* From the Illinois Observer…
Liberty Principles PAC, which received a $1.8 million contribution from Rauner’s own PAC last month, has moved to boost the campaign of Forest Park Commission Chris Harris who is challenging incumbent State Rep. Chris Welch (D-Hillside), purchasing $14,166 in newspaper advertising for the challenger, according to state election board records.
Run by political operative and radio personality Dan Proft, Liberty Principles PAC, an independent expenditure committee that is prohibited from coordinating its activities with a campaign it backs, is also supporting the reelection campaign of the governor’s Democratic ally in the Illinois House, State Rep. Ken Dunkin (D-Chicago).
Harris, who had at the end of the fourth quarter only $7,727 in the bank, echoes Rauner’s rhetoric on key issues, such as property taxes. […]
Harris reacted to Proft’s purchase of advertising in his behalf saying that he was “uncertain” what triggered the support.
“I did not know this and I haven’t seen any ads. I am not sure if there is a certain issue that they have picked up on that I support that Rep. Welch doesn’t and I guess I won’t know until I see an ad,” Harris told The Illinois Observer in a statement. “This is a Democratic Primary so it doesn’t make a whole lot of sense, in the big picture.”
*** UPDATE *** From the Chris Harris campaign…
The recent discovery that outside PAC money is being
spent in the 7th District State Representative race has raised concerns this group’s motives.
“In modern day politics, you can’t control most of what goes on around you, but you hope you can control your message,” said 7th District State Representative Candidate Chris Harris. “Even that can be altered by 3rd party sources hijacking it, though.”
As first reported by the Illinois Observer, an outside PAC that has received money from Governor Rauner purchased newspaper advertising against current State Rep Chris Welch in the 7th District race.
Harris stated: “There are many reasons PAC’s get involved in races: they want to advance a candidate; they don’t like a particular candidate; or they want a group to have to spend money they may not have planned to. We have yet to see what their plans are for this race, but I am certain that it is not to echo any backing of myself for Governor Rauner. The devastation caused by the budget stalemate should horrify everyone, and I reject Governor Rauner’s strategy of holding Illinois’ most vulnerable people hostage.
“Furthermore, I feel that that it is wrong-headed for Governor Rauner’s people to insert themselves into a Democratic primary election. The people of the 7th District are well aware of Rep. Welch’s poor record, and it is their voices that should decide this election.
“I am a mainstream Democrat. I believe we can have common sense compromise that will secure the financial future of this state. I support increasing funding for our schools and making sure that education is a priority. I am a small business owner who was union-backed in my local race, because I am focused on practical accomplishments that move us all forward.
“I am in this race because our current State Representative has a long history of corruption and patronage that devastated our local schools. We need a Democrat who will focus on fixing our communities and our state, not be a pawn for either Speaker Madigan or Governor Rauner.”
- Under Influenced - Wednesday, Feb 3, 16 @ 9:43 am:
Newspaper ads…really?
- LizPhairTax - Wednesday, Feb 3, 16 @ 9:43 am:
Pretty sure that the ad text doesn’t read:
Chris Harris
Smart. Aware. Curious.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Feb 3, 16 @ 9:44 am:
===”This is a Democratic Primary so it doesn’t make a whole lot of sense, in the big picture.”===
That’s Chris Harris.
Um, Mr. Harris… sir…
Rauner wants Raunerite Caucuses, not Republican Caucuses.
Bruce already HAS Republican Caucuses held hostage, you, Mr. Harris, are a product that Raunerites would like to be part of Rauner’s “Democratic Raunerites”
Keep in mind Chris Harris, you are being “lumped in” with Ken Dunkin, the Century Club President. Hit the search key as to what that all means.
Democrats, you don’t want these strangers in your house.
Dangerous times…
- Anon - Wednesday, Feb 3, 16 @ 9:45 am:
Maybe Proft is really supporting Welch?
- RTR - Wednesday, Feb 3, 16 @ 9:54 am:
@ Under Influenced
I’m with you…newspaper ads instead of direct mail to hard D’s? What gives? Is this some kind of head fake? Or are they gonna spend so much money there that newspaper ads are just one part of a mutiple-pronged attack?
- Anon221 - Wednesday, Feb 3, 16 @ 10:00 am:
Question- which newspapers??? Any with Rauner ties involved??? If so, then keepin’ the money “local”.
