“Comptroller Hynes believes that today’s decision by Lisa Madigan is a clear reflection of the passion she holds for her job as Attorney General and her unwavering commitment to the state. Like the Attorney General, Comptroller Hynes plans on continuing his service of leadership on ethics reform and fiscal matters to the people of Illinois. He will discuss his options with his family and make a decision within the next few weeks.”
What do you think Hynes will do now?
…Adding… Hynes told me weeks ago that there was no way on God’s Green Earth that he would run for a record-breaking fourth term as comptroller. We’ll see.
* By the way, I called Gov. Quinn’s campaign office about a half an hour ago. They weren’t issuing a statement, but said they might later today. I’ll let you know.
My own prediction is that Quinn’s statement will read something like: “Put it on the booooaaarrrrd!!! Yes!!!!”
…Adding… Here’s a visual aide re: Quinn…
Just sayin…
*** UPDATE *** From Alexi Giannoulias…
“In my experiences working with Lisa Madigan and the Attorney General’s office, I know her to be a talented, dedicated, and principled public servant who has always put the interests of the state first. Her decision to seek re-election ensures that the people of Illinois will have a strong advocate on their side. Our offices have worked very well together in the past and I look forward to continuing that relationship as we both focus on helping Illinois families get through these extremely difficult economic times.”
Hynes told me there’s no way he stays put. We’ll see.
- A 9th CD Democrat - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 2:45 pm:
He’ll run for the Democratic nomination for Governor with a huge war chest already in the bank (which we will find out about when he does his D-2 filing as of June 30) and with major support from organized labor.
- Will County Woman - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 2:48 pm:
“Like the Attorney General, Comptroller Hynes plans on continuing his service of leadership on ethics reform and fiscal matters to the people of Illinois.”
the best and only way for him to really do that is to run for governor. as it stands now, as comptroller, he’s not really able to lead on fiscal and ethical matters concerning the state.
hopefully his wife will agree with him that he should run for governor.
I mean this is the nicest way, but hasn’t Dan Hynes always been reluctant to pull the trigger except the one time he had the great idea to run against Blair Hull, Maria Pappas and the egghead senator from Hyde Park?
Since Hynes wasn’t up that election cycle, he wasn’t putting anything at risk.
Hynes will stay put. In 2014, he’ll run for governor (if Madigan doesn’t) or SOS with Jesse’s retirement. The pols are all smiling Quinn will have a terrible four year term of his own while hard decisions may get made, the Speaker allows them to get made cause he’ll be leaving in 2014 when his daughter runs for governor. Maybe something actually gets done, but poor Pat will be the patsy, and will have a very low approval rating by then.
I wouldn’t call it a homerun as much as a check swing single. He stays in the game, but far from crossing home plate.
Quinn certianly has luck on his side these days though. He accidently stumbles into the governors office and now the one person he stood no chance against takes a pass. His best political plays have had one thing in common, he had no control over them at all.
Oh, and my guess in Hynes is all in and is just taking his time so as not to seem like he was beholden to Lisa’s decision.
The Dem establishment largely believes Hynes had his shot — and lost for U.S. Senate with organization and union support. He proved to be a dud as a candidate.
He is still lackluster. His dad’s influence has waned. The Dem commiteemen are not so impressed. The unions can’t appreciate his “no tax now” stand.
In short, earnest as he may be, Hynes is not a big polittical player on the statewide Dem scene.
Watch for him to run for Cook County Bd Pez…with Todd’s blessing.
I could listen to that homerun call all day long. That’s the call from when Joe Crede hit that late bomb against a hard charging Cleveland in the final week or ten days of the season in Sept. 2005.
Wow! How Alexi’s attitude about Lisa has changed. What is Alexi going to do when the press and his future opponents ask how he lost millions in Bright Start at the same time his Broadway Bank was one of the few banks in Illinios to earn a profit. Can’t wait for this election.
Whats the latest on Jesse White? Has he said recently that he was definitely running again? I don’t have any reason to believe he won’t but maybe the other constitutionals have been talking.
