Matt Reichel
Encyclopedia
Matthew Reichel is an Illinois
politician and activist. A member of the Green Party
, Reichel is the party's candidate for the US Congress in Illinois' 5th congressional district in 2010. He was also the party's candidate for Congress in Illinois's 5th congressional district 2009 special election
. Reichel previously served as Field Outreach Coordinator for Peace Action
's Chicago headquarters until the fall of 2004, when he moved to France to pursue his master's degree at the American Graduate School of International Relations and Diplomacy.
Rahm Emanuel
resigned the seat
effective January 2, 2009.
, wife of President Barack Obama
.
In 1988, Reichel's parents separated and his father moved to the Albany Park neighborhood. From then on, Reichel divided time between his mother's home, in Illinois's 9th congressional district, and his father's home in the 5th district.
(UIUC) in 1999, ultimately graduating with a bachelor's degree in Political Science, with minors in History and Physics.
Throughout his time at the University, Reichel was involved with various left/liberal causes. During his Freshman year, he was a member of the University of Illinois College Democrats of America chapter, which worked to elect Democrats to local political offices.
Beginning in his sophomore year, Reichel parted ways with the College Democrats
, preferring instead to work on issue-based causes, specifically related to peace and nuclear disarmament. In the summer of 2000, he began working with Peace Action
as an entry-level canvasser, and the following fall he founded the UIUC chapter of the Student Peace Action Network
(Student Peace Action Illinois).
During the 2000-01 academic year, Student Peace Action Illinois focused its attention on fighting to divest the university from corporations involved in the manufacture of nuclear weapons and the sale of military hardware to human rights violating countries. The organization's prime focus was Boeing
, because the company was concurrently planning to move its corporate headquarters into nearby Chicago.
On September 4, 2001, Student Peace Action Illinois and Peace Action
together protested the official opening of Boeing
's new Chicago location, arguing that Chicago's tax dollars should not go to support a weapons manufacturer.
One week later, the events of 9/11, which ironically involved the use of Boeing commercial jets, changed the focus of the peace movement and Reichel's activist work. From this point, Student Peace Action Illinois shifted its attention to opposing the retaliatory war in Afghanistan
and the ensuing war in Iraq.
Together with the greater Champaign/Urbana peace movement, Reichel would help organize numerous rallies, teach-ins and other events, including, on March 20, 2003, the largest anti-war demonstration in the area since the Vietnam war.
During this time, he was also active as a journalist, writing on a range of topics including French and European Union politics, and criticisms of the ongoing American wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. He has been published in several periodicals, including CounterPunch
, Dissident Voice and Spectrezine, the latter of which is edited by Reichel's master's thesis adviser, Dr. Steve McGiffen.
in Las Vegas, Nevada. After Kucinich disbanded the campaign, Reichel moved to Cleveland to work on the congressman's re-election campaign in Ohio's 10th congressional district
.
candidate in the 2009 special election
for Illinois's 5th congressional district
upon hearing that Rahm Emanuel would be vacating the seat to work as President Obama's Chief of Staff. The Green Party primary election was held on March 3, with Reichel finishing first of four candidates running for the nomination, receiving 166 votes for 34% of the vote. In the April 7 general election Reichel received 2,269 votes for 7.29% of the vote. Former senator Mike Gravel
of Alaska
has endorsed Reichel in his race for Congress.
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
politician and activist. A member of the Green Party
Illinois Green Party
The Illinois Green Party is a statewide political party in Illinois.The party is affiliated with the Green Party of the United States. Its stated mission and purpose are to advance the Ten Key Values of the Green Party in Illinois through political means and to support individual members and the...
, Reichel is the party's candidate for the US Congress in Illinois' 5th congressional district in 2010. He was also the party's candidate for Congress in Illinois's 5th congressional district 2009 special election
Illinois's 5th congressional district special election, 2009
A special election was held in Illinois's 5th congressional district in 2009 to fill the seat vacated by Rahm Emanuel. On April 7, Democratic nominee Michael Quigley defeated Republican nominee Rosanna Pulido and Green nominee Matt Reichel...
