicago.

Prescott Tolk
Prescott Tolk is a stand-up comic and writer living in Chicago. He hosts one of the most popular open mics in Chicago on Sunday evenings at Schubas Theater.

Contributors

Bob Quellos
Bob is a native of Cleveland, but has called Chicago his home for the past nine years. He spent a majority of those years studying architecture at UIC, evetually earning a Master's Degree. A local activist when not working in his field of study, he spends his spare time secretly wishing he was an emcee -- but is slowly coming to terms with the fact that he has no mic skills.

Dan Telfer
Dan Telfer is a technology trainer by day, writer/performer by night. He co-produces and performs in the stand-up comedy showcase Chicago Underground Comedy, and he writes, produces, and performs in several other comedy showcases around town. He currently lives in Evanston with his wife, daughter, and their two cats.