Otherwise I think Hynes goes for governor. He might as well go into law practice before running for re-election. He could always join some high profile boards to keep his name out there for future races.
THank GOD we got an “official statment” from Alexi praising Lisa. That’s weird. Didn’t he just call the Madigan clan the root of all the problems in Illinois Dem Politics. Yeah, that’s not transparent.
Hynes will not run for Governor…he is in much the same straights as Lisa Madigan in that he is relatively young, and has small children and a wife with a demanding profession as well…he might run for Treasurer…he seems like a nice guy, but lacks charisma. and has had accusations of late about not really running his office, leaving it to paid staff…Looks like the mighty Quinn lucked out today…much more headbanging with the GA and Daddy Mad awaits him…
LS (and Rich) - Hynes was planning to run for AG and had been for a while… so while he may have said he wasn’t going to stay on as Comptroller that was when he was thinking there would be an open AG’s seat to run for.
Running for governor against an incumbent Dem is a completely different ball game.
Hynes is definitely running for governor, and he should. At this point, nobody has Hynes’ experience and depth of understanding of the issues confronting Illinois. As all candidates must, however, Hynes must explain why he wants the governor’s chair–other than that it is in his genes or its his turn. We are all tired of the typical political speak where the candidates of each party recite the creed of the special interests associated with their respective parties. It is not sufficient that Hynes has union support, he must, and I believe will, articulate a vision of Illinois better than what we have had and now have and propose serious, concrete, and plausible plans for all the people and not just the Democratic interest groups.
I don’t mind if Hynes leaves the operational side of his office to paid staff…otherwise, why have paid staff. He should be doing strategic planning and communicating policy. And there’s the problem. Even when he does try to communicate, he comes across as boring, even whiney. Nice, but boring.We like campaigners here in Illinois, not boring.We loved Blago, the ultimate campaigner, remember? At least, we Democrats did.
–We like campaigners here in Illinois, not boring–
I used to tune in just to see what outrageous thing Paul Simon and Jim Edgar would do next! And don’t get me started on those party animals Charles Percy and Adlai III. It was like an extended version of “Old School.”
Hynes came across as stiff and cold when he ran for the Senate. I think he learned something from that defeat. When he began campaigning for Obama for President, Hynes was different. He showed passion and warmth. I think he’s been in the game long enough that although it might not come naturally, he can turn it on if needed and he will.
He should put his wife out on trail on his behalf. She was a great campaigner when he ran last time.
what role does the comptroller play in monitoring cemeteries? Dart’s holding a press conference at 5 p.m. re digging up graves to resell plots, re the Trib.
Scooby - hate to correct a fellow fan of the pale hose, but that call is from opening day of last year. You can hear Hawk say “Young looks up…” As in Twins ourfielder Delmon Young.
according to the trib article the comptroller’s office doesn’t have much authority to take action agaist cemetaries. the burr oak cemetery matter is very sad, and likely not uncommon in the U.S.
–Hynes will run for Cook County Board President if he can, but there’s Tom Dart to contend with.==
Those two guys won’t go for the same office. If they both want to run for something new in 2010, there will be a meeting of the Beverly Barons at Cork & Kerrey to hash it out.
Hoosier Daddy, thanks. wondering about the timing, still. dart has a habit of making news on the same day Madigan does, and he certainly has a complicated relationship with dan hynes.
===#what role does the comptroller play in monitoring cemeteries? Dart’s holding a press conference at 5 p.m. re digging up graves to resell plots, re the Trib.
The Comptroller only oversees pre-paid funerals and the such–not the actual cemetery–obviously some overlap there, but the primary job is as a financial regulator of the instruments, not of the physical location.
Well it is indeed now a quandry for those of us who generally pull a democratic ticket. While quinn is nice, he has been a pretty incompetent and suprisingly unprepared Governor. Hynes is not anyone to get excited about but his office does run well. But I have some concerns about where he is policywise. Quinn seems more committed to those who most need government services and healthcare but boy is he making a mess of this governing endeavor. Hynes on the other hand is generally quite whiny, lacks vision and doesn’t seem so committed to ensuring services and assistance for the most vulnerable. Just because of how bad the last few months have been under Quinn, I lean toward Hynes but would really like another option who isn’t a Republican. If Hynes could get some vision and commitment to Healthcare etc., then I would be enthusiastic about his running and maybe he will yet. He isn’t stupid.