. Reichel previously served as Field Outreach Coordinator for Peace Action
Peace Action
Peace Action is a peace organization formed through the merger of The Committee for a SANE Nuclear Policy and the Nuclear Weapons Freeze Campaign...
's Chicago headquarters until the fall of 2004, when he moved to France to pursue his master's degree at the American Graduate School of International Relations and Diplomacy.
Rahm Emanuel
Rahm Emanuel
Rahm Israel Emanuel is an American politician and the 55th and current Mayor of Chicago. He was formerly White House Chief of Staff to President Barack Obama...
resigned the seat
Illinois's 5th congressional district
The 5th Congressional District of Illinois was created as part of the 28th United States Congress, which first met on March 4, 1843; it was initially represented by Stephen A. Douglas, whose Kansas-Nebraska Act prompted the creation of the Republican Party...
effective January 2, 2009.
Early life
Matt Reichel was born on June 7, 1981 to Paul and Carol Reichel at Skokie Valley Hospital in suburban Chicago. He grew up in Chicago's Rogers Park neighborhood and attended Joyce Kilmer Elementary School through the 6th grade, before transferring to the Whitney Young High School academic center beginning in 7th grade. Whitney Young High School gained recent notoriety for being the alma mater of Michelle ObamaMichelle Obama
Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama is the wife of the 44th and incumbent President of the United States, Barack Obama, and is the first African-American First Lady of the United States...
, wife of President Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
.
In 1988, Reichel's parents separated and his father moved to the Albany Park neighborhood. From then on, Reichel divided time between his mother's home, in Illinois's 9th congressional district, and his father's home in the 5th district.
University Years and Activism
Reichel began attending the University of Illinois at Urbana-ChampaignUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
The University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign is a large public research-intensive university in the state of Illinois, United States. It is the flagship campus of the University of Illinois system...
(UIUC) in 1999, ultimately graduating with a bachelor's degree in Political Science, with minors in History and Physics.
Throughout his time at the University, Reichel was involved with various left/liberal causes. During his Freshman year, he was a member of the University of Illinois College Democrats of America chapter, which worked to elect Democrats to local political offices.
Beginning in his sophomore year, Reichel parted ways with the College Democrats
College Democrats
The College Democrats of America is the official youth outreach arm of the Democratic Party. It consists of over 100,000 college and university students from across the United States. The organization has served as a way for college students to connect with the Democratic Party and Democratic...
, preferring instead to work on issue-based causes, specifically related to peace and nuclear disarmament. In the summer of 2000, he began working with Peace Action
Peace Action
Peace Action is a peace organization formed through the merger of The Committee for a SANE Nuclear Policy and the Nuclear Weapons Freeze Campaign...
as an entry-level canvasser, and the following fall he founded the UIUC chapter of the Student Peace Action Network
Student Peace Action Network
Student Peace Action Network or SPAN is the student wing of Peace Action. It is also a coordinating committee member of the National Youth and Student Peace Coalition . SPAN works to end U.S...
(Student Peace Action Illinois).
During the 2000-01 academic year, Student Peace Action Illinois focused its attention on fighting to divest the university from corporations involved in the manufacture of nuclear weapons and the sale of military hardware to human rights violating countries. The organization's prime focus was Boeing
Boeing
The Boeing Company is an American multinational aerospace and defense corporation, founded in 1916 by William E. Boeing in Seattle, Washington. Boeing has expanded over the years, merging with McDonnell Douglas in 1997. Boeing Corporate headquarters has been in Chicago, Illinois since 2001...
, because the company was concurrently planning to move its corporate headquarters into nearby Chicago.
On September 4, 2001, Student Peace Action Illinois and Peace Action
Peace Action
Peace Action is a peace organization formed through the merger of The Committee for a SANE Nuclear Policy and the Nuclear Weapons Freeze Campaign...
together protested the official opening of Boeing
Boeing
The Boeing Company is an American multinational aerospace and defense corporation, founded in 1916 by William E. Boeing in Seattle, Washington. Boeing has expanded over the years, merging with McDonnell Douglas in 1997. Boeing Corporate headquarters has been in Chicago, Illinois since 2001...
