Col. Jill Morgenthaler, most recently Illinois’ Deputy Chief of Staff for Public Safety and Homeland Security Advisor, has entered the 6th Congressional District race as a Democratic challenger to first-term Republican Congressman Peter Roskam. Jill has over 30 years of military, government and private business experience, much of it focused on emergency preparedness, communications and business development.
Tammy Duckworth, an Army Major and injured Iraq War veteran, decided against a rematch with Roskam. Duckworth lost by about 5,000 votes in the ‘06 general election, in a race that cost millions. No word yet on whether Morgenthaler will receive similar support from the DC Democrats, who seem to be concentrating much more intently on the Jerry Weller seat.
Between the elder Lipinski’s consulting business, Blue Chip Consulting, which rents space at the Archer Avenue congressional headquarters of Dan Lipinski, and the 23rd Ward political operation, Dan Lipinski has placed his governmental duties precariously close to lobbyists and political entities. Not smart.
When Dan Lipinski won an assignment to the House Transportation Committee, he insisted he would avoid any conflicts of interest. His father represents United Airlines and many other transportation giants.
“He won’t lobby me,” Lipinski said.
Dan Lipinski’s own disclosure forms, however, show he paid Blue Chip $5,500 in consulting fees since 2005 - a contradiction of his previous position, which was dubious from the start. Who would know if, for example, over cheeseburgers and milkshakes, the two Lipinskis discussed transportation issues? Like many questionable loose ends that remain unanswered - how, for example, voting records show Dan Lipinski casting ballots in person, in Chicago, at times when he was living out of state - the All-American Eagle account creates yet another shadow on Dan Lipinski’s credentials.
I’ve met and talked with Dan Lipinski on numerous occasions. He’s a hardworking, sincere guy.
But he’s got this monkey on his back - the slicker, older Lipinski - who thinks he’s helping his son by clearing the underbrush from Dan’s path.
He’s not helping. He’s making his kid look weak and unprincipled.
William Lipinski is painting a target on his son’s back, forcing him to answer questions about the questionable payments to staff members; the consulting fees to Blue Chip; and the fundamental fact that a fund supposedly established for kids really is a piggy bank for the Lipinskis’ political activities.
* And we have two updates in the race to replace retiring Congressman Ray LaHood. First, the Peoria paper…
Jim McConoughey, one of three GOP candidates for the 18th Congressional seat, will launch television and radio ads today. And he’s sparing no expense.
He hired an out-of-state crew to film the production and hitting Quincy, Springfield and Peoria television media markets with 30-second spots in most of the 20-county district. He’s also going to have comprehensive coverage on AM radio stations to reach different demographics. […]
Direct mailings are expected to come out in the next two weeks introducing McConoughey and explaining what experience he brings to the table.
As I told you lsat week, McConoughey claims he’ll be in the hunt if he can just get his name and story out to voters. Those early ads will certainly help.
The Peoria column also included the obligatory plug for the local favorite…
Candidate Aaron Schock already sent out mailings the past week or so to reach his core constituency. It’s slick and compelling information.
* Next up, Billy Dennis writes about the third GOP candidate in the LaHood race…
Sources inside the John Morris congressional campaign say the former Peoria city Councilman raised more than $200,000 in contributions during September and August. The 3rd quarter financial reports are due Monday, and will cover campaign donations made from July 1, to Sept. 30.
Morris officially announced in early August, when his campaign took it’s first contribution, the source said, adding that they were pleased with the pace of contributions. Most of the donations came from individuals who live within and are able to vote inside the district. The implication is that there’s a belief that when reports from primary foes are released, they will show large donations from outside the district.
Months after he formed an exploratory committee, state Sen. Chris Lauzen, R-Aurora, announced his plans to run for Congress.
Lauzen made his official announcement Wednesday morning to a crowd of supporters and others assembled at Garfield Park in Aurora. He will seek the 14th Congressional District seat currently held by Rep. Dennis Hastert, R-Plano. Hastert, the former House speaker, who will not seek re-election in 2008.
“So fasten your seat belts, I’m running for Congress,” Lauzen said to the cheers of the crowd.
