* Lynn Sweet…
Illinois Lt. Gov. Sheila Simon is [in Washington, DC] for a series of profile-raising interviews with state and national media and meetings with the National Lieutenant Governors Association and the Democratic Lieutenant Governors Association as she is putting together a political team for her anticipated 2014 statewide run.
The office Simon is to run for is to be determined. She’s waiting to see if Attorney General Lisa Madigan vacates her spot to challenge Gov. Pat Quinn in a Democratic primary for governor. She’s also mulling comptroller.
Comptroller, eh? Some of her people are flatly denying that she’ll run against Judy Baar Topinka, but that’s what she told Gov. Quinn back in December when she informed him that she wouldn’t be his 2014 running mate.
I doubt she’d do it, or that she could defeat Judy Baar Topinka if she does run. Some of her people have flatly denied that she intends to run against JBT.
Still, I’m interested to know what y’all think about a possible matchup.
* Meanwhile, time for a little comic relief…
Following Adam Andrzejewski’s announcement today that he will not be seeking public office in 2014, activist Bill Kelly publicized his own possible candidacy for State Comptroller. In a press release, Kelly said he would make “an updated announcement” about his plans for the 2014 election season on April 13 - the same day he’s planning a protest outside a meeting of the Illinois Republican Party State Central Committee in Chicago.
“It is no mystery that I have been exploring another bid for Illinois comptroller,” Kelly said. “After four years of [Judy Baar] Topinka, Illinois is worse – not better off. I have run against Topinka before and I can do it again,” said Kelly.
According to his website, the announcement “will be based on whether Pat Brady is forced to resign his Illinois GOP chairmanship.” Kelly has been a vocal critic of Brady since 2010.
LIVE session coverage...
- Anon - Wednesday, Mar 20, 13 @ 10:37 am:
Good to see Simon wants to graduate from the least significant public office in Illinois to the 2nd least significant.
- Dirt diver - Wednesday, Mar 20, 13 @ 10:41 am:
Whatever office she runs for, she will get creamed in the primary. Go ahead and waste your time, energy, and campaign contributors money (who would ever donate is beyond me). She was given the biggest gift when Cohen resigned as candidate and quinn appointed her.
Hey Sheila, how’d that election for Carbondale mayor go? Do yourself a favor and step to the side gracefully unless you want to get waxed in the primary
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Mar 20, 13 @ 10:42 am:
I doubt Simon would run against JBT. I think she’ll go for an office (AG, Treasurer) where an incumbent might look to move up.
She was on “Morning Joe” this morning sounding confident about gay marriage passing in Illinois.
- Elo Kiddies - Wednesday, Mar 20, 13 @ 10:44 am:
Hey Dirt Diver — you ever ask Obama about his run against Bobby Rush?
I’m not taking sides in any races, but sheesh. I get that you don’t like Simon, but you’ve given nothing more than that.
- Amalia - Wednesday, Mar 20, 13 @ 10:47 am:
sheila probably knows that the AG spot will have more savvy and experienced candidates running so she’s looking elsewhere.
- Just Observing - Wednesday, Mar 20, 13 @ 10:52 am:
=== Whatever office she runs for, she will get creamed in the primary. ===
I don’t think that is necessarily true if she runs for something less high profile like Comptroller, Treasurer, or SOS.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Mar 20, 13 @ 10:54 am:
I guess Kelly waiting makes sense …
The same 4 voluteers had to make a choice as to where they are going to waste their time. Now, no decision. The move makes sense.
- Crazy Like A Fox - Wednesday, Mar 20, 13 @ 10:55 am:
Simon has been getting a lot of attention lately and continues to do so. She’s definitely making moves and it seems like people are watching - this could prove to be crucial if she jumps statewide.
JBT has been marching around the collar counties talking about how bad the state’s finances are. It just doesn’t add anything to the conversation. She’ll also be 71 by the time she gets sworn in for another term so who knows how that will come into play. If you really want to be honest about it, this is one of the few races where the Republican will be seen as a career politician. She’s been in Springfield since 1980!
- cover - Wednesday, Mar 20, 13 @ 10:55 am:
What exactly could Bill Kelly do as Comptroller to improve upon Topinka’s performance? The state’s bill backlog is not due to mismanagement by the Comptroller, she can only pay bills if cash is available. Does Kelly have a solution to paying bills that doesn’t involve magic beans or a trillion-dollar coin?
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Mar 20, 13 @ 10:56 am:
@FakeWilliamKelly - Hey @FakeAdamA, thanks for being so selfless. Since you announced you are not running I doubled my followers … to 6! #NoOneCaresAboutEitherOfUs
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Mar 20, 13 @ 10:59 am:
To the Question,
Simon should hold her powder and run for Treasurer. Comptroller is a huge “ask”, especially to ge through the Primary AND the General. At least if Simon got through the Primary for Trasurer, it would be an Open Seat she would be running for and not against Judy Baar Topinka.
Simon still needs to get through a Primary. No one is going to give her a pass, that is one thing I do know …
- Amalia - Wednesday, Mar 20, 13 @ 11:02 am:
the friends of William J. Kelly website has a funny photo of him in front of a waving hand on the “about” tab. it looks like the hand is photobombing Kelly.
