Latest Post | Last 10 Posts | Archives
Previous Post: State Fair videos and pics
Next Post: Quinn on the defensive in face of union protests
Posted in:
* Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White used Governor’s Day to announce he has officially changed his mind and decided to run for a fifth term…
Democrat Jesse White announced Wednesday that he plans to run for a fifth term as Illinois secretary of state, a reversal of the position he took before last year’s election.
“I used to jump out of airplanes,” said the former Army paratrooper. “You never jump off an airplane and stop halfway. It’s all the way.”
The crowd at a Democratic rally at the Illinois State Fair cheered loudly at his announcement. White is well-liked personally and has been one of biggest vote-getters in state history. Although much could change between now and 2014, another White campaign could make it much easier for Democrats to hold onto an important statewide office.
Gov. Pat Quinn called White “our secretary of state forever.”
* More…
White learned the lessons of political longevity from a master. His mentor was George Dunne, the late 42nd Ward Democratic power broker who was Cook County Board president for two decades until retiring in his late 70s.
White’s announcement drew widespread approval from Democratic crowds at a partisan breakfast and later at a rally on Governor’s Day at theIllinois State Fair.
Marion state Rep. John Bradley, the master of ceremonies at the rally, proclaimed White “secretary of state for life.”
Thoughts?
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Aug 18, 11 @ 9:46 am
Sorry, comments are closed at this time.
Previous Post: State Fair videos and pics
Next Post: Quinn on the defensive in face of union protests
WordPress Mobile Edition available at alexking.org.
powered by WordPress.
It seems my quip in 2009 is looking more and more likely!
https://capitolfax.com/2009/07/22/question-of-the-day-783/#comment-9842178
Comment by How Ironic Thursday, Aug 18, 11 @ 9:50 am
I don’t really have a problem with the guy personally, but 4 terms is more than enough.
Comment by Ron Burgundy Thursday, Aug 18, 11 @ 9:55 am
well yea he’s staying on, a lot of his family members and friends would have to actually find a job if he left.
On a serious note, he’s been a decent Secretary of State for Illinois. He comes with the same baggage that anyone from Chicago would come with, but no one that we know of has died because of his actions, which is a step up from our previous SOS.
Comment by Ahoy Thursday, Aug 18, 11 @ 9:55 am
What’s with this talk that he’ll be secretary of state forever? I think that’s odd talk although no one was able to defeat him yet. A lot could change in the next three years!
Comment by Levois Thursday, Aug 18, 11 @ 9:56 am
Term Limits are needed. For ALL elected officials.
Comment by He Makes Ryan Look Like a Saint Thursday, Aug 18, 11 @ 9:58 am
A late stage bait and switch serves the few much better than a open primary.
Comment by High Five Thursday, Aug 18, 11 @ 9:59 am
If he was doing a bad job, he wouldn’t keep getting elected. I see nothing wrong here.
Comment by PaGo Thursday, Aug 18, 11 @ 10:07 am
I agree with Ahoy, if he left all his family and friends would be unemployed. Better to stay on and show up at the office once every few weeks.
Comment by Not a Newcomer Thursday, Aug 18, 11 @ 10:08 am
Good news for all of Illinois. He’s been a very good Secretary of State and how can you not like the guy. Keep it up Jesse!
Comment by downhereforyears Thursday, Aug 18, 11 @ 10:09 am
He has done a good job and seems in good health. If he can pull it off, good for him. Does he have baggage? Find a pol without it. For all the nay sayers - get a good opponent or step up and run for the spot yourself.
Comment by zatoichi Thursday, Aug 18, 11 @ 10:09 am
Everyone loves Jesse of course. The downside is that Ken Dunkin will still have Jesse to lean on for another 6 years . . .
Comment by siriusly Thursday, Aug 18, 11 @ 10:10 am
Actually I think ‘Secretary For Life’ White could serve as an example of what Illinois voters actually want from an elected official . . . . and what they don’t care about.
* Except for a few “feel good” headlines he stays out of the news
* He isn’t constantly maneuvering & grabbing for more power & clout
* He goes to work everyday . . . errr, he sends people to run the office who keep their heads down and just basically do the job
What’s not to like? If, as Ahoy suggests, some friends & family are holding those positions no one really seems to care!
Comment by BCross Thursday, Aug 18, 11 @ 10:17 am
Too bad. He should run for governor.
