Ralph Martire TO SPEAK AT dOWNERS gROVE tOWNSHIP dEMOCRATS APRIL MEETING
Ralph Martire, executive director of the Center for Tax and Budget Accountability (“CTBA”), will be the featured speaker at the April 14, 2010 meeting of the Downers Grove Township Democratic Organization. He is a regular columnist the Springfield State-Journal Register, The Joliet Herald News, and The Daily Observer on public policy and good government, and former columnist for the Chicago Sun-Times. Ralph served on the budget advisory board to Governor Rod Blagojevich's transition team, where he acted as chairperson of the state revenue subcommittee. Ralph was the principal author of a study CTBA produced that identified revenue enhancement proposals to address the 2002 fiscal crises in the state of Illinois. Five of the proposals identified in that study ultimately became law. Ralph also is a key member of the research team that produces the groundbreaking "State of Working Illinois" reports, which detail industry, employment, wage and benefit trends in Illinois over the last 15 years. A joint project of CTBA and Northern Illinois University, State of Working Illinois reports have been featured in over 300 media (print and broadcast) placements nationwide.
A frequent lecturer on fiscal policy, Ralph continues to teach at the undergrad and graduate student levels, including a Master's level class on fiscal policy and a Doctoral class on the politics of education at Illinois State University, and an undergraduate class on public policy for Benedictine University. He has also designed and taught Masters' level programs for both Roosevelt University and the University of Illinois, as well as tax policy seminars for a variety of organizations.
Mr. Martire served as the deputy issues director for Dawn Clark Netsch in her gubernatorial campaign, and issues director for David Wilhelm in his run for the United States Senate. He is also a former candidate for the Cook County Board. His prior appointments include serving as a member of both the Cook County State's Attorney's Council on Hate Crimes Prosecution and Cook County Special Task Force on Domestic Violence.
Mr. Martire graduated from Indiana University Phi Beta Kappa, with a B.A. in history and received his JD from the University of Michigan.