Hynes had his chance. He should stay put. Too many people wasted time and money on him. He has no charisma and evceryone knows he would be Madigan’s waterboy. As for the opportunist Franks. Let him run. He would never win a dem primary and hopefully, we will be rid of him forever!
tonight on the NBC Chicago affiliate the cemetery story contained an interview by Lauren Jiggets with a mother who complained in writing to Hynes’ office in April about Burr Oak cemetery and the conditions around her son’s grave. she says she never got a response. this makes Hynes look very bad.
well i finally read that Tribune article with the explanation from the Hynes spokesman who said they got 16 complaints on this cemetery but they “don’t have the legislative power” to do anything about it? and now i must say that Hoosier Daddy’s comment made it seem that the Tribune had the opinion that the office does not have any power to enforce. the statement from the spokesman said that and it bodes very ill for Hynes’
creativity when it comes to problem solving. frankly i’m shocked
that they did not try to do something, at the very least answer
the letter of the woman in the Lauren Jiggets interview, but
better yet, take it to a legal authority. Hynes is a lawyer! Act like one and get something done. i’m in the midst of sorting out
a bunch of family plot issues so i’m very sensitive to this tonight and it is most concerning that a statewide elected official has no clue. and now a huge scandal comes out and bones are littered across the cemetery. Burr Oak may be a political graveyard.
Did you miss Archpundit’s post only a few above yours?
The Comptroller’s office deals with only a few financial aspects of cemetary operations. It does not actually oversee the cemetaries and their physical properties.
===The Comptroller’s office deals with only a few financial aspects of cemetary operations. It does not actually oversee the cemetaries and their physical properties.
It’s even narrower than that and broader than that at the same time. The Comptroller’s Office has control over pre-sold cemetery products and cemeteries that operate in conjunction with such products. Essentially it’s oversight over a financial instrument that is created to provide the burial service and plot at a later day. Through that power, Hynes pushed to gain the power to oversee those cemeteries with pre-sold contracts, but still has very limited powers of enforcement.
Hynes worked to expand his jurisdiction years ago because no one had real oversight over the entire industry except for the financial instruments.
In a case like this it does not appear there were any pre-sold contracts or at least not ones that were going through the legal process. Hynes has no jurisdiction in cases which there are no for profit pre-sold contracts being utilized.
Didrickson really improved the oversight over cemeteries after Burris ignored it for 12 years and became a lobbyist for the cemeteries later. Hynes followed up on a lot of those improvements by Didrickson.
But most importantly, he sought greater legal authority. He didn’t get all that he wanted, but he did improve oversight significantly. You can partially thank Burris for that given he was lobbying for the industry at the time.
Amy is right above that Hynes is boring–so boring that he took on an incredibly boring issue that had very little public push and still got something past the industry. I think he’d be the first to say it’s inadequate, but a lot better than it used to be.
George Ryan was Lt Governor before getting elected Secretary of State in 1990.
In 1994. Republicans won every statewide elected office in Illinios. Edgar was re-elected Governor. George Ryan was re-elected Secretary of State. Jim Ryan was elected Attorney General. Loletta Didrickson was elected Comptroller. Judy Baar Topinka was elected Treasurer.
In 1998. Edgar decided to step down from the IL Governorship. George Ryan was Governor suceeding Jim Edgar. Lolita Didrickson ran for the US Senate Seat held by Carol Mosely Braun-but lost in the GOP primary to Peter Fitzgerald who ended up winning the seat. Jesse White(D)was elected Secretary of State. and Dan Hynes(D)was elected Comptroller. Jim Ryan(R)was re-elected Attorney General. and Judy Baar Topinka was re-elected Treasurer.