's new Chicago location, arguing that Chicago's tax dollars should not go to support a weapons manufacturer.
One week later, the events of 9/11, which ironically involved the use of Boeing commercial jets, changed the focus of the peace movement and Reichel's activist work. From this point, Student Peace Action Illinois shifted its attention to opposing the retaliatory war in Afghanistan
War in Afghanistan (2001–present)
The War in Afghanistan began on October 7, 2001, as the armed forces of the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Australia, and the Afghan United Front launched Operation Enduring Freedom...
and the ensuing war in Iraq.
Together with the greater Champaign/Urbana peace movement, Reichel would help organize numerous rallies, teach-ins and other events, including, on March 20, 2003, the largest anti-war demonstration in the area since the Vietnam war.
France
In September 2004, Reichel moved to Paris, France and pursued graduate studies at the American Graduate School of International Relations and Diplomacy. While there, he was active in several left social movements, including the opposition to the European Union Constitution, and the world-famous general strike against the controversial contrat première embauche.During this time, he was also active as a journalist, writing on a range of topics including French and European Union politics, and criticisms of the ongoing American wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. He has been published in several periodicals, including CounterPunch
Counterpunch
Counterpunch can refer to:* Counterpunch , a punch in boxing* CounterPunch, a bi-weekly political newsletter* Counterpunch , a type of punch used in traditional typography* Punch-Counterpunch, a Transformers character...
, Dissident Voice and Spectrezine, the latter of which is edited by Reichel's master's thesis adviser, Dr. Steve McGiffen.
Kucinich Campaign
In November 2007, Reichel returned from France to work for the Dennis Kucinich presidential campaign, 2008Dennis Kucinich presidential campaign, 2008
Dennis Kucinich announced on December 12, 2006 that he would seek the nomination for the Democratic Party to run for President of the United States. Although a Democratic candidate, he was not included in the New Hampshire debates on January 4, 2008 or the South Carolina debates on January 21, 2008...
in Las Vegas, Nevada. After Kucinich disbanded the campaign, Reichel moved to Cleveland to work on the congressman's re-election campaign in Ohio's 10th congressional district
Ohio's 10th congressional district
Ohio's 10th congressional district is currently represented by Representative Dennis J. Kucinich . The district is based in the western part of Cleveland and surrounding suburbs in Cuyahoga County. Cook PVI rates this district as D+8....
.
2009 Congressional Campaign
Reichel announced that he is running as a Green PartyGreen Party (United States)
The Green Party of the United States is a nationally recognized political party which officially formed in 1991. It is a voluntary association of state green parties. Prior to national formation, many state affiliates had already formed and were recognized by other state parties...
candidate in the 2009 special election
Illinois's 5th congressional district special election, 2009
A special election was held in Illinois's 5th congressional district in 2009 to fill the seat vacated by Rahm Emanuel. On April 7, Democratic nominee Michael Quigley defeated Republican nominee Rosanna Pulido and Green nominee Matt Reichel...
for Illinois's 5th congressional district
Illinois's 5th congressional district
The 5th Congressional District of Illinois was created as part of the 28th United States Congress, which first met on March 4, 1843; it was initially represented by Stephen A. Douglas, whose Kansas-Nebraska Act prompted the creation of the Republican Party...
upon hearing that Rahm Emanuel would be vacating the seat to work as President Obama's Chief of Staff. The Green Party primary election was held on March 3, with Reichel finishing first of four candidates running for the nomination, receiving 166 votes for 34% of the vote. In the April 7 general election Reichel received 2,269 votes for 7.29% of the vote. Former senator Mike Gravel
Mike Gravel
Maurice Robert "Mike" Gravel is a former Democratic United States Senator from Alaska, who served two terms from 1969 to 1981, and a former candidate in the 2008 presidential election....
of Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
has endorsed Reichel in his race for Congress.