The announcement kicked off a three-day, eight-county tour with 26 stops throughout the district.
* That’s quite the grueling schedule. One thing about Lauzen is he’ll outwork just about anybody. One more brief bit…
Lauzen said, so far, more than 3,000 people have volunteered to participate in his campaign.
* Here’s a Video News Service clip that I’ve already posted at my YouTube page…
A former aide to President George W. Bush said Friday she will not run for retiring U.S. Rep. Jerry Weller’s seat in Congress.
Meg Murer, 38, had considered making a run for the 11th Congressional District seat being vacated by Weller, a Morris Republican.
Murer said she wasn’t ready to return to Washington, D.C., after being away from the White House for a year. Murer had served as chief of the president’s correspondence division, overseeing an office that answers mail sent to the president.
Jill Morgenthaler has been probably the most ethical and responsible member of the Blagojevich administration since she came on two years ago. She was a breath of fresh air in state government and a welcome change to the tactics and arrogance of the Blago bunch. Everyone who worksed with her will be sad to see her go.
On the other hand, John Harris and the other senior Blago crew are glad to see her go because she brought WAY to much sanity and common sense to a group of immature and irresponsible pols. Good luck Jill!!
Lipper, Lipper, Lipper, will ye ever learn? By the way, what is Chris Ganchow’s status in your organization? Is he a staffer? Is he a lobbyist? Is he both? Is it good policy to have Chris advise you and represent towns in your district in the state capitol?
What we are seeing are gerrymandered seats designed for the GOP that are seen as safe bets for hungry politicians. So we will see battles between Lauzen and Oberweis, and Shock and McConoughey.
The uber-left is disgusted over Lipinski. While there are a lot of reasons to be really disgusted with Lipinski, his political positions are not one of them, unless you are a Pelosi Democrat. So, they are attacking an incumbant that will be a shoo-in November 2008. If they succeed, they will have possibly crippled a safe Dem seat by blowing wads of cash and alienating voters. They have convinced themselves that Lipinski has no spine, and they may find it harder to cut off his head than they believe. With this suicide underway, it would be smart if a GOP moderate could find their way to oppose whomever survives.
So far, I see no inherent surprises other than that. It is too soon to believe that the GOP will lose the seats they currently keep. Bloviating partisans can be all excited and sincere as they wish about their candidates, but so far it appears that the Democrats have an uphill battle. 2006 was exciting for Democrats, but 2008 will not be a repeat - these things never are.
Noticably silent is any news about the 17th. Although it harbors a one-term invisible man, the seat is so gerrymandered, it is not competative for the GOP. Not only is there no “there” there, whatever is there is Democratic regardless of how far removed it is from Rock Island. Poor neighborhoods over 100 miles away in Springfield and Decatur have been joined by gerrymandering empty streets. The 17th is the epitome of ruinous political mayhem enough to be highlighted as the poster child of US political gerrymandering in The London Examiner’s report on it.
The reason for the news within the 11th is due to the fact that Democrats believe they have a real chance to win this seat. But picking the big name Democrat living at the very edge of this district comes with enough political baggage to sink them. Instead of choosing Jerry Weber, the Kankakee Community College president must have gotten a phone call from a Jones staffer about the college’s funding next year if Weber runs against Halvorson, and the once vocal president instantly drops out of the race. Weber would have made it a race. With Jones’ silent partner, Halvorson on the ticket, a huge target has been painted on the back of a Democratic opponent in a still-uphill race.
Iraq is fading even faster as an issue, health care is too difficult to sell as an issue, and is Bush off the ballot. So unsurprisingly the pro-D pundits haven’t gotten the message that 2008 will not be the shoo-in they claim, and so far, I’m not seeing anything changing hands in Illinois except dirty money.
Is the Lauzen announcement current news? The article in the link is from Sept. 20.
Some real news from the tour is that no one showed up at a bunch of his stops, so now they term it a “listening tour”. So much for the 3000 person volunteer army.
Well, when I lived in Kane county there was a pretty large group there that handed out stuff and walked precenints.