In 2002- George Ryan who was unpopular decided not to seek re-election as Governor. Jim Ryan decided to suceed Ryan as Governor but lost to Rod Blagojevich who was the Democratic Nominee for Governor. Blagojevich like Hynes was a nepotism candidate. Lisa Madigan(D)was elected Attorney General. Hynes(D)was re-elected Comptroller. Jesse White was re-elected Secretary of State. and Judy Baar Topinka was re-elected Treasurer.-
Hynes-D was the only two term Statewide elected Official in Illinios. He made a decision to run for the US Senate. but lost in the Democratic Primary to Barack Obama- the charismatic State Senator from Chicago.
In 2006- Judy Baar Topinka decided to run for Governor against Blago but lost. Alexi Giannoulias(D) friend of Barack was elected Treasurer. Hynes(D)was re-elected Comptroller. Madigan(D)was re-elected Attorney Genaral, and White was re-elected Secretary of State.
This bring us to the 2010 Elections.
Lt Governor Pat Quinn-D is now Governor due to the removal of Rod Blagojevich. The Senate Seat- now President Barack Obama held is now occupied by Rolland Burris who is a joke. He lost the Democratic Primary in 3 races for Governor. The current Secretary of State Jesse White is in his mid 70’s. Madigan,Hynes,and Giannoulias are the 3 rising stars for Statewide office.
Madigan had the option for running for Governor against Quinn- she could have defeated him in the Primary or run for the US Senate- she would have defeated Burris. Instead she chose to remain as Attorney General. Madigan decided it was wise to wait until 2014 or 2018 when Quinn decides to retire from the Governorship.
Alexi Giannoulias who is completing his first term as Treasurer is planning to challenge Burris for the US Senate seat held by his former friend and mentor Barack Obama. Giannoulias decided to take the risky move to not follow the Dan Hynes lead. run for re-election as Treasurer in 2010 and then in 2014. run for Secretary of State- Jesse White is going to retire. get re-elected as Secretary of State in 2018. In 2020 when Durbin retires for the US Senate.- Run for the US Senate.
Hynes-who is currently serving his 3rd term as Comptroller. can run for the US Senate but he will have to face Alexi Giannoulias in the primary. He does not want to challenge Quinn in the Primary for Governor or Madigan in the primary of Attorney General. Hynes will have to run for Lt Governor- or seek re-election as Comptroller. If Hynes runs for Lt Governor. He will serve two terms. In 2018. He will run for Attorney General. Then in 2020. He can run for the US Senate assuming Durbin retires. or He can remain as Attorney General until 2026 and run for Governor in 2026 when Madigan leaves office. Hynes will be 58 when he is elected Governor.
LIVE session coverage...
- Rob_N - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 2:43 pm:
50/50 Hynes either stays put (though he doesn’t want to) or challenges Quinn.
I don’t think he’ll run for Senate.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 2:43 pm:
Hynes told me there’s no way he stays put. We’ll see.
- A 9th CD Democrat - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 2:45 pm:
He’ll run for the Democratic nomination for Governor with a huge war chest already in the bank (which we will find out about when he does his D-2 filing as of June 30) and with major support from organized labor.
- Will County Woman - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 2:48 pm:
“Like the Attorney General, Comptroller Hynes plans on continuing his service of leadership on ethics reform and fiscal matters to the people of Illinois.”
the best and only way for him to really do that is to run for governor. as it stands now, as comptroller, he’s not really able to lead on fiscal and ethical matters concerning the state.
hopefully his wife will agree with him that he should run for governor.
- OneMan - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 2:48 pm:
I think Quinn’s reaction was more of a
‘Booya, Mike, Booya’
- ivoted4judy - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 2:48 pm:
What a perfect opening for Paul Vallas. Too bad he played footsey with the Repubs and is now a political non entity.
- Carl Nyberg - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 2:50 pm:
I mean this is the nicest way, but hasn’t Dan Hynes always been reluctant to pull the trigger except the one time he had the great idea to run against Blair Hull, Maria Pappas and the egghead senator from Hyde Park?
