Ocasio HQ: Al Padalino Interview [Part 1]

Transcript (Download)

I really couldn't speak about other parts of the country how politics are because I've been engrossed in what you call quote -unquote politics in Chicago for about 20 years.

Basically, for going back a few years it used to be part of the actual precinct captain, neighborhood kind of contact, person -to -person contact between the voter constituent and the precinct captain and his workers.

In those days the precinct captain had, I would say, not the word power, but had a lot of ways where he could help the constituents.

If they had a personal problem, that man was there at two in the morning to help you, or if your son or daughter got in trouble he would be there knocking on doors for you.

It's changed in the last 10 or 15 years, well even less than that, less than 10 years.

It's a little more impersonal.

A lot of the people who were involved in precinct captain politics are not there anymore.

Really the diehards are left, the ones who really care about the community are still there doing their job.

But as far as how it is in other parts of the country, I really don't know how they do politics, but in essence in Chicago it's the way we do it is person -to -person contact with the public.

What's the most important thing about getting somebody's vote? I mean you've been in politics for a long time.

What's the most important thing you get to get a vote? Well, the most important thing is to try to convince the person you're dealing with, you know, why you would like to have them vote your way.

Some people, let's face it, let's be very frank about it, some people vote on a person's looks.

They might not know the candidate.

They might get a pamphlet that day and they like what it says and they're going to vote on them.

The precinct captain and workers, what they do is go around and try to explain to you why that particular candidate is good for your area.

That's what it boils down to.

What can that candidate do for your area? So you were telling me that sometimes it's not even the candidate, but...

We get into it.

I mean we really get into our elections here.

The whole idea is to sort of get the public involved in politics.

It's part of their life in this country.

But people who take it for granted and don't even bother coming out or voting, I mean they're the ones who are the biggest complainers.

They'll call you and say, well this is no good or you're not giving services.

But in essence if they don't come out to vote, I feel they really don't have a voice in complaining.

Do you think people in Chicago are interested in politics? I would say they are.

I mean judging from when our men go around and I've done it myself door to door, I mean if you present yourself properly, people, they have their ears open.

They want to listen to you.

They want to discuss the issues.

And if they have a complaint, believe me, you are the sounding board.

You're the first person to say that represents that particular candidate and they're going to unload on you.

And we're used to it.

That's part of the game of being involved in politics.

Now remember last week we were talking to you and you were talking about how sometimes the candidate is not even important.

It's the person that asks and you can almost sell almost any candidate to pay them the person's relationship.

So can you look at me and just tell me essentially that who's the most important person? Well in essence, like I say, it's not so much the candidate.

I mean you can have a person who's not really a high profile candidate or a person who's not well known name recognition wise, but yet still a good candidate.

That's where the contact that the precinct captain or workers have or volunteers have in the precincts to go around and let them know specifically John Doe is a very, very good candidate and this is the reason why.

That personal contact is a thing that really a lot of times makes a difference in a political contest.

Identifier

V.2026-05-0001

Date Of Production

1995

Abstract

Interview with Al Padalino, a district water foreman with the Department of Water Management in Chicago. Padalino discusses his involvement as a volunteer in the Billy Ocasio campaign in Ward 26.

Color

Color

Reel/Tape Number

1/1

Language Of Materials

English

Format

Cassette Tape ➜ Betacam SP ➜ 30 min.

Subject

Political campaigns

Related Collections

The Center For New American Media: Chicago Collection

Related Places

North America ➜ United States ➜ Illinois ➜ Chicago ➜ Humboldt Park

Main Credits

The Center for New American Media (is production company)

Participants And Performers

Padalino, Al (is participant)

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