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* We talked yesterday about Sheila Simon’s suggestion that Treasurer-elect Mike Frerichs be appointed to the vacant comptroller’s job as well. Frerichs isn’t interested…
A spokesman for Frerichs said, however, that although the treasurer-elect favors merging the offices he doesn’t favor the “informal consolidation,” and would not accept what he called “a dual appointment.”
“On Wednesday, Illinoisans will come together to celebrate the life of Judy Baar Topinka. We are all united today in mourning the loss of a great leader and friend,” said spokesman Dave Clarkin.
“Serious discussions will begin Thursday on the best path forward to reunite the operations of the two offices. Treasurer-elect Frerichs supports reuniting the offices and hopes to be a part of those discussions at the appropriate time. Although many have made the suggestion, Frerichs is not seeking, nor would he accept, a dual appointment to both constitutional offices.”
For Simon to have penned that op-ed without first consulting with Frerichs was just plain silly. She needlessly put him in an uncomfortable spot and dragged him into a debate where he didn’t belong.
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Dec 17, 14 @ 8:23 am
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–For Simon to have penned that op-ed without first consulting Frerichs was just plain silly. –
Rich you should have that as auto fill just change “penned that op-ed” works for 95% of lines with the words Sheila Simon.
Comment by Mason born Wednesday, Dec 17, 14 @ 8:26 am
She’s practically the Evelyn Sanguinetti of the Quinn Administration, but Frerichs handled it well. No harm, no foul.
Comment by PublicServant Wednesday, Dec 17, 14 @ 8:31 am
What happens when you switch to damage control after it leaks you called Quinn to get the appointment. Fire. Aim. Ready.
Comment by Lord Stanley's Cup Wednesday, Dec 17, 14 @ 8:34 am
Sheila Simon - Proving that the apple actually can fall far from the tree.
Comment by pundent Wednesday, Dec 17, 14 @ 8:35 am
Shelia - please, stick to the banjo!
Comment by Stones Wednesday, Dec 17, 14 @ 8:41 am
== For Simon to have penned that op-ed without first consulting with Frerichs was just plain silly ==
That is what 36 hours of jammin on the Banjo will do to you…
or
Perhaps she was just thrilled that as Lt. Governor someone would print her op-ed…
Comment by OneMan Wednesday, Dec 17, 14 @ 8:43 am
Look, Sheila may be the nicest person in the world, but her complete lack of understanding of political appropriateness is rather breathtaking. Someone had posted a link a few days ago to Sheila’s page of the ABC7 story saying she had called Quinn about the appointment, and they posed the question, “Why would you ask to be appointed to a position that the voters of Illinois rejected you for?” And then, voila! The op-ed appears with her stating that she shouldn’t be appointed because the voters rejected her. I’m not sure if that post prompted the op-ed (as Lord Stanley’s Cup said, as “damage control”) or what. Sheila can’t seem to help herself from stepping in it every time she makes a move.
Comment by ??? Wednesday, Dec 17, 14 @ 9:00 am
To clarify, I meant to say someone posted a link on Sheila’s Facebook page.
Comment by ??? Wednesday, Dec 17, 14 @ 9:01 am
Her op-ed was as clueless as her almost immediate call to Quinn was classless.
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Dec 17, 14 @ 9:17 am
Having a tin ear for the banjo is a requirement; having one for politics (and more) should be cause for permanent retirement from the game. But I’m sure she has a tin ear for sound advice as well
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Dec 17, 14 @ 9:39 am
Well done response by Frerichs
Comment by Anon Wednesday, Dec 17, 14 @ 9:41 am
Next -
Simon: “Since Frerichs declined my solution, I’m the obvious replacement for comptroller.”
Comment by Wensicia Wednesday, Dec 17, 14 @ 9:47 am
Law school professors don’t make good elected officials becauase they are too often thinking of of ideas up in the clouds without the practical realities and facts on the ground…oops, oh wait a minute…
Comment by Niles Township Wednesday, Dec 17, 14 @ 9:51 am
This sort of thing is why this staunch Democrat voted for Judy Baar Topinka. JBT knew how to get her job done. Simon, and it pains me to say this about Paul Simon’s daughter, is a clown.