Comment by Chevy owner/Ford County Thursday, Aug 18, 11 @ 10:21 am
the services I used from his office were top notch, and it was one of the few times in my life I’ve said-government is actually better than I expected it to be.
Comment by Shore Thursday, Aug 18, 11 @ 10:22 am
I have zero problems with the Sec/State’s office, which is more than I can say for any of the statewide offices. Its corporate lookup database is functional, the DMV is functional and they tolerate my flagrant tardiness paying my business’s franchise fee.
As long as that keeps up White can stay however long he wants.
Comment by Dirt Digger Thursday, Aug 18, 11 @ 10:23 am
I see no problems with this given the job he does and the little baggage he seems to bring. He seems to be one of those few Illinois politicians who seems bright enough to do their job while still being ethical.
Comment by Lulabell Thursday, Aug 18, 11 @ 10:26 am
Now I’ll never get his name off my driver’s license.
Sigh.
Comment by Leroy Thursday, Aug 18, 11 @ 10:27 am
==A late stage bait and switch serves the few much better than a open primary==
I know that campaigning at every level of government begins much earlier now… but 3 years before an election is now considered “late stage”?
Comment by Jimmy CrackCorn Thursday, Aug 18, 11 @ 10:27 am
Seems a bit much and I would like to be critical, but then I think that I wouldn’t want to arm wrestle the guy.
Comment by just sayin' Thursday, Aug 18, 11 @ 10:49 am
Who cares? You get a drivers license it lasts for about 20 years. I am still a young man on my picture. Why in the world are these jobs subject to electorial politics?
Comment by wishbone Thursday, Aug 18, 11 @ 11:04 am
Jesse’s change of mind is bad news for Republican hopefuls who will have to outlive Jesse to succeed him.
Comment by reformer Thursday, Aug 18, 11 @ 11:40 am
Mr. White is just doing his part to shore up the pension system, all those contributions and a diminishing probability of any return. I appreciate that.
Comment by Bigtwich Thursday, Aug 18, 11 @ 11:54 am
Well, he’s lost the Amish voting block. It’s all downhill from there.
http://www.pantagraph.com/news/state-and-regional/article_3ac4dd9e-c929-11e0-b8d8-001cc4c03286.html
Comment by John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt Thursday, Aug 18, 11 @ 12:32 pm
Kind of a creepy title, though. Makes me think of the horrid “President for Life” character currently in “Doonesbury”.
Comment by girlawyer Thursday, Aug 18, 11 @ 12:37 pm
It’s confirmed. Jesse White is part machine.
I’m only jealous because at 77 he’s in better shape than I am at 46.
Comment by Ghost of John Brown Thursday, Aug 18, 11 @ 1:49 pm
James Crack Corn, Not now. Now is the bait, the switch will come much later , after the primary.
Comment by High Five Thursday, Aug 18, 11 @ 2:26 pm
HF- Roger that. I revoke my declaration of Shananigans.
Comment by Jimmy CrackCorn Thursday, Aug 18, 11 @ 3:51 pm
=== “(White) has been one of biggest vote-getters in state history” ===
Um. I believe he is THE biggest vote-getter in state history, unless you’re counting federal offices in presidential-year elections, which is apples to oranges given the turnout difference.
Many thought that Jim Edgar’s 1.9 million votes in 1994 against Dawn Clark Netsch was a mark that would never be beat.
White earned 2.6 million votes in 2010.
Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Thursday, Aug 18, 11 @ 4:10 pm
It’s a money-saver for the taxpayers-they won’t
have to replace all of those pictures at the
various DMV offices, etc.
Besides, he’s a good guy who stay’s out of trouble.
Comment by Esteban Thursday, Aug 18, 11 @ 4:42 pm
Enough is enough. I know that they are sending Springfield employees to do the work in Chicago facilities, racking up travel expenses, overtime wages, comp time etc… Jesse was just lucky enough to follow up Ryan and any bad issues have paled in comparison so the media cuts him slack.
Comment by Macoupin Observer Thursday, Aug 18, 11 @ 8:37 pm
Jesse White was the only public official who stood up to Blago when he appointed Burris, splendidrefusing to sign the official papers for the appontment.
Tough talkers Dick Durbin and Harry Reid folded at the first sign of trouble. Jesse White did not, although he was making mad a lot of old friends.
Aolendid behavior. Run, Jesse, run.
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Aug 18, 11 @ 9:54 pm
Sorry for the typos. Run, Jesse, run.
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Aug 18, 11 @ 9:55 pm