Just because you dont’ like Lauzen does not mean that a lot of others share that thought. Think about it. If you’re a RWE (like me *^^*) you are not happy at Bush, and less ahppy about the presidential candidates.
Will you stay at home while ANOTHER Biggert goes to congress? Or will you walk and raise money for a REAL conservative? My thoughts are “fired up” is the better answer.
- Six Degrees of Separation - Monday, Oct 15, 07 @ 2:32 pm:
Probably 1/3 of the people who live in the 14th didn’t live there in 2000. Pollsters tell us most of the newbies are not the rock-ribbed conservatives of the western side of the old 14th. This district, along with the 11th, will have some serious contortions when the state is re-districted after 2010 since they are the fastest-growing in IL by a long shot. Stick that in your pipe and smoke it, and try to figure out who wins and who loses in the short run and the long run.
[…] Rich Miller notes that Major Duckworth lost to trial lawyer Peter Roskam by around 5,000 votes, but he also indicates the DCCC may be more interested in working on the open District 11 seat for 2008. Given the incredible imbalance in favor of the Dems’ flush with cash Congressional campaign versus the literally in-the-red Republican equivalent, it wouldn’t be inconceivable to see the DCCC throw some weight behind the Dem candidate in the 6th again in 2008. And if other groups such as EMILY’s List become involved, the 6th could definitely be Tier One again. Blogroll […]
SDoS, it is true that there are many new people in the 14th compared to 2000, mostly from the high growth, not a change in region. Most of the geography is the same as 2000 (Kane, Kendall, DeKalb, Lee, and parts of DuPage) but with new areas far to the west.
I also agree that the 14th and 11th are vulnerable to the next remap in 2011. The winners next year may affect how those districts are viewed when that time comes.
Rich, you know Lauzen. He does not play well with others. Just ask his staff. What about his name change attempt. Is it Chris Lauzen, CPA now? What about his temper?
He is not right for the district, or DC. The most he will ever be is a State Senator. With those who are on his paid campaign staff, be sure their will be a lawsuit before this is all over.
Vanilla Man. Rarely do so many words contain so few facts and so little insight.
Parties never gain two elections in a row? Halvorson won’t be a strong candidate? Iraq is fading as an issue (but I thought it was the front line on the war on terror)?
Oh, and the bad dime-store Rove line about silent partners to Emil Jones…if you think that’s going to deliver the race to Baldermann, well, I hope they’re planning to hire you to hone their message.
Hey, Anonymous (Lipper, Lipper, Lipper…), should a town hire somebody who DOESN’T know the local Congressman to lobby for it??
As for Pera, he was all about the Lipinskis when he was sucking up to them for support when he ran for state rep a few years ago.
- Aaron Slick from Pumpkin Creek - Tuesday, Oct 16, 07 @ 7:33 am:
Chris Lauzen still inspires many of the “old guard” GOP voters. He is one of the few that votes and speaks his own mind rather than spouts his Party’s edicts. Many find that to be rare and refreshing.
Tom Cross and many other GOP politicians have morphed over time into the same ethical fabric that their Democrat opponents seem to be made of, “that which gets you re-elected”. People are tired of hearing and seeing their politicians whine that they had to “hold their nose and vote for it” in order to move on. Lauzen “has sand” and will do only that which his integrity tells him “has honor.”
If you have walked precincts in the 14th and attended events in all 8 counties like I have, you would know that Chris Lauzen is doing very well with the voters.
LIVE session coverage...
- Levois - Monday, Oct 15, 07 @ 10:08 am:
That video almost scared me I thought that was Oberwise before I started to play it. I hope he stays out of it.
- Bud Man - Monday, Oct 15, 07 @ 10:24 am:
Jill Morgenthaler has been probably the most ethical and responsible member of the Blagojevich administration since she came on two years ago. She was a breath of fresh air in state government and a welcome change to the tactics and arrogance of the Blago bunch. Everyone who worksed with her will be sad to see her go.
On the other hand, John Harris and the other senior Blago crew are glad to see her go because she brought WAY to much sanity and common sense to a group of immature and irresponsible pols. Good luck Jill!!
