* I’ve been hearing for months that there is quite a large opposition research book on Democratic congressional candidate Ann Callis. So, this story might be the tip of the iceberg…
Ann Callis of Edwardsville, who stepped down as chief circuit judge earlier this year to run for the Democratic nomination for Congress, currently is delinquent on her taxes on two Scottsdale, Ariz., properties, according to a review of online statements at the Maricopa County treasurer’s office.
In Illinois, Madison County records show Callis was delinquent on her 2009 property taxes for a home in Troy, requiring her to pay about $679 in added penalties in 2011 to fix the problem.
Callis spokesman Marshall Cohen said Thursday the campaign was reviewing tax records.
“We are trying to clarify all this,” Cohen told the Lee Enterprises Springfield Bureau.
He suggested the tax snafu with the Troy home may not have been Callis’ fault.
“She paid it as soon as she realized it was due,” Cohen said.
This isn’t a lot of money we’re talking about here, but why the heck were those Arizona taxes not paid before she launched her campaign? She’s the DCCC’s pick in this race, so you’d think they’d get her personal finances in order before launching her out there.
According to the story, Callis listed assets totaling at least $3.3 million, including stock in John McGurk’s Irish Pub in St. Louis. Republican incumbent Rodney Davis listed his assets at $85,000.
* The 13th District Democratic primary has a new candidate, by the way. Bill Byrnes is a a retired “college educated trucker” and part-time school bus driver and union steward from Bloomington. He probably doesn’t have a chance. But check out his plain-talk rhetoric…
“Today people are sick and tired of the BS. They want congressmen who will change the situation by working together,” said Byrnes. “That’s my hallmark.”
Byrnes added, “I’m not a lawyer. Isn’t the last thing Washington needs is another lawyer? There’s thousands of lawyers in Washington, D.C., and every congressman has a staff of them. Also at 66 I’m not exactly part of the youth movement so I’m not going to be a career politician.”
He said that electing him would “send a message loud and clear to Washington: get to work. Give me the chance and I’ll work with the other side to hammer out solutions to tough problems. I will never obstruct this democracy, conducting the day to day business of serving all of the people.”
* Meanwhile, this should help both Davis and Cheri Bustos. From a press release…
Leaders of the Transportation for Illinois Coalition today offered congratulations and support to Illinois U.S. Reps. Cheri Bustos and Rodney Davis for their appointment to help negotiate key policy decisions on America’s waterways in Washington.
Bustos, D-17th, and Davis, R-13th, were named Thursday as members of the congressional conference committee that will negotiate a new Water Resources Reform and Development Act (WRRDA), critical to speed up repairs and upgrades to locks and dams on key waterways in Illinois and around the nation.
TFIC – an umbrella organization of labor, business and construction groups – recognizes the importance of two Illinois representatives working to resolve differences over WRRDA’s direction between the U.S. House and Senate. Bustos and Davis were strong supporters, along with Illinois U.S. Senators Dick Durbin and Mark Kirk, of the version of WRRDA that passed the House in late October. They had worked to ensure key repairs and upgrades for aging locks and dams on the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers were included in the House bill.
TFIC leadership is confident Bustos and Davis will bring a sense of bipartisan commonsense and a keen awareness of the importance of strong waterway transportation networks to the negotiating table.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Nov 15, 13 @ 10:02 am:
===He suggested the tax snafu with the Troy home may not have been Callis’ fault.
“She paid it as soon as she realized it was due,” Cohen said.===
So the Flack says …it may not have been her fault … but … she paid it as soon as she realized it …
It may not BE her fault, but paid when she realized it…
What does that mean? I take responsibility for something that may not be may fault, even though its my property? Seriously? No responsibility for her … her property… but paid becuase “paying” is the responsibility that is was overlooked?
There are better Flack answers for “oversights” like these, that was not one of them. Yikes!
- AFSCME Steward - Friday, Nov 15, 13 @ 10:08 am:
I wish I lived in his district. He would get my vote.
“Today people are sick and tired of the BS. They want congressmen who will change the situation by working together,” said Byrnes. “That’s my hallmark.”
Byrnes added, “I’m not a lawyer. Isn’t the last thing Washington needs is another lawyer? There’s thousands of lawyers in Washington, D.C., and every congressman has a staff of them. Also at 66 I’m not exactly part of the youth movement so I’m not going to be a career politician.”
He said that electing him would “send a message loud and clear to Washington: get to work. Give me the chance and I’ll work with the other side to hammer out solutions to tough problems. I will never obstruct this democracy, conducting the day to day business of serving all of the people.”
- RNUG - Friday, Nov 15, 13 @ 10:09 am:
Do we need to make these people repeat Politics 101?
As OW said, they could at least have come up with a better line. If you misplaced it or got busy and forgot, just say so … that kind of stuff happens and people understand it. Talk in plain English … we already get enough political spin at every level every day.
- DuPage Dave - Friday, Nov 15, 13 @ 10:11 am:
The “plain speaking” “No BS” approach to campaigning for public office has a long history. I wonder why anyone would fall for that line after all this time?
- AFSCME Steward - Friday, Nov 15, 13 @ 10:12 am:
What this really means: it was her fault, but any admission of such would interfere in her chances to get elected to higher office.
“He suggested the tax snafu with the Troy home may not have been Callis’ fault.”
- wordslinger - Friday, Nov 15, 13 @ 10:17 am:
Millionaire judge blows off taxes on two Arizona vacation homes, but says it’s not her fault?
Yeah, I think I could write that spot. No sympathy here.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Nov 15, 13 @ 10:19 am:
- AFSCME Steward -,
I was coming from where - RNUG -, got what I was laying down, and I was being rhetorical that, “Is that the best you can do?”