Since Hynes wasn’t up that election cycle, he wasn’t putting anything at risk.
- Niles Township - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 2:55 pm:
Hynes will stay put. In 2014, he’ll run for governor (if Madigan doesn’t) or SOS with Jesse’s retirement. The pols are all smiling Quinn will have a terrible four year term of his own while hard decisions may get made, the Speaker allows them to get made cause he’ll be leaving in 2014 when his daughter runs for governor. Maybe something actually gets done, but poor Pat will be the patsy, and will have a very low approval rating by then.
- South of I-64 - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 2:56 pm:
Peter Principle for now…Hynes has reached his high water mark for now. He has no where to go. Lisa in 2014 for Gov, Hynes for AG then.
- L.S. - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 2:56 pm:
I wouldn’t call it a homerun as much as a check swing single. He stays in the game, but far from crossing home plate.
Quinn certianly has luck on his side these days though. He accidently stumbles into the governors office and now the one person he stood no chance against takes a pass. His best political plays have had one thing in common, he had no control over them at all.
Oh, and my guess in Hynes is all in and is just taking his time so as not to seem like he was beholden to Lisa’s decision.
- anon - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 2:57 pm:
The Dem establishment largely believes Hynes had his shot — and lost for U.S. Senate with organization and union support. He proved to be a dud as a candidate.
He is still lackluster. His dad’s influence has waned. The Dem commiteemen are not so impressed. The unions can’t appreciate his “no tax now” stand.
In short, earnest as he may be, Hynes is not a big polittical player on the statewide Dem scene.
Watch for him to run for Cook County Bd Pez…with Todd’s blessing.
- Heartless Libertarian - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 2:58 pm:
Hynes isn’t staying put… hmm… treasurer maybe? Yawn… he just wants to protect himself but is sick of the Comptroller’s office… yawn….
- Scooby - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 2:58 pm:
I could listen to that homerun call all day long. That’s the call from when Joe Crede hit that late bomb against a hard charging Cleveland in the final week or ten days of the season in Sept. 2005.
- Future - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 2:58 pm:
Wow! How Alexi’s attitude about Lisa has changed. What is Alexi going to do when the press and his future opponents ask how he lost millions in Bright Start at the same time his Broadway Bank was one of the few banks in Illinios to earn a profit. Can’t wait for this election.
- Been There - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 2:59 pm:
Whats the latest on Jesse White? Has he said recently that he was definitely running again? I don’t have any reason to believe he won’t but maybe the other constitutionals have been talking.
Otherwise I think Hynes goes for governor. He might as well go into law practice before running for re-election. He could always join some high profile boards to keep his name out there for future races.
- Anon - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 3:03 pm:
Hynes runs for governor.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 3:03 pm:
BT, White announced for the 2010 campaign four years ago. lol
- George - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 3:07 pm:
Alexi translation:
“Put it on the booooaaarrrrd!!! Yes!!!!”
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 3:16 pm:
THank GOD we got an “official statment” from Alexi praising Lisa. That’s weird. Didn’t he just call the Madigan clan the root of all the problems in Illinois Dem Politics. Yeah, that’s not transparent.
- Anonymous45 - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 3:22 pm:
Hynes will not run for Governor…he is in much the same straights as Lisa Madigan in that he is relatively young, and has small children and a wife with a demanding profession as well…he might run for Treasurer…he seems like a nice guy, but lacks charisma. and has had accusations of late about not really running his office, leaving it to paid staff…Looks like the mighty Quinn lucked out today…much more headbanging with the GA and Daddy Mad awaits him…
- Rob_N - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 3:23 pm:
LS (and Rich) - Hynes was planning to run for AG and had been for a while… so while he may have said he wasn’t going to stay on as Comptroller that was when he was thinking there would be an open AG’s seat to run for.
Running for governor against an incumbent Dem is a completely different ball game.