- All That - Wednesday, Mar 20, 13 @ 11:16 am:
I hope she is interviewing a good pollster. If she hires one she will see that her only play is to run for Treasurer.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Mar 20, 13 @ 11:18 am:
@FakeWilliamKelly - Please tweet me back the largest phonebooths you know of in Illinois as I prepare for my fundraising schedule. #MySupportIsAnInchLongAndAnInchThick
- Dirt diver - Wednesday, Mar 20, 13 @ 11:18 am:
I’d bet the house that she will get creamed in the primary regardless of the office, if anyone would take the bet. She might when a Carbondale city council seat, but that’s it.
I take it Elo kiddies and just observing are future contributors/supporters. She hasn’t done squat and won’t win an election for statewide office.
- 47th Ward - Wednesday, Mar 20, 13 @ 11:18 am:
I like JBT, but she’s the Jesse White of the Republican Party. A reliable vote winner and a mediocre elected official. I think they’ve both overstayed their welcome, but that’s just my opinion.
I wouldn’t dismiss Sheila’s chances, especially in a primary. There is a guy in the White House who might have lost a Senate primary but for an ad Sheila starred in. Neither Obama nor David Axelrod will forget that and I think it’s fair to say, both of them have a lot of influence in the party.
Can she raise a million or more and build a coalition? That remains to be seen, but hopefully she’s learned not to cap her donations at $50 this time.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Mar 20, 13 @ 11:21 am:
@FakeWilliamKelly - Do not be afriad to call me to tell me you supposrt my run for elected office. I even have call waiting, so just call. #DoesMyCellPhoneEvenWork
- Cassiopeia - Wednesday, Mar 20, 13 @ 11:32 am:
I think the real story today is that Quinn couldn’t get 50 of the 102 county chairman to pre-endorse him.
- Chicago Cynic - Wednesday, Mar 20, 13 @ 11:32 am:
This is the race I want to see. But instead of debates, we’ll have a play-off between Judy and her accordion and Sheila and her banjo. Think Deliverance meets Charlie Daniel’s The Devil Went Down To Georgia meets Forever Flannel. Their quirky against our quirky. It will be a blast!
- walkinfool - Wednesday, Mar 20, 13 @ 11:34 am:
As a fearless truth-teller, JBT is a rare public servant. I would like her to stay where she is.
- Endangered Moderate Species - Wednesday, Mar 20, 13 @ 11:38 am:
Dirt Diver,
Bill Kelly is needing a volunteer coordinator. Your rhetoric seems to fit the job criteria.
- Crazy Like A Fox - Wednesday, Mar 20, 13 @ 11:40 am:
Have any Dems been rumored to be interested in this seat? If not, could Simon get a clear shot at JBT?
- siriusly - Wednesday, Mar 20, 13 @ 11:44 am:
“It is no mystery that I have been exploring another bid for Illinois comptroller,” Kelly said. “After four years of [Judy Baar] Topinka, Illinois is worse – not better off. I have run against Topinka before and I can do it again,” said Kelly.
he should have said “I have lost to JBT before, and I will do it again!”
- Dirt diver - Wednesday, Mar 20, 13 @ 11:59 am:
I don’t volunteer for campaigns. Those days are behind me.
- Chevy owner/Ford County - Wednesday, Mar 20, 13 @ 12:06 pm:
“I wouldn’t dismiss Sheila’s chances, especially in a primary. There is a guy in the White House who might have lost a Senate primary but for an ad Sheila starred in. Neither Obama nor David Axelrod will forget that and I think it’s fair to say, both of them have a lot of influence in the party.”
Bingo 47th Ward. Most cogent argument posted….
- Raising Kane - Wednesday, Mar 20, 13 @ 12:36 pm:
Obama jumped into that Carbondale Mayoral race for her and she got pummeled. She really isn’t a very good candidate.
- titan - Wednesday, Mar 20, 13 @ 1:46 pm:
After the last 4 years, Illinios may well be in worse shape… but how exactly is that laid on JBT? Did she not cut the checks (when we had some money so send out)? It isn’t like the Comptroller sets policy or anything.
- Arthur Andersen - Wednesday, Mar 20, 13 @ 1:53 pm:
Titan, because Kelly is a goof. Nothing more, nothing less.
- Just The Way It Is One - Wednesday, Mar 20, 13 @ 3:04 pm:
Hey, Bill…who cares? But, no, run if you want to, do run, ‘n best ‘o luck–I, for one, though will not lose any sleep staying up at night wondering what your prospects of winning are…!
And, on a JBT-Simon match-up for Comptroller? Sorry, Sheila. She’d do respectable, but I really do think Illinoisans would likely be pretty willing to actually allow Judy to be re-elected and re-elected to that post and keep her in that Office for as long as she darn near wants, or at least until the fair matron of the Illinois GOP decides otherwise, as we’d watch her blazing red hair polka off into that beautiful Prairie State sunset to some nice, old Czech favorite tune…!
Rather, I think SS would like to shoot for, and assumes it’s just a matter of time here until she gets her chance TO shoot for Lisa’s AG slot–unless Lisa shocks the livin’ dickens out of us and somehow resolves to hold off and go for Mayor of Chicago or somethin’ down the road, particularly if Rahm bails, given his horrible DISapproval ratings, but fat chance on THAT idea, too, I suppose….
- Sentinel - Wednesday, Mar 20, 13 @ 6:12 pm:
WEBSTER’S DICTIONARY:
Word: vacuous
A. William J. Kelly
B. Kim Kardashian