* Tribune…

Marty Durkan, who’s running as a Democrat for a water reclamation board seat, spent around $50,000 on a mailing for Ald. Michelle Harris, who’s the Cook County party’s endorsed candidate for Circuit Court clerk.

* From a reader…

A front and back mailer I got today. What Bruce Rauner has to do with the Cook County Circuit Clerk or the MWRD I have no idea, but it must poll well or something.

Also, in the 10 years I’ve lived in Cook County I have never voted in a Democratic Primary so they may want to check their universe sampling.

I was honestly confused what the [heck] I was getting until I read it word-for-word which is never good for a mail piece. And why is it paid for by Durkan (which is an unfortunate name to have for a Democratic candidate in Cook these days)? Since this obviously went to a lot of people (see above) couldn’t they have funneled it through the state party and saved a ton of cash?

Rauner doesn’t exactly poll well in Cook these days.

* The mailer…

       

19 Comments - Ravenswood Right Winger - Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 10:33 am: I also received the same mailer addressed to me, a voter who has never voted in the Democratic primary in the 20 years I’ve lived in Chicago. Not sure about that target audience… - anonymous retiree - Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 10:34 am: I got the same mailer and have never voted in a Democrat primary. Unbelievable to compare Rauner with the Flint Michigan fiasco - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 10:36 am: Funny, Bruce Rauner lived “running” against Mike Madigan, but to be the cover for Raunerites like Ken Dunkin, you can’t be toxic too… If your a governor, and your name is toxic, it’s hard to be the Executive and have Legislators rally around you. This is MWRD we’re talking here. The governor is THAT toxic. That’s right, exactly right. - Just Observing - Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 10:40 am: === Unbelievable to compare Rauner with the Flint Michigan fiascom === Especially because the MWRD treats wastewater, it does not supply tap water. But lots of MWRD candidates try to mesh the two services together for political points. - Juice - Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 10:42 am: Not on the specific attacks, which are a bit outlandish, but in FY 2015 the MWRD did get about $120 million from the State (in the form of loans). So at least the Governor is somewhat involved. - burbanite - Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 10:47 am: I am thinking the next mailer will be paid by Harris. I saw this the last election cycle, were one candidate was one one side and another on the other. Presumably to be able to send more mailers by splitting the cost/mailer. - chi - Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 10:53 am: Rauner and Snyder share a theory about the state taking control of local governments that are low on money. They are both in favor. The Flint water crisis is Exhibit A in the argument against state-takeovers. Completely fair game to compare the two. - JoanP - Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 10:55 am: As for Michelle Harris, I fail to see how it is the function of the Clerk of the Circuit Court to advocate for increased criminal penalties or what her job has to do with breast cancer screening and other medical services. She should be talking about increasing efficiency and accuracy in the office. - Boone's is Back - Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 10:57 am: What’s weird to me is that the front highlights how Harris is endorsed by the Cook County Dems, but doesn’t mention that about Durkan because he was not slated. Is this an attempt make up for that? Also curious what party leadership thinks about it? Maybe they’re just happy someone else is dropping 50k on her race. - James the Intolerant - Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 10:58 am: Doesn’t that look just like Dorothy Brown to the left of Michelle Harris? Michelle Harris voted for less aldermanic oversight by the IG. I am surprised she didn’t say, guys, I have to sit this one out. - NorthCenter - Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 11:01 am: I got a good chuckle reading the Michelle Harris side. Name dropping Obama and Rauner under any circumstance was apparently their goal. I personally find it a bit weird that these two are sharing a mail piece as the two offices don’t really have anything to do with each other. If Durkan had put something out with Josina Morita or someone like that I could see it making more sense. - Politix - Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 11:07 am: We received the flyer the other day and a phone call on Durkan’s behalf last night…something about how he’s a union member and union members are voting for him. I often wonder about the folks who design, write, and edit these things. The way the photos were treated is strange. - AlabamaShake - Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 11:15 am: ** Since this obviously went to a lot of people (see above) couldn’t they have funneled it through the state party and saved a ton of cash?** Well, probably because Durkan wasn’t endorsed by the Party. - Juvenal - Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 11:50 am: I can’t believe they compared the venture capitalist turned neophyte governor of Michigan with our venture capitalist turned neophyte governor either. First off, Snyder is only worth about $200 million. Secondly, Rauner only slashed care for kids with developmental disabilities, kids at risk of abuse, and homeless children. It’s not like he put them in harm’s way. Oh, except he did. But it’s not like Rauner ever said Rick Snyder is a role model. Except he did. *mic drop* - Snucka - Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 12:50 pm: Durkan was a late entrant to the race, and the endorsement had already gone to young political dynamo Tom Greenhaw. This mailer is Durkan’s (and the Party’s) attempt to confuse voters into believing that longtime party loyalist Durkan is the endorsed candidate without officially pulling the endorsement from the upstart Greenhaw. - Lincoln Parker - Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 2:10 pm: I also got the flyer. This is the first evidence I’ve seen of any type of campaign for Michelle Harris, which is very disappointing. I feel like we are going to end up with 4 more years of Dorthy Brown, if she doesn’t go to jail before that. That office is ripe for new leadership and big improvements. The Cook County Democrats should’ve actually slated someone who will make a difference & not maintain the status quo. - Will Caskey - Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 2:53 pm: Dude spent FIFTY GRAND on one lousy mail piece half of which doesn’t even promote him? I can’t even - Come on man! - Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 4:03 pm: FIFTY GRANT more than Greenhaw and Seo has spent in paid communication. - Snucka - Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 10:01 pm: Greenhaw doesn’t need to spend that much. He will be listed on the official Cook County Democratic Party mailers. Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.