Preparation on issues distinguishes candidates

I am not by nature a letter writer but after attending several 10th Congressional District Democratic debates between Mayor Nancy Rotering and former Congressman Brad Schneider, I am compelled to write about the stark contrast between these two candidates.

The differences are not in their beliefs, political platforms and proposed solutions, but in their intellectual grasp of the issues and understanding of the complexities in working within Congress toward their advancement.

Schneider clearly articulates his depth of knowledge, his earned respect for excellence in working collaboratively with congressional members on both sides of the aisle and his comprehensive strategic plans to forward progressive Democratic goals. Rotering, on the other hand, has been disappointing and underwhelming, in comparison regarding her preparation for the debates, in her expressed paucity of knowledge about key domestic and international policy negotiations, about the pervasive and complex challenges of foreign policy as it relates to the compelling problems in the Middle East, Russia and China, the vitriolic gun control debate, and most of all in her capacity to identify little more than superficial strategies and solutions.

Schneider with his sophisticated political acumen, congressional record prioritizing democratic values and contributions to forwarding the current social, budgetary, and foreign policy achievements of the Obama presidency, presents the only realistic opportunity for the Democratic Party to regain the seat from Bob Dold.

Mayor Rotering's candidacy would be tantamount to a concession in 2016 and interfere with implementing a more progressive agenda representing the District for years to come.

Tom Kaplan

Deerfield