- Unabashed Hynes Supporter - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 3:26 pm:
Hynes is definitely running for governor, and he should. At this point, nobody has Hynes’ experience and depth of understanding of the issues confronting Illinois. As all candidates must, however, Hynes must explain why he wants the governor’s chair–other than that it is in his genes or its his turn. We are all tired of the typical political speak where the candidates of each party recite the creed of the special interests associated with their respective parties. It is not sufficient that Hynes has union support, he must, and I believe will, articulate a vision of Illinois better than what we have had and now have and propose serious, concrete, and plausible plans for all the people and not just the Democratic interest groups.
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 3:33 pm:
I think Hynes will run for governor. I found it hard to believe no one from the Dem dynasties will take a shot at Quinn.
- Cassandra - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 3:34 pm:
I don’t mind if Hynes leaves the operational side of his office to paid staff…otherwise, why have paid staff. He should be doing strategic planning and communicating policy. And there’s the problem. Even when he does try to communicate, he comes across as boring, even whiney. Nice, but boring.We like campaigners here in Illinois, not boring.We loved Blago, the ultimate campaigner, remember? At least, we Democrats did.
- Commonsense in Illinois - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 3:34 pm:
Pat Quinn, “It’s been a pretty up day…”
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 3:34 pm:
And with Lisa out, we may finally see that Chris Kennedy announcement Sneed’s been talking about for months.
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 3:37 pm:
–We like campaigners here in Illinois, not boring–
I used to tune in just to see what outrageous thing Paul Simon and Jim Edgar would do next! And don’t get me started on those party animals Charles Percy and Adlai III. It was like an extended version of “Old School.”
- silly, silly, just silly - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 3:56 pm:
Hynes came across as stiff and cold when he ran for the Senate. I think he learned something from that defeat. When he began campaigning for Obama for President, Hynes was different. He showed passion and warmth. I think he’s been in the game long enough that although it might not come naturally, he can turn it on if needed and he will.
He should put his wife out on trail on his behalf. She was a great campaigner when he ran last time.
Hynes will not stay put.
- Cassandra - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 4:12 pm:
Wordslinger…that was olden times. Now, we like excitement. Actually, to be fair, I think Kirk Dillard is kind of boring too.
- Amy - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 4:15 pm:
Hynes….dull as dishwater.
- Amy - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 4:46 pm:
what role does the comptroller play in monitoring cemeteries? Dart’s holding a press conference at 5 p.m. re digging up graves to resell plots, re the Trib.
- scoot - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 4:47 pm:
Hynes should run for Cook County Board President.
- L.S. - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 4:48 pm:
Scooby - hate to correct a fellow fan of the pale hose, but that call is from opening day of last year. You can hear Hawk say “Young looks up…” As in Twins ourfielder Delmon Young.
- Hoosier Daddy - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 5:17 pm:
amy,
according to the trib article the comptroller’s office doesn’t have much authority to take action agaist cemetaries. the burr oak cemetery matter is very sad, and likely not uncommon in the U.S.
- Yellow Dog - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 5:29 pm:
Hynes will run for Cook County Board President if he can, but there’s Tom Dart to contend with.
Frankly, right now, Cook County Board President is a much better job, and a better fit.
Would you rather be a 1-2 term Gov or County Board President for life?
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 6:28 pm:
–Hynes will run for Cook County Board President if he can, but there’s Tom Dart to contend with.==
Those two guys won’t go for the same office. If they both want to run for something new in 2010, there will be a meeting of the Beverly Barons at Cork & Kerrey to hash it out.
- Amy - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 6:52 pm:
Hoosier Daddy, thanks. wondering about the timing, still. dart has a habit of making news on the same day Madigan does, and he certainly has a complicated relationship with dan hynes.
- Pot calling kettle - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 7:30 pm:
If Dan Hynes promises to be a boring governor, that just might get him elected. There has been way too much excitement since Edgar left office.
He could sell himself as a cool, competent Jim Edgar-type of governor. I know I’m ready.
- ArchPundit - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 7:55 pm:
===#what role does the comptroller play in monitoring cemeteries? Dart’s holding a press conference at 5 p.m. re digging up graves to resell plots, re the Trib.