(That’s why I don’t like the “it was the will of the voters that a Republican hold the office” argument. It was the will of the voters that Topinka should hold the office. I have no issue with appointing a Republican, but not for that reason.)
Comment by TooManyJens Wednesday, Dec 17, 14 @ 10:04 am
JBT was loved, valued and respected not because she was a great comptroller, but for what she brought to the table in politics and policy beyond the office.
It’s an administrative office. The folks who run the show there are professional and do a great job.
They did so under a lightweight like Roland Burris, too.
The fact is, the elected position of comptroller, like that of treasurer, and, to a lesser extent, secretary of state, is a landing spot for career politicians looking either to move up or to have a power base at the end of a career.
Those functions could easily be rolled into the governor’s office, and you’d have one-stop shopping for transparency and accountability.
The sturm und drang of who the next comptroller will be has no impact on people’s lives whatsoever.
Comment by Wordslinger Wednesday, Dec 17, 14 @ 10:16 am
Actually, it wasn’t a bad idea to move the ball forward on merging the offices. Clear that Brucie isn’t going to do anything but appoint a crony for four years to bolster his bench and turn the Illinois R from Republican to Raunerite.
Comment by D.P.Gumby Wednesday, Dec 17, 14 @ 11:15 am
I liked Simon’s idea, let’s cut out as much government’s in this state as possible.
Controller would be a good start.
Comment by Mokenavince Wednesday, Dec 17, 14 @ 12:09 pm
== Simon: “Since Frerichs declined my solution, I’m the obvious replacement for comptroller.” ==
Cynical as it may be, this is my reaction to both the ==leaked== news that she called Governor Quinn about the appointment and to her op-ed.
By publicly and deliberately associating her name with this position, it seems she may have thought public support would suddenly appear for her to be appointed as Comptroller. She must have known Quinn would never appoint her, so why else make the call expressing interest and then ==leak== the story of her interest to the press? Followed by this op-ed?
Comment by Formerly Known As... Wednesday, Dec 17, 14 @ 12:35 pm
Mercifully it’s the end of a short political career. Absolutely clueless but a last name that was like money in the bank…
Comment by Mouthy Wednesday, Dec 17, 14 @ 12:36 pm
== That’s why I don’t like the “it was the will of the voters that a Republican hold the office” argument. It was the will of the voters that Topinka should hold the office. I have no issue with appointing a Republican, but not for that reason. ==
Perfectly stated, @TooManyJens. It is about the candidate more than just the party. Your party is not entitled to the position by virtue of one person being elected to it. Now if we could just knock some sense into a few people offline…
Comment by Formerly Known As... Wednesday, Dec 17, 14 @ 12:38 pm
Frerichs made the right call. Good on him.
Ms. Simon, there’s always the next election (but rarely the last election) to get elected.
Comment by Toure's Latte Wednesday, Dec 17, 14 @ 12:55 pm
Her dad must be rolling over in his grace.
Comment by Federalist Wednesday, Dec 17, 14 @ 12:58 pm
I’m embarrassed for everyone who has said anything about the process of replacing JBT. Because 99% of those that have said something have made themselves look like jackasses.
Comment by Demoralized Wednesday, Dec 17, 14 @ 1:01 pm
I love how some people are praised for playing musical instruments and others are attacked for it. Or how some are praised as truth telling reporters and others are attacted for being truth telling reporters. Or my other favorite is those praised for ‘telling truth to power’ vs those who are attacked for ‘telling truth to power.’ Shelia Simon strikes me as an honest person and I like that, so go ahead and praise or attack because it doesn’t matter to me.
Comment by The new and/or old William j Kelly Wednesday, Dec 17, 14 @ 2:29 pm
Or I guess what I should have said is, go ahead and praise or attack because apparently it really shouldn’t matter to anyone! Lol
Comment by The new and/or old William j Kelly Wednesday, Dec 17, 14 @ 2:36 pm
Weddings, funerals, births and holiday celebrations are fraught with social blunders.
Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Thursday, Dec 18, 14 @ 7:12 am
= I liked Simon’s idea =
It was never hers. JBT campaigned on it in 2010. Rutherford tagged along then, and Sheila did not support it initially this year. When she tried to explain her position, and it did not go well, she decided to embrace JBT’s idea.
Comment by Dirty Red Thursday, Dec 18, 14 @ 8:31 am