About the Candidate
Name: Cameron Davis
DOB: April 1, 1964
Occupation: Commissioner, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District
Political Experience: I served as President Obama's Great Lakes point person, coordinating 11 federal departments to invest $2+ billion for Great Lakes restoration. Together, we cleaned up toxic hotspots like Waukegan Harbor and kept silver and bighead Asian carp from invading Lake Michigan, though that fight needs to continue. In 2018, I ran for office for the first time in my life, to serve as a commissioner at MWRD. I ran as a write-in candidate and won a two-year term. Now I am running for re-election to a full six year term to get even more important work done.
Website: camdavis.org
Twitter: @CommDavisMWRD
Candidate Statement
If you care about your water, there’s an important race coming up on November 3 for an agency that not many people have heard about: The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District.
Hi. I’m Cam Davis. Two years ago, you elected me in a quirky write-in race that nobody--especially pundits--thought could be won. But you proved them wrong. You broke the previous statewide write-in record.
This time, I’m not just asking you to vote for me for the full six-year term. I ‘m asking you to be proud of your vote.
I was President Obama’s point person where I worked with bipartisan group of Congressional leaders for Great Lakes restoration.
I’m the only commissioner who’s a public interest Clean Water Act attorney.
I was President & CEO of the Chicago-based non-profit, the Alliance for the Great Lakes.
And to do these things, I put myself through night school at the Chicago-Kent College of Law.
Those are just a few ways I’ve dedicated my entire career to your interest, the public’s interest in water.
But this election isn’t about me. It’s about you and your community.
In the time I’ve served as commissioner on your behalf, I’ve:
- Helped craft an ordinance that will reduce basement flooding, especially for disproportionately impacted communities.
- I’ve voted to establish an independent inspector general, which, for the first time in the agency’s history, will follow the money and track down waste, fraud, and abuse.
- And I’ve supported our workers because clean water doesn’t just happen. It takes trained professionals.
You can learn more on the web at CamDavis.org.
I’m Cam Davis. I’m not just asking for your vote. I’m asking for you to be proud of your vote for clean water.
Candidate Q&A
Why are you running?
I've spent my entire 30-plus year career serving the public's interest in water and I don't plan to quit anytime soon. I've served as President Obama's Great Lakes point person, President & CEO of the Chicago-based Alliance for the Great Lakes, and I'm the MWRD's Board of Commissioners' only Clean Water Act attorney. I'm running for re-election because I want the Board to continue to have qualified leaders who are dedicated to serving the public. Not themselves.
What is your vision for this office?
MWRD is the most important agency most residents of Cook County don't know about. It has a $1.1 billion annual budget and nearly 2,000 dedicated professionals. My vision is for MWRD to make ours the most resilient major metro region in the country so that we're strong ecologically, economically and socially. In my first year alone, I voted to establish an independent inspector general at the agency and led the effort to reduce flooding, especially in disproportionately impacted communities. Now I'm asking voters to give me the privilege of serving a full six-year term for more results.
What do you think is the most pressing issue facing your constituents and how do you plan on addressing it?
The most pressing issue facing those of us who live, work, and play in Cook County is ensuring our communities—especially disproportionately impacted areas are resilient and sustainable in the face of climate change. That means optimizing infrastructure to keep our basements from backing up and our neighborhoods from flooding; that means making sure we're not polluting the waterways we use for drinking, swimming, and recreation, and it means supporting our workers. After all, clean water doesn't just happen. It requires qualified professionals.