The Comptroller only oversees pre-paid funerals and the such–not the actual cemetery–obviously some overlap there, but the primary job is as a financial regulator of the instruments, not of the physical location.
- omg - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 9:26 pm:
Well it is indeed now a quandry for those of us who generally pull a democratic ticket. While quinn is nice, he has been a pretty incompetent and suprisingly unprepared Governor. Hynes is not anyone to get excited about but his office does run well. But I have some concerns about where he is policywise. Quinn seems more committed to those who most need government services and healthcare but boy is he making a mess of this governing endeavor. Hynes on the other hand is generally quite whiny, lacks vision and doesn’t seem so committed to ensuring services and assistance for the most vulnerable. Just because of how bad the last few months have been under Quinn, I lean toward Hynes but would really like another option who isn’t a Republican. If Hynes could get some vision and commitment to Healthcare etc., then I would be enthusiastic about his running and maybe he will yet. He isn’t stupid.
- anon - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 9:47 pm:
Hynes had his chance. He should stay put. Too many people wasted time and money on him. He has no charisma and evceryone knows he would be Madigan’s waterboy. As for the opportunist Franks. Let him run. He would never win a dem primary and hopefully, we will be rid of him forever!
- WOW - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 9:47 pm:
Do you think that maybe Lisa will run for Secretary of State in 2014 whe she is in her fifties?
- Amy - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 10:13 pm:
tonight on the NBC Chicago affiliate the cemetery story contained an interview by Lauren Jiggets with a mother who complained in writing to Hynes’ office in April about Burr Oak cemetery and the conditions around her son’s grave. she says she never got a response. this makes Hynes look very bad.
- Amy - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 10:40 pm:
well i finally read that Tribune article with the explanation from the Hynes spokesman who said they got 16 complaints on this cemetery but they “don’t have the legislative power” to do anything about it? and now i must say that Hoosier Daddy’s comment made it seem that the Tribune had the opinion that the office does not have any power to enforce. the statement from the spokesman said that and it bodes very ill for Hynes’
creativity when it comes to problem solving. frankly i’m shocked
that they did not try to do something, at the very least answer
the letter of the woman in the Lauren Jiggets interview, but
better yet, take it to a legal authority. Hynes is a lawyer! Act like one and get something done. i’m in the midst of sorting out
a bunch of family plot issues so i’m very sensitive to this tonight and it is most concerning that a statewide elected official has no clue. and now a huge scandal comes out and bones are littered across the cemetery. Burr Oak may be a political graveyard.
- Rob_N - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 10:46 pm:
Amy,
Did you miss Archpundit’s post only a few above yours?
The Comptroller’s office deals with only a few financial aspects of cemetary operations. It does not actually oversee the cemetaries and their physical properties.
- ArchPundit - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 11:33 pm:
===The Comptroller’s office deals with only a few financial aspects of cemetary operations. It does not actually oversee the cemetaries and their physical properties.
It’s even narrower than that and broader than that at the same time. The Comptroller’s Office has control over pre-sold cemetery products and cemeteries that operate in conjunction with such products. Essentially it’s oversight over a financial instrument that is created to provide the burial service and plot at a later day. Through that power, Hynes pushed to gain the power to oversee those cemeteries with pre-sold contracts, but still has very limited powers of enforcement.
Hynes worked to expand his jurisdiction years ago because no one had real oversight over the entire industry except for the financial instruments.
In a case like this it does not appear there were any pre-sold contracts or at least not ones that were going through the legal process. Hynes has no jurisdiction in cases which there are no for profit pre-sold contracts being utilized.
Didrickson really improved the oversight over cemeteries after Burris ignored it for 12 years and became a lobbyist for the cemeteries later. Hynes followed up on a lot of those improvements by Didrickson.
But most importantly, he sought greater legal authority. He didn’t get all that he wanted, but he did improve oversight significantly. You can partially thank Burris for that given he was lobbying for the industry at the time.
Amy is right above that Hynes is boring–so boring that he took on an incredibly boring issue that had very little public push and still got something past the industry. I think he’d be the first to say it’s inadequate, but a lot better than it used to be.
