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* Tribune…
The Illinois State Council of the Service Employees International Union said Wednesday that it has endorsed Chicago City Clerk Susana Mendoza for state comptroller next year.
The SEIU is one of the state’s most politically active unions, and its backing could help Mendoza in a Democratic primary bid against state Sen. Daniel Biss of Evanston. The two announced candidates are vying to face Republican Comptroller Leslie Munger in a special statewide election in 2016. Munger was appointed to the post by GOP Gov. Bruce Rauner after the December death of Judy Baar Topinka.
Tom Balanoff, president of the 150,000-worker SEIU Illinois council, said Mendoza would work to “to champion the needs of the most vulnerable Illinoisans by restoring balance, reviving neighborhoods and helping to build an economy that works for everyone, not just the wealthy few.”
With Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez on the electoral bubble, you can logically expect the Democrats and their allies will make sure there’s a Latina on the ticket next fall.
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Sep 24, 15 @ 10:38 am
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“…to build an economy that works for everyone, not just the wealthy few,” said the man paid $222,000 last year via union dues derived from tax revenue.
Comment by nixit71 Thursday, Sep 24, 15 @ 11:00 am
-paid $222,000 last year via union dues derived from tax revenue.-
Explain to me how union dues are derived from tax revenue.
Comment by Honeybear Thursday, Sep 24, 15 @ 11:05 am
what was up with Fritchey and the SAO race?
Comment by Amalia Thursday, Sep 24, 15 @ 12:27 pm
Um how will the comptroller be able to do any of those things?
Plus so far, given the mess she has been handed, Munger seems to be doing a pretty good job.
Comment by Ghost Thursday, Sep 24, 15 @ 12:41 pm
What’s up Nixit? Can’t explain your statement? You can’t can you. There’s the problem right there with way to many people on the right. They just blast statements out without having the slightest idea of what they are talking about. It’s easy to just vomit stuff out in your own fact free and intelligence free environment. I get it that sometimes I say stupid things. We all do. But I try to learn. So teach me Nixit or be a troll.
Comment by Honeybear Thursday, Sep 24, 15 @ 12:42 pm
Unless Mendoza can get close to $9 million, gets on TV, and gets Union support to see this “Munger-Dem” race is really running against Rauner, by proxy, and make the race the #1 priority…
… it won’t matter.
Biss and Mendoza will drain each other, financially too.
Munger is the favorite, the easy favorite actually, Presidential year or not.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Sep 24, 15 @ 1:13 pm
@Honeybear-I thought I had 2 hours to respond?
Tax revenues beget state worker salaries beget union dues, do they not? If you remove the first, does the third exist?
Or if I can paraphrase Balanoff’s statement: The SEIU executive, whose salary and company are entirely dependent on tax revenue, believes raising taxes are necessary. Even though his tax rate would be higher, his salary and company directly benefit from said tax hike.
Comment by nixit71 Thursday, Sep 24, 15 @ 1:27 pm
==There’s the problem right there with way to many people on the right.==
BTW, I am independent and have pulled more D than R levers in the voting booth in my lifetime. But I’ve also done enough research on the public sector unions and their leaders to know when to call them out on their hypocritical statements.
Comment by nixit71 Thursday, Sep 24, 15 @ 1:37 pm
==Tax revenues beget state worker salaries beget union dues==
So, everything I purchase is then purchased with taxpayer money, which means I’m probably somehow paying your paycheck too, which means you are paid by taxpayer money. And by the way, as a taxpayer I cover part of my own paycheck when I pay taxes. It’s a whole big circle.
So, if I buy from a fast food place, and the employee, who is paid by my money, then goes out and buys drugs, does that mean taxpayer money begets illegal substances?
Comment by HangingOn Thursday, Sep 24, 15 @ 2:09 pm
Let me get this straight, the presumptive nominee at the top of the 2016 Dem. ticket is Hillary Clinton. Then for U.S. Senator we will nominate either Ms. Tammy Duckworth or Ms. Andre Zopp.
The only statewide officer’s race will be the special election for Comptroller, so we should nominate another woman to run for comptroller, the Chicago City Clerk, just to balance the ticket.
Comment by Anon III Thursday, Sep 24, 15 @ 2:11 pm
** The SEIU executive, whose salary and company are entirely dependent on tax revenue, believes raising taxes are necessary. Even though his tax rate would be higher, his salary and company directly benefit from said tax hike.**
Balanoff gets paid by SEIU Local 1, which represents no government workers. I believe that they do represent some private contractors that do work for schools/governments, but overall they rely on very little tax dollars.
I know. Facts suck.
Comment by AlabamaShake Thursday, Sep 24, 15 @ 2:14 pm
- Anon III -,
Biss won’t give Munger a race like Mendoza would.
Focus on the specific race, gender notwithstanding. Biss is a gift to Munger compared to Mendoza.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Sep 24, 15 @ 2:15 pm
Nixit, thanks for responding. I apologize for poking to try to stimulate a response. The problem with your logic chain is that it would only be plausible if you were talking about AFSCME which is the public sector only (actually mostly) union. SEIU is the Service Employees International Union which is comprised of mostly private sector workers like janitors, food service workers, maids,…service employees. Thus Balanoff’s salary is not being paid by public servants (although seiu does represent some state workers, home healthcare workers). It’s being paid by private enterprise SEIU represented employees.