- Because I said so... - Wednesday, Feb 3, 16 @ 10:00 am:
Chris Welch is a hard working, good legislator. I feel bad that he has to deal with this nonsense.
- out of touch - Wednesday, Feb 3, 16 @ 10:02 am:
This is about making the Dems spend money. Nothing more.
Not to quibble, but should the tag line say “Rauner”, not Proft? After all, it’s Rauner’s money. If he’s going to be the attack dog, let him wear the bloody collar.
- VanillaMan - Wednesday, Feb 3, 16 @ 10:03 am:
Harris needs to firmly take a stand against this group, or be considered a tool of theirs. The pressure should be on Harris to answer why he is letting his candidacy be used against his own political party.
- Century Club - Wednesday, Feb 3, 16 @ 10:08 am:
VanillaMan +1
They’re fishing to see if Harris will bite or hoping to make the Dems spend money. Otherwise, they’d be in for $500k.
- walker - Wednesday, Feb 3, 16 @ 10:09 am:
Just a first move for this candidate. Proft has a bunch more to spend in a short time frame. Will be interesting to see how many more Dem challengers he will support in the House.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Feb 3, 16 @ 10:12 am:
Oh, it’s totally about draining Democratic monies, no question.
But…
If polling shows weakness, and Proft can win with Ken Dunkin and pick off on seated Democratic GA member… all the better.
Chris Harris is a Raunerite until he feigns in a statement he’s not and Proft moves from newspaper ads to negative cable spots against Welch, or informational intro ads for Harris.
But the crux, it’s about Democrats beibg “tapped” March 16th.
That’s the Number One goal.
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Feb 3, 16 @ 10:15 am:
Make Welch spend money, throw a bone to some friendly newspapers.
- cdog - Wednesday, Feb 3, 16 @ 10:20 am:
Seems more like a “follow the money” situation.
Clicking on the election report, the check goes to Newsinator, LLC. (Listed as a foreign corp on Sec of State, inc in DE on 1/1/16, agent McKenna on Jackson in Chicago)
Love those election board reports.
- Anon221 - Wednesday, Feb 3, 16 @ 10:48 am:
cdog- Thanks for the digging. That address comes up as Haake and Tarr, attorneys. As for McKenna (if this is the correct one)- Bloomberg has this on their site: http://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/private/person.asp?personId=639809&privcapId=32853470
http://www.muckety.com/Andrew-J-McKenna-Jr/5753.muckety (Note, IPI is listed)
- cdog - Wednesday, Feb 3, 16 @ 11:03 am:
Anon221
Looks to me like just another way to “wash” the money. /s
Casinos and gold centers only work some of the time. /s
- scott aster - Wednesday, Feb 3, 16 @ 11:53 am:
Dan Proft is a jerk and so is Rauner for giving him $$$.
- Century Club - Wednesday, Feb 3, 16 @ 12:13 pm:
Mr. Proft, Jason Gonzales here. I think you may have misplaced my phone number…
- Leo - Wednesday, Feb 3, 16 @ 12:40 pm:
Ask Distric 209 dor chris welch let them with no money a lot favoritismo for his politic frind he lost whent he want tonput his wife in 209 board ..a lot of people is upset with him he is going down.he is not good person he is so corrupt!!!!
- Leo - Wednesday, Feb 3, 16 @ 12:45 pm:
Dont go. To far just check his record he is exposed right to left he lost one time and he will lost again he is desesperated sending beautiful letter to people with childrens and community we know who is him we defeted one time and will do it again.
- Which Planet Do You Live On? - Wednesday, Feb 3, 16 @ 12:48 pm:
- Because I said so… - Wednesday, Feb 3, 16 @ 10:00 am:
Chris Welch is a hard working, good legislator. I feel bad that he has to deal with this nonsense.
Because you very obviously do not live in Proviso Township with that kind of comment.
- Leo - Wednesday, Feb 3, 16 @ 12:51 pm:
Ask Distric 209 dor chris welch let them with no money a lot favoritismo for his politic frind he lost whent he want to put his wife in 209 board ..a lot of people is upset with him he is going down.he is not good person he is so corrupt!!!!
