THE COMPANY SHE KEEPS: SOCIALIST CAMPAIGN HELP AND VIOLENT RHETORIC PUT NOTARIANO’S JUDGMENT UNDER SCRUTINY

Jennifer Notariano reportedly welcomed socialist volunteers to help gather campaign signatures. Statements attributed to one supporter invoke killings, guillotines, and political violence. Springfield voters deserve a clear accounting of her priorities and standards.

By Staff Writer | October 11, 2026

Campaign signatures help put a name on the ballot. The people collecting them can reveal something about the campaign behind that name.

According to The Springfield Pooch, Springfield Ward 6 Alderwoman Jennifer Notariano welcomed members of the Land of Lincoln Democratic Socialists of America into her home to help gather signatures for another term.

Among those reportedly assisting her was activist Ken Pacha, whose social-media statements, as reported by the publication, repeatedly invoked violence against people he opposed.

That combination deserves scrutiny before Springfield voters entrust Notariano with another four years.

You are judged by the company you keep. For an elected official, that judgment concerns more than personal preference. It concerns the political relationships she welcomes, the priorities those relationships could advance, and the standards she applies when a supporter’s conduct becomes an issue.

The Pooch’s October 7 report described an August gathering at Notariano’s home. It reported that Pacha promoted his door-knocking and signature collection for her campaign, praised the prospect of another term of progressive leadership, and received her thanks.

The local socialist chapter reportedly posted its own message thanking Notariano for welcoming its members and expressing support for her continued service.

Campaign assistance carries value. Volunteers contribute time, organization, and access to voters. Their involvement also gives residents reason to examine the goals they hope an official will advance.

The Democratic Socialists of America states its national objective plainly.

“We must replace it with democratic socialism.”
— Democratic Socialists of America, describing capitalism

Its website calls for collective ownership of major economic drivers, including energy production and transportation. It also identifies “defunding the police/refunding communities” among its desired reforms.

Accepting assistance from members does not establish agreement with every national position. It does make the extent of Notariano’s agreement a legitimate election issue.

The police-funding objective deserves particular attention because she has already publicly challenged police equipment spending.

In January, Capitol City Now reported her opposition to a proposed police vehicle purchase.

“It’s not a good use of $400,000 and not a good look.”
— Jennifer Notariano, as reported by Capitol City Now, January 23, 2026

In March, the outlet reported that she questioned a $445,000 armored-vehicle request and suggested cheaper, less intimidating alternatives.

Police Cmdr. Jarod Maddox described the existing vehicle’s use during armed barricades, hostage situations, and high-risk warrants. He said it had been shot numerous times.

That detail should weigh heavily in the decision.

Equipment used during gunfire must be evaluated for the protection it provides. An alternative must meet the operational demands police described.

An alderwoman has a responsibility to scrutinize an expensive purchase. She also has a responsibility to explain how her preferred approach would protect officers and the people they are trying to reach.

Concern about appearance cannot settle a safety decision involving gunfire, hostages, and armed suspects.

Her opposition to one purchase does not establish a department-wide defunding policy. But her broader intentions belong in the public record, especially alongside reported campaign support from an organization whose national agenda explicitly advocates defunding.

City Hall sources, according to information provided to FactsFirstus, allege that Notariano privately supports police defunding while avoiding that position publicly to protect her reelection prospects.

If accurate, that account describes a serious gap between private intentions and the information voters receive.

Police funding affects staffing, equipment, response capacity, and protection for residents and officers. Those consequences deserve a clear public accounting before another term begins.

The reported involvement of Pacha presents a separate and disturbing issue of judgment.

The Springfield Pooch attributed a series of violent social-media statements to him. Taken together, the statements describe people killed, bodies mutilated, and violence directed at political opponents and others.

Concerning the accused killer of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, the publication quoted Pacha as writing:

“Free Luigi. He did nothing wrong. In fact, we’d be in a better place if he was more inspiring.”
— Ken Pacha, as quoted by The Springfield Pooch

Concerning ICE agents, it attributed this statement to him:

“Yeah buddy. Light em up!!!!”
— Ken Pacha, as quoted by The Springfield Pooch

The publication also reported that he wrote that people could no longer remain peaceful.

