By Joshua Naponiello -
How crazy is it that I ended up volunteering for perhaps the next president of the United States? I mean you would have thought that by talking to Roger Claar the Mayor of Bolingbrook, I would volunteer at a Trump fundraiser! I can only say it was the best event that I have worked on in my early political life.
Setting up tables was a challenge but greeting people by the door was amazing. Friendly faces, attitudes, familiar faces like (former State Senator) Kirk Dillard, (Bolingbrook Mayor) Roger Claar and (Chicago Cubs' owner) Todd Ricketts. I also had the pleasure of sitting next to (former New York City Mayor) Rudy Giuliani during the lunch.
The speech that Trump delivered was electrifying. Reducing regulations, repealing Obamacare, and lowering taxes on the middle class. Straight to the point concise, was how his speech was, and everyone stood and applauded our future president of the United States.
Unfortunately, there was a negative point, as I was called traitor and fake by Mexican protesters against Trump, yet I kept my smile and head straight up and continued to help Trump.
After the event I traveled outside to see Trump supporters waving American flags and chanting “USA,USA,USA”. I got to talk to some of the Trump supporters and we discussed Trump at the first debate.
Another highlight was being quoted in a Chicago Tribune story, link here https://www.google.com/amp/www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/bolingbrook-plainfield/news/ct-nvs-trump-bolingbrook-st-0929-20160928-story,amp.html?client=safari
Otherwise I had a great time and learned from Trump what it means to be a leader.
Joshua Naponiello is a 19 year old student at College of DuPage.
Mark Weyermuller contributed to this story. Additional photos were provided by Stephanie Trussell who was outside in the protest area. More on her report can be heard Sunday night at 9pm on WLS-AM 890-AM. Illinois Review encourages submissions from new citizen journalists.
