* 2:52 pm - No surprise. From a press release…
BOND TO SEEK REELECTION TO ILLINOIS SENATE
Statement from Illinois Senator Michael Bond (D-31) announcing today that he will seek reelection instead of the Democratic nomination for Congress in the 10th District:
“After careful consideration, I have decided not to seek the Democratic nomination for Congress in the Tenth District, and will instead seek reelection to the Illinois Senate. While I am grateful for the encouragement I have received to run for Congress, I feel an obligation to continue working to address the enormous challenges our state is confronting.
“We need to tackle our budget crisis, renew our economy and continue cleaning up Illinois government. Now more than ever, the hardworking taxpayers I represent need an advocate in Springfield who will stand up for their interests, promote fiscal responsibility while opposing an income tax increase, and demand the kind of ethical government they deserve.
“It has been an honor to work on behalf of the families in the 31st Senate District, and at this crucial time in our state’s history I believe I have a responsibility to continue doing so.”
Word has been going around for several days that Bond wouldn’t run for the 10th District congressional slot. More to come.
* 3:58 pm - Bond’s GOP state Senate opponent responds via press release…
Lake County Board Chairman Suzi Schmidt responds to Senator Michael Bond’s decision to seek re-election
LAKE VILLA (July 31, 2009) – The following statement was released today by Suzi Schmidt, the Lake County Board Chairman and Republican candidate for State Senate in the 31st District, regarding State Senator Michael Bond’s decision to bow out of 10th District Congressional race and seek re-election to the State Senate.
“I welcome Senator Bond back to the 31st Senate District and look forward to a vigorous debate with him on the direction of Illinois and the best way to improve the quality of life in our communities.”
LIVE session coverage...
- Ghost - Friday, Jul 31, 09 @ 2:56 pm:
Looks like a money issue. Probably a good decision, the 10th is looking like it will be a bitter battle.
- WOW - Friday, Jul 31, 09 @ 2:58 pm:
Bond will have a hard enough time running for re-election. This is the first intelligent thing he has done since getting elected.
- Anon - Friday, Jul 31, 09 @ 3:00 pm:
Can I have my money back?
- Conservative Veteran - Friday, Jul 31, 09 @ 3:08 pm:
Wow, I agree that Bond will have a hard time of winning re-election. Before he won, in 2006 (with 50.5%), that seat had a republican state senator for at least 20 years (Adeline Geo-Karis). Both of the state reps., in Bond’s district, are Republicans. All of the county commissioners, in that district, are Republicans.
- Shore - Friday, Jul 31, 09 @ 3:11 pm:
Translation:I didn’t have the guts to fight for what I believed in for Congress.
An epic battle between Dan Seals and Julie Hamos awaits.
- Team America - Friday, Jul 31, 09 @ 3:17 pm:
Bond ran from Suzi Schmidt in the first place. Bye, bye, Mr. Bond.
- Rich Miller - Friday, Jul 31, 09 @ 3:19 pm:
===Bond ran from Suzi Schmidt in the first place===
LOL
C’mon.
- Team America - Friday, Jul 31, 09 @ 3:27 pm:
Well, Rich, I heard that Bond’s internal polling showed he would have a serious problem with Schmidt, ergo the 10th District. Laugh all ya want, I guess.
- wordslinger - Friday, Jul 31, 09 @ 3:31 pm:
What happened to Chris Kennedy for everything? With Hynes edging closer to governor, you’d think the Senate would be the race for him, if he’s not afraid to lose.
- Scooby - Friday, Jul 31, 09 @ 3:57 pm:
PEAVY!!!
Of course he’s still on the disabled list and won’t be ready for a while but the look on the faces of Cubs fans will be worth it.
- wordslinger - Friday, Jul 31, 09 @ 4:07 pm:
One thing you can say about Kenny Williams, the dude has guts.
Peavy is not a rent-a-player. The Sox are taking on a long-term, big-money, guaranteed deal. And he’s on the DL, right now.
- Springfieldish - Friday, Jul 31, 09 @ 4:11 pm:
TA says:
“Well, Rich, I heard that Bond’s internal polling showed he would have a serious problem with Schmidt, ergo the 10th District.”
I could have sworn Schmidt declared her intentions in the 31st a month or so after Bond declared his intention to run for Congress.
The facts are that Bond ran an excellent ground game in 2006. The facts are that in 2008, Team Bond won 4 of 7 target Lake County Board races and came within only 300 votes in Peter Grant’s race in the 1st District. The fact is that Jay Ukena was the first Democratic judge elected in Lake County in 37 years.
And the fact is that Jim Parks won nearly 48% of the vote in the Illinois House 61st against JoAnn Osmond. And thus the 61st is suddenly ‘in play’ in the eyes of House leadership.
This is GREAT for northern Lake County and GREAT for Illinois. Bond has already proven himself a leader in the Senate and the hardest working campaigner in town. He energizes the rest of the candidates of the ticket.
Personally, I can’t wait to see Suzi Schmidt return to the Lake County Board — in the minority!