On wealthy people, it attributed language about beginning to erect guillotines. On OpenAI’s Sam Altman, it quoted him directly:

“Altman should have his head displayed on a pile.”
— Ken Pacha, as quoted by The Springfield Pooch

On Sen. Lindsey Graham, the attributed statement was even more explicit:

“Turn him into ashes. Pound his face until it’s a fine mist. Bury him in an unmarked grave.”
— Ken Pacha, as quoted by The Springfield Pooch

The Pooch additionally reported a post imagining tampering with Riley Gaines’ brake lines to silence her, as well as a Unabomber meme suggesting that a data center would not burn itself down.

These allegations warrant attention because their author was also reportedly helping an elected official secure another term.

The language attributed to Pacha describes violence in unmistakable terms. Its significance cannot be dismissed simply because the speaker also volunteers for a campaign or appears at public meetings.

Political participation does not excuse violent rhetoric.

Information supplied to FactsFirstus additionally describes Pacha appearing at City Hall wearing a shirt displaying “86-47.” City Hall sources, as relayed to FactsFirstus, say the display was reported to federal authorities.

The slogan’s meaning is disputed. A referral does not establish an investigation or wrongdoing. The explicit violent statements attributed to him provide the clearer basis for scrutiny of the campaign relationship.

Notariano’s acceptance of assistance does not prove that she shares those statements. Her own conduct should be evaluated on its own record.

But an elected official’s standards include how she responds when serious conduct is attributed to someone supporting her.

Notariano should unequivocally condemn the violent statements attributed to Pacha and explain whether she will continue accepting his assistance.

That is a reasonable expectation of public leadership.

Elected officials should reject violent rhetoric regardless of who says it, whom it threatens, or whether the speaker is helping their campaign.

Springfield residents deserve an alderwoman willing to apply that standard to her own supporters.

They also deserve a clear account of her political commitments: the parts of DSA’s national agenda she embraces, her intentions for police funding, and the operational consequences of any changes she would pursue.

Those commitments belong before the voters while the decision remains theirs.

The local socialist chapter has the right to organize. Notariano has the right to accept lawful campaign assistance. Residents have the right to examine that relationship and decide what it says about the term she wants them to authorize.

A campaign is an opportunity to evaluate judgment before it becomes another four years of authority.

The reported gathering, the organization’s published goals, Notariano’s equipment objections, and the statements attributed to Pacha give voters concrete matters to assess. They deserve clear positions and a consistent standard from the incumbent seeking their trust.

Violent political rhetoric deserves unequivocal rejection. Police protection deserves decisions grounded in operational needs. Campaign alliances deserve public scrutiny.

Springfield’s money, its police department, and its public trust are too consequential for ambiguity.

Notariano is asking voters to authorize another term. The responsibility to make her priorities and standards unmistakable rests with her.

You are judged by the company you keep. Public office is judged by what you do with the trust you are given. Springfield voters should weigh both before granting another four years.

Official and Primary Sources

• Democratic Socialists of America, “What Is Democratic Socialism?” The organization’s stated national objectives concerning capitalism, collective ownership, and police defunding.www.dsausa.org

Secondary Sources

• The Springfield Pooch, “Springfield Alderman Jennifer Notariano Turns to Local Socialist Party for Help Gathering Signatures,” October 7, 2026. Campaign details and social-media statements attributed to the article supplied for this story.

• The Springfield Pooch, “The Violent Fantasies of Springfield Activist Ken Pacha,” September 20, 2026. Referenced reporting concerning Pacha’s alleged social-media statements.

• Capitol City Now, “Springfield Budget Workshops Wrap Up,” January 23, 2026. Notariano’s comments on the proposed police vehicle purchase.capitolcitynow.com

• Capitol City Now, “Pushback on SPD’s Proposed Armored Truck,” March 4, 2026. Equipment objections and the police department’s operational explanation.capitolcitynow.com

• Associated Press, reporting on the disputed meaning of “86 47.”apnews.com

• City Hall sources, as relayed to FactsFirstus, alleging that Notariano privately supports police defunding while avoiding that position publicly for electoral reasons.

• Information supplied to FactsFirstus concerning Pacha’s alleged shirt display, and City Hall sources relayed to FactsFirstus concerning a reported referral to federal authorities.