- Anonymous - Monday, Oct 15, 07 @ 10:28 am:
Lipper, Lipper, Lipper, will ye ever learn? By the way, what is Chris Ganchow’s status in your organization? Is he a staffer? Is he a lobbyist? Is he both? Is it good policy to have Chris advise you and represent towns in your district in the state capitol?
- VanillaMan - Monday, Oct 15, 07 @ 10:31 am:
What we are seeing are gerrymandered seats designed for the GOP that are seen as safe bets for hungry politicians. So we will see battles between Lauzen and Oberweis, and Shock and McConoughey.
The uber-left is disgusted over Lipinski. While there are a lot of reasons to be really disgusted with Lipinski, his political positions are not one of them, unless you are a Pelosi Democrat. So, they are attacking an incumbant that will be a shoo-in November 2008. If they succeed, they will have possibly crippled a safe Dem seat by blowing wads of cash and alienating voters. They have convinced themselves that Lipinski has no spine, and they may find it harder to cut off his head than they believe. With this suicide underway, it would be smart if a GOP moderate could find their way to oppose whomever survives.
So far, I see no inherent surprises other than that. It is too soon to believe that the GOP will lose the seats they currently keep. Bloviating partisans can be all excited and sincere as they wish about their candidates, but so far it appears that the Democrats have an uphill battle. 2006 was exciting for Democrats, but 2008 will not be a repeat - these things never are.
Noticably silent is any news about the 17th. Although it harbors a one-term invisible man, the seat is so gerrymandered, it is not competative for the GOP. Not only is there no “there” there, whatever is there is Democratic regardless of how far removed it is from Rock Island. Poor neighborhoods over 100 miles away in Springfield and Decatur have been joined by gerrymandering empty streets. The 17th is the epitome of ruinous political mayhem enough to be highlighted as the poster child of US political gerrymandering in The London Examiner’s report on it.
The reason for the news within the 11th is due to the fact that Democrats believe they have a real chance to win this seat. But picking the big name Democrat living at the very edge of this district comes with enough political baggage to sink them. Instead of choosing Jerry Weber, the Kankakee Community College president must have gotten a phone call from a Jones staffer about the college’s funding next year if Weber runs against Halvorson, and the once vocal president instantly drops out of the race. Weber would have made it a race. With Jones’ silent partner, Halvorson on the ticket, a huge target has been painted on the back of a Democratic opponent in a still-uphill race.
Iraq is fading even faster as an issue, health care is too difficult to sell as an issue, and is Bush off the ballot. So unsurprisingly the pro-D pundits haven’t gotten the message that 2008 will not be the shoo-in they claim, and so far, I’m not seeing anything changing hands in Illinois except dirty money.
- Lance Stevens - Monday, Oct 15, 07 @ 10:50 am:
Can I vote for Sarah?
- Anonymous - Monday, Oct 15, 07 @ 1:02 pm:
Is the Lauzen announcement current news? The article in the link is from Sept. 20.
Some real news from the tour is that no one showed up at a bunch of his stops, so now they term it a “listening tour”. So much for the 3000 person volunteer army.
- Pat Collins - Monday, Oct 15, 07 @ 2:22 pm:
Well, when I lived in Kane county there was a pretty large group there that handed out stuff and walked precenints.
Just because you dont’ like Lauzen does not mean that a lot of others share that thought. Think about it. If you’re a RWE (like me *^^*) you are not happy at Bush, and less ahppy about the presidential candidates.
Will you stay at home while ANOTHER Biggert goes to congress? Or will you walk and raise money for a REAL conservative? My thoughts are “fired up” is the better answer.
- Six Degrees of Separation - Monday, Oct 15, 07 @ 2:32 pm:
Probably 1/3 of the people who live in the 14th didn’t live there in 2000. Pollsters tell us most of the newbies are not the rock-ribbed conservatives of the western side of the old 14th. This district, along with the 11th, will have some serious contortions when the state is re-districted after 2010 since they are the fastest-growing in IL by a long shot. Stick that in your pipe and smoke it, and try to figure out who wins and who loses in the short run and the long run.