Thanks, - RNUG - for picking up on it.
It is more “on the Flack than on the Act”
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Nov 15, 13 @ 10:22 am:
What could have been worse?
“You try to keep track of taxes on more than one home?”
- DuPage - Friday, Nov 15, 13 @ 10:22 am:
=Stepping down as a circuit court judge to run for congress=. Leave of absence, or resigned? It could be a huge financial hit for her, especially if she does not win the election.
- So what? - Friday, Nov 15, 13 @ 10:25 am:
I am tired of this being a huge deal. I always have the money but I don’t always pay mine on time. It is the same thing as taking a loan from the government. Banks do it, why can’t regular people. I will start paying my property taxes on time when the government starts paying my wifes dental reimbursements on time.
- 47th Ward - Friday, Nov 15, 13 @ 10:30 am:
This will have as much impact as Bruce Rauner’s claiming an improper homeowner exemption. As for the Arizona properties, the info is from an on-line database. We’ll soon learn if that info is accurate or not, but my guess is there are thousands of Arizona properties in arrears given the collapse of the real estate market there since 2007.
It’s a bruise for sure on Callis, but not necessarily a black eye.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Nov 15, 13 @ 10:30 am:
- So what? -,
Yeah, it is a “big deal”.
So you are not going to pay your property taxes until your wife’s dental reinbursements are paid?
Is that like you won’t clean your room until your parents give you your allowance?
- Anthony - Friday, Nov 15, 13 @ 10:33 am:
So exactly what are the qualifications you have to be at to stop receiving, or allowed to ignore, US mail (addressed to you)containing notices that your taxes are due? “Can’t blame me because I was busy?”
- hisgirlfriday - Friday, Nov 15, 13 @ 10:34 am:
Hard to be real optimistic about the 13th thus far.
I’m just not sure how any Dem wins this seat unless they can bridge the divide between Metro East Dems and Chambana Dems when these are such different animals. Callis seemed polished and careful but this forum seemed like an away game for her especially with the lawyer bashing.
This Erickson story coming out now also better helps me understand something Callis said that seemed a little defensive at the time about something to the effect of how important this race is that she’s willing to have her record torn apart.
Gollin was also more well established as a candidate than I was expecting but still found him a little offputting. Reminded me of Gill.
Finally, I hope the history teacher/natl guardsman from Quincy planning to give Schock nominal opposition for the 18th runs for something local after all this, maybe state rep. Seemed like a good guy and good speaker.
- What so - Friday, Nov 15, 13 @ 10:34 am:
==I will start paying my property taxes on time when the government starts paying my wifes dental reimbursements on time.==
Your call, I suppose. But they ding you even more with penalties for being late. If you’re OK with paying more just to make some kind of symbolic point, more power to you.
- Demoralized - Friday, Nov 15, 13 @ 10:36 am:
@ So what:
Are you going to hold your breath too until you get your way?
- PublicServant - Friday, Nov 15, 13 @ 10:51 am:
You guys are being way too hard on her. It’d be difficult for anyone to keep tract of taxes owed when you have that many properties. A little more empathy for the trials and tribulations of daily millionaire life please.
- you are such bullies - Friday, Nov 15, 13 @ 10:59 am:
Excuse me, why aren’t we talking about Erika Harold more?
She’s the most important things to happen since EVER!
- So what? - Friday, Nov 15, 13 @ 11:28 am:
All Im saying is the state and local government is late paying their bills, why is it soooo bad when people are late paying the government.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Nov 15, 13 @ 11:30 am:
All I am saying is … Post something like a spoiled 13 year old, and you get treated like a spoiled 13 year old.
- Just Observing - Friday, Nov 15, 13 @ 11:32 am:
=== here’s thousands of lawyers in Washington, D.C., and every congressman has a staff of them ===
No, most Congresspersons have zero lawyers on staff.
- Rich Miller - Friday, Nov 15, 13 @ 11:35 am:
===why is it soooo bad when people are late paying the government===
I don’t disagree. Things happen. However, these things should prolly be cleaned up when somebody runs for Congress.
- Knome Sane - Friday, Nov 15, 13 @ 11:36 am:
No, I didn’t (forget to pay my taxes). Honest… I ran out of gas. I… I had a flat tire. I didn’t have enough money for cab fare. My judge’s robe didn’t come back from the cleaners. An old friend came in from out of town. Someone stole my car. There was an earthquake. A terrible flood. Locusts! IT WASN’T MY FAULT, I SWEAR TO GOD!
- OneMan - Friday, Nov 15, 13 @ 11:43 am:
Wonder how many times she heard that in her court room and was cool with that.
- Knome Sane - Friday, Nov 15, 13 @ 11:45 am:
=Wonder how many times she heard that in her court room and was cool with that.=
Um, never.
- DuPage - Friday, Nov 15, 13 @ 12:55 pm:
@Knome Sane, One more, “the dog ate my tax bill”!
- GOP Help - Friday, Nov 15, 13 @ 1:37 pm:
Erickson should at least acknowledge he got a GOP tip rather than giving the appearance he is an investigative reporter.
- Formerly Known As... - Friday, Nov 15, 13 @ 3:25 pm:
@So What? - it is about more than just property taxes on those 3 locations.
Campaigns are interpreted as models. Models of how you will organize things, run things and lead things if you win.
Making sure those government bills were paid or taken care of ahead of time is basic, entry-level 101 stuff.
When you fail to anticipate or resolve basic things like that, people question your ability concerning other basic things, much less the more advanced material in politics 201, 301 and so on.
- Formerly Known As... - Friday, Nov 15, 13 @ 3:26 pm:
=== Wonder how many times she heard that in her court room and was cool with that. ===
Made me laugh out loud. That’s another way of looking at things, for sure.