- Rob_N - Thursday, Jul 9, 09 @ 8:29 am:
I think mehbe “boring” is the wrong word. He seems to want to just get to work and not get caught up in kabuki/drama.
- Neal Patel - Thursday, Jul 9, 09 @ 9:44 am:
George Ryan was Lt Governor before getting elected Secretary of State in 1990.
In 1994. Republicans won every statewide elected office in Illinios. Edgar was re-elected Governor. George Ryan was re-elected Secretary of State. Jim Ryan was elected Attorney General. Loletta Didrickson was elected Comptroller. Judy Baar Topinka was elected Treasurer.
In 1998. Edgar decided to step down from the IL Governorship. George Ryan was Governor suceeding Jim Edgar. Lolita Didrickson ran for the US Senate Seat held by Carol Mosely Braun-but lost in the GOP primary to Peter Fitzgerald who ended up winning the seat. Jesse White(D)was elected Secretary of State. and Dan Hynes(D)was elected Comptroller. Jim Ryan(R)was re-elected Attorney General. and Judy Baar Topinka was re-elected Treasurer.
In 2002- George Ryan who was unpopular decided not to seek re-election as Governor. Jim Ryan decided to suceed Ryan as Governor but lost to Rod Blagojevich who was the Democratic Nominee for Governor. Blagojevich like Hynes was a nepotism candidate. Lisa Madigan(D)was elected Attorney General. Hynes(D)was re-elected Comptroller. Jesse White was re-elected Secretary of State. and Judy Baar Topinka was re-elected Treasurer.-
Hynes-D was the only two term Statewide elected Official in Illinios. He made a decision to run for the US Senate. but lost in the Democratic Primary to Barack Obama- the charismatic State Senator from Chicago.
In 2006- Judy Baar Topinka decided to run for Governor against Blago but lost. Alexi Giannoulias(D) friend of Barack was elected Treasurer. Hynes(D)was re-elected Comptroller. Madigan(D)was re-elected Attorney Genaral, and White was re-elected Secretary of State.
This bring us to the 2010 Elections.
Lt Governor Pat Quinn-D is now Governor due to the removal of Rod Blagojevich. The Senate Seat- now President Barack Obama held is now occupied by Rolland Burris who is a joke. He lost the Democratic Primary in 3 races for Governor. The current Secretary of State Jesse White is in his mid 70’s. Madigan,Hynes,and Giannoulias are the 3 rising stars for Statewide office.
Madigan had the option for running for Governor against Quinn- she could have defeated him in the Primary or run for the US Senate- she would have defeated Burris. Instead she chose to remain as Attorney General. Madigan decided it was wise to wait until 2014 or 2018 when Quinn decides to retire from the Governorship.
Alexi Giannoulias who is completing his first term as Treasurer is planning to challenge Burris for the US Senate seat held by his former friend and mentor Barack Obama. Giannoulias decided to take the risky move to not follow the Dan Hynes lead. run for re-election as Treasurer in 2010 and then in 2014. run for Secretary of State- Jesse White is going to retire. get re-elected as Secretary of State in 2018. In 2020 when Durbin retires for the US Senate.- Run for the US Senate.
Hynes-who is currently serving his 3rd term as Comptroller. can run for the US Senate but he will have to face Alexi Giannoulias in the primary. He does not want to challenge Quinn in the Primary for Governor or Madigan in the primary of Attorney General. Hynes will have to run for Lt Governor- or seek re-election as Comptroller. If Hynes runs for Lt Governor. He will serve two terms. In 2018. He will run for Attorney General. Then in 2020. He can run for the US Senate assuming Durbin retires. or He can remain as Attorney General until 2026 and run for Governor in 2026 when Madigan leaves office. Hynes will be 58 when he is elected Governor.
- ArchPundit - Thursday, Jul 9, 09 @ 10:34 am:
My bad–largely accurate except about Burris–he didn’t lobby until 2006 so wasn’t involved as a lobbyist in 2001 and 2003.