Edgar bucks Rauner, endorses Acklin
Monday, Feb 8, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Gov. Bruce Rauner has endorsed former Rep. Brad Halbrook in this race, so today’s endorsement sets up a proxy battle of sorts between the former governor and the current governor. Acklin has also been endorsed by the Illinois Federation of Teachers and the Champaign County GOP is all in for him, making this three-way primary race one to watch…
Former Illinois Governor Jim Edgar has announced his endorsement of Jim Acklin for the Republican nomination for State Representative in the 102nd District.
“Illinois needs dedicated and experienced people to get this state moving again. Jim Acklin’s experience speaks for itself,” said Edgar. “If you look at his time as a teacher, coach, and school superintendent, Jim Acklin has the kind of experience and judgement we need at the State Capitol. That’s why I’m happy to support him for State Representative.”
The 102nd District includes portions of Champaign, Douglas, Edgar, Macon, Moultrie, Shelby, and Vermilion Counties. Acklin has lived in Champaign County for over 35 years and was a longtime Superintendent at St. Joseph-Ogden High School and the Shiloh School District in Douglas and Edgar Counties. He grew up in Paris.
Acklin says Edgar was a “wonderful Governor and a man who is revered in east central Illinois” and thanked him for his support.
“Governor Edgar is a man who served Illinois with tremendous integrity is a model of what public service should look like,” said Acklin. “Governor Edgar served our area as Governor, Secretary of State, and as a State Representative. He has great respect and admiration for the people here, because he is one of us. To have the endorsement of a man whose legacy of saying “no” to spending we couldn’t afford, combined with an enduring reputation of being honest and forthright, is truly special. I’m honored to have his friendship and support.”
Acklin lives in Ogden with his wife, Cindy, and has three children. To learn more about Jim’s campaign, visit www.jimacklin.com or www.facebook.com/acklin102.
Discuss.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Feb 8, 16 @ 8:51 am:
===Acklin has also been endorsed by the Illinois Federation of Teachers and the Champaign County GOP is all in for him… ===
It’s the Raunerites v. Republicans.
I’m with Edgar all day, the Champaign County GOP, and this type of Primary is the only way Republicans can isolate Raunerites and help the GOP GA become Autonomous.
This is the battle. I know what side I’m on. The Republicans. It would be in the very best interests of Social Service groups and advocates in that district, along with Union members and unions outside the teacher to… choose a side, and pull GOP ballots, and vote for their better selves.
I’m with Edgar. It’s that “simple”
Vote accordingly.
- ILPundit - Monday, Feb 8, 16 @ 9:09 am:
This is one of the few districts where an Edgar endorsement could really make a difference. He really is revered in this section of the state,
- ToughGuy - Monday, Feb 8, 16 @ 9:16 am:
Edgar’s endorsement in this district is valuable. But is it worth millions as Halbrook’s backers do?. OW is spot on with this. Organization and foot soldiers vs. $$$$.
- Team Sleep - Monday, Feb 8, 16 @ 9:20 am:
This and the McCann-Benton race will have a large hand in the future of GOP caucus races and politics. Halbrook has already been a rep and has ties to some hardworking volunteer groups. Will the IEA swoop in for Acklin like they have for Dennis Scobbee (sp)? With all due respect to Governor Edgar, can his endorsement and his tone bring out potential volunteers? Just curious.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Feb 8, 16 @ 9:28 am:
===This and the McCann-Benton race will have a large hand in the future of GOP caucus races and politics.===
I strongly believe this as well - Team Sleep -
I also believe Dunkin’s fate will dictate how far Raunerites can infiltrate the Democrats to infect that party and paralyze the Democrats from being able to control their party before it faces the stranger in the house.
March 15th is that important.
I feel the Edgar endorsement is a big deal, but it’s the Union Members pulling a GOP ballot in that race that will be impactful, and the social service groups and advocates that send a message to Diana Rauner in that district to say, “We have a social agenda, Diana, and we’re voting Republican against Bruce”
It’s up to those two groups to see they can try to stop a Raunerite.
Will they? I dunno.
- Team Sleep - Monday, Feb 8, 16 @ 9:34 am:
Willy - and that’s my main query with all of this. Will a large swath of traditional Dem voters - such as union members and social service workers (and supporters) - pull an R ballot again? I know that AFSCME tried it two years ago. I’m sure there’s been some behind the scenes efforts - especially in the 50th - to make that happen. But with the Clinton-Sanders race - and the Duckworth-Zopp-Harris race - will that happen?
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Feb 8, 16 @ 9:39 am:
Sanders-Clinton should be close to being over.
The US Senate race, as important as it is…
If I hold a Union card, I provide a social service, receive a social service, which of these three races could very well effects my everyday life the most?
Ask LSSI.
Ask AFSCME.
Raunerite? US Senate race? A possibly decided POTUS nomination?
- the old man - Monday, Feb 8, 16 @ 9:44 am:
many gop legislators are following this race. they want to see if there is life for them in spite of rauner.