- Jaded - Friday, Jul 31, 09 @ 4:16 pm:
Why would Cub fans care if Peavy is the newest southsider? They may face him twice a year with the Sox and that is only if the match-ups work out perfectly. I am a Cub fan and I am happy to see him out of the NL and especially not going to a NL central team. I hope he pitches great for the Sox (except in Wrigley and one series on the South Side).
- Team America - Friday, Jul 31, 09 @ 4:26 pm:
Springfieldish- you’re right about the official Bond/Schmidt announcement timing but you’re overlooking the fact that both were looking at their respective races well in advance of announcing.
- Amy - Friday, Jul 31, 09 @ 4:36 pm:
Peavy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! thank you kenny. the dude can trade. and it shows he cares about my team. sox in the big time trade wise, awesome.
- Rob_N - Friday, Jul 31, 09 @ 4:36 pm:
People are supposed to buy that internal polling was whispered to a GOP operative? Sure thing TA.
Bond had been planning to run for the 10th for months before he announced. Team, stop making things up.
Seems to me the real winner here is Cullerton. Both his potential open seats (Garrett and Bond) in Lake are now featuring incumbents instead.
If all the whispers on the H-GOP side prove true, Cross could end up the big loser with potentially 2 or 3 open seats in territory that’s been turning more and more Dem as it is.
In the unlikely event no GOP state legislators are recruited to run in the 10th by the NRCC it’ll be a sign that they’re planning to pool their resources elsewhere.
- Easy - Friday, Jul 31, 09 @ 4:41 pm:
kind of off topic, but the sox just gave up 4 top prospects for a starter who is 6-6 with a 3.97 era and is on the DL maybe for the rest of the year.
yuck it up southsiders, but i assure few are jealous of this move.
- wordslinger - Friday, Jul 31, 09 @ 4:42 pm:
Don’t get too excited about Peavy, yet. Jay Cutler might get his first Chicago start before Peavy does.
He’s been on the DL since May and is just now starting soft-toss on flat ground.
- Springfieldish - Friday, Jul 31, 09 @ 4:46 pm:
TA - Your speculation about polling is blibber-blabber. The reverse was true: Schmidt jumped when she thought the seat was open. She doesn’t even like to campaign. Check her numbers: she hasn’t had to mount a campaign in ages and has started this one by appointing 2 children to the Lake County Board. With the 17th highest property tax in the United States, you’d think she’d show a little more empathy to the taxpayers and appoint someone who has paid property tax once or twice. She controlled the appointment process like Mussolini in drag and now we pay the price. Curious how the GOP candidate here is the back-room dealer, isn’t it?
- Team America - Friday, Jul 31, 09 @ 4:57 pm:
Springfieldish- we could play he said, she said about who jumped when, but I’m headed off to a barbeque by the lake. Fact is, while Suzi hasn’t had to campaign for herself for a while, she’s been out campaigning tirelessly on behalf of others like Linda Pedersen last time around, so her work ethic is not to be doubted–nor is her record, considered the financial health of Lake County is one of the very best in Illinois, in comparison to other counties. Another fact is that Suzi had her eye on that seat for some time, and since she wasn’t up in 2010, do you really think it was Bond’s (temporary) exit that first planted the seed in her mind? But, in any case, the real point under discussion was whether Bond feared her if she did run against him, whether he polled that match-up, and became concerned that we was going to get clobbered. I’m just telling you what I heard was that Bond had reason to be concerned, and that helped his Congressional decision. See you at the lake.
- Rob_N - Friday, Jul 31, 09 @ 10:32 pm:
Again TA offers a Freudian slip, “became concerned that we was going to get clobbered.”
Yes, you is. ;)
And whoever told you that line about Bond being “worried” about Schmidt was either pulling a fast one on you or speaking out of their elbow.
If he was actually that worried why would he now be deciding to run for re-election with her in the race?
Your claptrap makes no sense, as usual.
- Ela Observer - Friday, Jul 31, 09 @ 10:59 pm:
Bond is 20 years younger than Schmidt and in good health. 31 is his to lose.
- colt 45 - Friday, Jul 31, 09 @ 11:30 pm:
as a future schmidt constituent, i welcome mr. bond to the race. delightful!
- DMAC57 - Saturday, Aug 1, 09 @ 7:25 am:
This is going to be a great race. Based on the results of the 2008 election, the 31st is slightly more blue that red now….a great accomplishment considering how crimson Lake County was a a decade ago.
- DannyBoy - Saturday, Aug 1, 09 @ 12:41 pm:
As many in Springfield have learned Bond is a nice guy, but has trouble keeping his word. If Bond is going to stay in the Senate, he’ll have to repair a lot of damage.
- Rob_N - Saturday, Aug 1, 09 @ 1:09 pm:
Team, if Bond was really so concerned about Schmidt that he decided to jump to the 10th (to run against Mark Kirk at the time) why would he then decide to forego the 10th and return to running for re-election to the Senate.
Your theory makes no sense.