- Anon - Monday, Oct 15, 07 @ 2:43 pm:
Mark Pera has done a heckuva job spreading anti-Chicago machine propaganda. They deserve kudos.
I’m almost inspired to support him now.
(where’s my checkbook?)
- Anon 3:14 - Monday, Oct 15, 07 @ 3:15 pm:
Did you notice the PJS no longer calls Aaron “dreamy” or quote anonymous voters saying that. Could be the big break for others.
Pingback A new “Fighting Dem” For Illinois 6 « Illinois Reason - Monday, Oct 15, 07 @ 4:17 pm:
[…] Rich Miller notes that Major Duckworth lost to trial lawyer Peter Roskam by around 5,000 votes, but he also indicates the DCCC may be more interested in working on the open District 11 seat for 2008. Given the incredible imbalance in favor of the Dems’ flush with cash Congressional campaign versus the literally in-the-red Republican equivalent, it wouldn’t be inconceivable to see the DCCC throw some weight behind the Dem candidate in the 6th again in 2008. And if other groups such as EMILY’s List become involved, the 6th could definitely be Tier One again. Blogroll […]
- muon - Monday, Oct 15, 07 @ 5:26 pm:
SDoS, it is true that there are many new people in the 14th compared to 2000, mostly from the high growth, not a change in region. Most of the geography is the same as 2000 (Kane, Kendall, DeKalb, Lee, and parts of DuPage) but with new areas far to the west.
I also agree that the 14th and 11th are vulnerable to the next remap in 2011. The winners next year may affect how those districts are viewed when that time comes.
- Dundee - Monday, Oct 15, 07 @ 7:35 pm:
Pat Collins, what planet do you live on?
Rich, you know Lauzen. He does not play well with others. Just ask his staff. What about his name change attempt. Is it Chris Lauzen, CPA now? What about his temper?
He is not right for the district, or DC. The most he will ever be is a State Senator. With those who are on his paid campaign staff, be sure their will be a lawsuit before this is all over.
- Super Mega - Monday, Oct 15, 07 @ 7:48 pm:
What staff does Lauzen have? His wife, Sarah, is his campaign manager. Everything else is done with volunteers.
Good luck, Chris!
- Pat collins - Monday, Oct 15, 07 @ 7:49 pm:
I used to live in Kane County. Agreed, the name thing was odd, at best.
Still, I would not count him out.
- JSF - Monday, Oct 15, 07 @ 10:42 pm:
Vanilla Man. Rarely do so many words contain so few facts and so little insight.
Parties never gain two elections in a row? Halvorson won’t be a strong candidate? Iraq is fading as an issue (but I thought it was the front line on the war on terror)?
Oh, and the bad dime-store Rove line about silent partners to Emil Jones…if you think that’s going to deliver the race to Baldermann, well, I hope they’re planning to hire you to hone their message.
- contrarian - Tuesday, Oct 16, 07 @ 5:49 am:
Hey, Anonymous (Lipper, Lipper, Lipper…), should a town hire somebody who DOESN’T know the local Congressman to lobby for it??
As for Pera, he was all about the Lipinskis when he was sucking up to them for support when he ran for state rep a few years ago.
- Aaron Slick from Pumpkin Creek - Tuesday, Oct 16, 07 @ 7:33 am:
Chris Lauzen still inspires many of the “old guard” GOP voters. He is one of the few that votes and speaks his own mind rather than spouts his Party’s edicts. Many find that to be rare and refreshing.
Tom Cross and many other GOP politicians have morphed over time into the same ethical fabric that their Democrat opponents seem to be made of, “that which gets you re-elected”. People are tired of hearing and seeing their politicians whine that they had to “hold their nose and vote for it” in order to move on. Lauzen “has sand” and will do only that which his integrity tells him “has honor.”
- Jon Zahm - Tuesday, Oct 16, 07 @ 10:28 pm:
If you have walked precincts in the 14th and attended events in all 8 counties like I have, you would know that Chris Lauzen is doing very well with the voters.