- sparky791 - Monday, Feb 8, 16 @ 9:50 am:
I have know Jim for over thirty years. Great man and will do best for people that he will represent. I also know Halbrook very well. He is opposite of Acklin.
- wordslinger - Monday, Feb 8, 16 @ 10:01 am:
–Will a large swath of traditional Dem voters - such as union members and social service workers (and supporters) - pull an R ballot again? –
Very doubtful.
March 15, with primaries in Illinois, Florida, Ohio, North Carolina and Missouri, is shaping up as the biggest day of the presidential race.
No one who thinks they have a whiff of a chance is dropping out before then.
- lake county democrat - Monday, Feb 8, 16 @ 10:28 am:
I agree with WS (again, this is frightening) - I doubt the Dem presidential primary will be over, and Duckworth and her allies won’t go to sleep and risk a potential pro-Zopp spillover from the cook county local races to trip up Duckworth. An even bigger wildcard would be what kind of downstate Republican voters turn out for a GOP primary. Edgar reminds me of Jeb! and Kaisach and at least to date that’s not whose driving the primaries (though I think that’s still a very fluid race).
- Team Warwick - Monday, Feb 8, 16 @ 10:33 am:
The guy sounds like a wonderful candidate, not surprised Jim is supporting his candidacy.
last time i looked, i dont consult the Wrongers before i have an opinion. I bet Jim doesnt either.
Its not “all about you” to the Wrongerites. Only malignant
narcissists would view other peoples decisions or actions as “all about you”. We all will still have our own opinions and actions long after you are completely gone. Only then will you understand it never was about you.
- JB - Monday, Feb 8, 16 @ 10:43 am:
It is too bad that we do not have another Edgar “type” as our Governor We would definitely have a state budget, and a plan for taking care of the pensions without robbing state and university retirees of their pensions and health insurance benefits We also would see governing and not playing politics
- There is power in a union... - Monday, Feb 8, 16 @ 10:52 am:
Except for the 50th, all union endorsed races I am aware of are D.
Hopefully the members in the 50th know what to do. Go with who will represent your interests. Any D’s in 50 should let the rest of the D’s in the state worry about the presidential and US senate primaries.
- There is power in a union... - Monday, Feb 8, 16 @ 11:03 am:
Ah, acklin was endorsed by IFT. I was looking at the CFL and IFL lists. My bad.
So, except for those 2 races (and any others I’ve missed) Ds can keep pulling Ds.
- There is power in a union... - Monday, Feb 8, 16 @ 11:07 am:
And I see Afscme endorsed scobbie and some Rs in downstate county races.
I need more coffee… -_-
- East Central Illinois - Monday, Feb 8, 16 @ 11:14 am:
- sparky791 - Monday, Feb 8, 16 @ 9:50 am:
“I have know Jim for over thirty years. Great man and will do best for people that he will represent. I also know Halbrook very well. He is opposite of Acklin. ”
I totally agree with this comment!!! I know both men. Acklin is a stand-up guy. Halbrook was a representative, but I use that term loosely in his describing him. It was always very sketchy that Halbrook lived in the district that he first represented (and having lived within this district I can say that he did not represent us well - at least now it seems that he lives in the district that he is trying to get elected. Halbrook has very deep pockets - with Rauner and with Andrewjewksi. Good luck to Acklin in his bid for the seat!!!
- Norseman - Monday, Feb 8, 16 @ 11:24 am:
Interesting question on whether sizable Ds cross party lines. We’ll see what the unions recommend.
- There is power in a union... - Monday, Feb 8, 16 @ 11:31 am:
Norseman, it will have to be targeted and nuanced. Which we’re not the best at. Case in point is the 2014 primary. People with contested Ds were told to pull D ballots. Anyone else was told to pull R for Dillard. We came up short. Too little too late.
The big D primary victory in Chicago was guzzardi over the berrios machine. But was it worth it to take votes and resources away from Dillard and put em into guzzardi? And others? And the other 2 D primaries in Chicago were against Mitchell and Andrade and they didn’t work. (Though you may argue it nudged Andrade a tad to the left. All of a sudden he’s a big fan of an elected school board.)
- Jimmy H - Monday, Feb 8, 16 @ 11:33 am:
I have huge respect for Jim Edgar. Republicans need to stand up to Rauner or the party will be DOA in IL.
- blue dog dem - Monday, Feb 8, 16 @ 11:41 am:
I can see the ad now,”….get this state moving again!”. Not sure who thats going to help.
- JS Mill - Monday, Feb 8, 16 @ 2:58 pm:
Acklin is very well known and very well thought of. He has high name recognition in the area- people remember his coaching time very well- and name recognition is as important (positive or negative) as just about anything.
- Nearly Normal - Monday, Feb 8, 16 @ 5:03 pm:
Acklin recommended by the IEA as well. IEA sent out a postcard with recommendation info–Acklin (R), McCann (R), Stratton (D), Welch (D), Schofield (R), Scobbie (R), and Reis (R).