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Feb 3, 16 @ 1:02 pm:
Sorry i am awere of mr welch corruptions. Everyone knows it ..poorly using high school money and using it to his own good we have a lot of people onvthe ground believe he lost one time and will working hard to have better choice harris is our best opportunity.shuld you be with us mr welch is going down he stared last year when he fail wit his wife ..the people dont make mistake …no with him his tail is longer you can read his bad reputacion..everywhere .he dont need propaganda for that..
- phocion - Wednesday, Feb 3, 16 @ 1:07 pm:
All politics is local. This latest twist isn’t some Rauner-inspired plot. It’s just good old fashioned Proviso/Leyden/Oak Park/Cicero Township political blood sport. Proft has long been an enemy of the regular Democrats from that neck of the woods, and Welch is their guy.
- Georg Sande - Wednesday, Feb 3, 16 @ 1:26 pm:
phocion +1
Ignore — as always — the conspiracy machinations of a certain incessant knucklehead whose rants are well known (only here) and meaningless — this is a backyard fight. Long time in the making too.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Feb 3, 16 @ 1:34 pm:
No one is on your lawn - Georg Sande -
You can make a point without going after commenters in a passive-aggressive way… can’t ya?
The Sandack-Uihlein race was a local spat gone well beyond the precincts defining a district.
The $1.8 million Proft is using is multi-prong, big and small picture, exactly like Sandack was too.
This time, it’s about Raunerites, draining Democrats’ monies, and saving Ken Dunkin, the Case One “Democratic Raunerite”
If local scores, like Sandack was, are settled too, even better.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Feb 3, 16 @ 1:43 pm:
Georg Sande, the fact that you are the most rapid Raunerbot true believer is so appropriate and revealing. Thank you.
Your every post drips in misanthropy.
You’re supposed to hide that, cousin, to fool the schmucks who haven’t caught on yet.
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Feb 3, 16 @ 1:45 pm:
Georg, sorry, that 1:43 post was from me. Wouldn’t want there to be any misunderstanding.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Feb 3, 16 @ 1:47 pm:
Sorry !!!serpico want chris welsh head because he was to week in his wife campaing he knows that and between him and other going to see all his corrupted behavior hey i heard that Donnie Boyce is comming back …hey welsh your plan is going down they have so many votes for harris he was standing for him be ready you has to expend more money ..dint work the last time but produce money for people !!!!!!!
- Georg Sande - Wednesday, Feb 3, 16 @ 1:55 pm:
Lol! #IfTheCapFits …
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Feb 3, 16 @ 3:35 pm:
To the Update,
===I am certain that it is not to echo any backing of myself for Governor Rauner. The devastation caused by the budget stalemate should horrify everyone, and I reject Governor Rauner’s strategy of holding Illinois’ most vulnerable people hostage.
I feel that that it is wrong-headed for Governor Rauner’s people to insert themselves into a Democratic primary election.===
Wrap a one sentence open, one sentence close, that’s was what shoulda went out.
Too long, Harris Crew.
Don’t walk me around the barn to tell me you disavow Rauner.
Tell me, move on.
Ugh.
“C+”, and I’m being “polite”
- Keysport - Wednesday, Feb 3, 16 @ 4:18 pm:
I am aware of both Mr. Harris and Mr. Welch and reside in Mr. Welch’s district. Chris Welch has a lot of problems related to District 209, however, Chris Harris is not a “mainstream Democrat”. I don’t like either candidate, but the money from Proft’s PAC has tipped the balance and I will be voting for Welch.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Feb 3, 16 @ 6:12 pm:
Wy id you dont want welsh or harris give your vote to the must corrup person in this distric see we the new board members thing are going in amazing way new superintendent new principal that happen just when you give other people opportunities ..harris is a new face in the distric he put his face to defent donny boyce. Welsh want to terminated boye because he didn’t participate in his politic machine. Welsh has been so corrup he never honorated the check with money he promest to Westchester people ask them for woman he was accused for sexual assault and use the distric money to his defense do you home work ….so sorry but everyone knows that …waisting you vote vote for harris a least he is tarying new thing…
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Feb 3, 16 @ 6:57 pm:
” - Anonymous - ” and your sound alike “friend”… - Leo -
You “both” are pushing me towards Welch and thinking Harris is less and less professional.
Thanks for that impression of Harris…