Comment by Honeybear Thursday, Sep 24, 15 @ 2:16 pm
Nix, sorry to interrupt an ideological rant, but in your extensive research you surely must have learned that SEIU is not exclusively a public employee union.
Comment by Wordslinger Thursday, Sep 24, 15 @ 2:16 pm
2) 222,000 although a heck of a lot more than me is actually still within middleclass range. According to a study that I read recently (forgive me for not including. I can’t find it for the life of me) in actual reality middle class family income for someone in the Metro East area starts at 150,000 and caps out at 350k. At 350k is when wealthy begins. I know that may be shocking but it makes sense why those living well below that still feel like they are struggling. I only remember the Metro East numbers but I do remember that the Chicago numbers are actually higher. I’ll try to track that study down tonight. Thus the derision of Balanoff as a 1% er is misplaced.
Comment by Honeybear Thursday, Sep 24, 15 @ 2:24 pm
O.W.
So far as I can tell, Munger has never been elected to any public office. Ran once, lost once. The Chicago City Clerk is going to have to carry a lot of baggage downstate.
Comment by Anon III Thursday, Sep 24, 15 @ 2:30 pm
Anon III…so hilarious that you are apparently worried that there are too many women running for office and that all women look alike to you.
Comment by Amalia Thursday, Sep 24, 15 @ 2:32 pm
3) Final thought. I really resent the assumption that a “tax payer” is somehow the owner or employer of public servants. The State of Illinois is my employer. The State of Illinois is governed by the elected representatives of the citizens, NOT NOT NOT the tax payers, of Illinois.
The two might in most cases be the same people but the distiction is VERY important.
Comment by Honeybear Thursday, Sep 24, 15 @ 2:48 pm
==So, if I buy from a fast food place, and the employee, who is paid by my money, then goes out and buys drugs, does that mean taxpayer money begets illegal substances?==
Just his fair share of illegal substances.
Comment by nixit71 Thursday, Sep 24, 15 @ 2:49 pm
- Anon III -
Munger is the sitting Comptroller. Munger will have at least $9 million at her disposal, the JBT apparatus, and no bruising primary.
If you want to say Biss being male overcomes all that, and Boss will beat a Chicago city-wide official, who is also female…
Good luck with that.
Munger should pray for Biss over Mendoza. Pray for that.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Sep 24, 15 @ 2:53 pm
Okay I have to admit Nixit your fairshare comment was very well played.
Comment by Honeybear Thursday, Sep 24, 15 @ 3:04 pm
Maybe Mendoza can get some help from her old buddy Schock.(?)
Comment by Qui Tam Thursday, Sep 24, 15 @ 3:19 pm
===Maybe Mendoza can get some help from her old buddy Schock.(?)===
About 9 months ago, I bet Mendoza was wondering the same thing…
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Sep 24, 15 @ 3:21 pm
OW,
Did Rauner commit to spending $9 million smackers on the Comptrollers race? If not, I dont see how Munger is going to raise that amount (or why you feel Mendoza needs to raise that amount to compete).
And I disagree that the Presidential year won’t matter. This is exactly the type of race that the Presidential turnout model will have a big effect on. Uninteresting office. Huge partisan turnout for the Dems. Munger hasn’t been around long enough to have independent staying power as her predecesor did.
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Sep 24, 15 @ 3:29 pm
OW - name the last Dem to run statewide in a presidential year and not win… by 10 points. Nevermind… I’ll name him for you. Michael Dukakis, in 1988.
No matter what you think about folks like Rauner and Kirk winning in IL. IL is still a VERY blue state in Presidential years. And there will be a huge turnout operation to make sure that Tammy defeats Kirk. Munger is going to have huge problems in the General, even IF Rauner finds a way to spend $9M on that race.
Further, folks aren’t supporting Mendoza because she’s a better candidate, and definitely not because she’ll be a better Comptroller. They’re supporting her because the Speaker wants a Latina on the ticket. Period.
Comment by AlabamaShake Thursday, Sep 24, 15 @ 3:35 pm
===Did Rauner commit to spending $9 million smackers on the Comptrollers race? If not, I dont see how Munger is going to raise that amount (or why you feel Mendoza needs to raise that amount to compete).===
Nope, he didn’t.
But what I do know is that Bruce Rauner parked $20 million to buy his Caucuses, parked $9 million to secure IllinoisGO is flush to… Do whatever they will do…
If Rauner will park nearly $30 million to keep the pressure on, don’t you think getting a dozen or so “friends” to commit at least $9 million for his “wingman” (I still can’t believe that verbiage made it out for a speech)?
Rauner will make sure the seal is broken. Rauner can NOT have Munger lose.
Can’t.
So, the $9 million is the benchmark Rauner himself set as being “serious”.
Mendoza, even in the helpful Presidential year will not have the bottomless pit of cash, even with the spending seal off, and when that $600K a week of Ads for Munger go unanswered, and unanswered, and unanswered, the $3 million, let’s say Mendoza gets with strong Union money backing, it just won’t be enough.
Plus, the Labor Movement, Rauner doesn’t fear them, and he’s right.
Sorry, but Rauner’s right.
We’ll see if 2016 changes that, but… Tough road for Mendoza.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Sep 24, 15 @ 3:40 pm
===OW - name the last Dem to run statewide in a presidential year and not win… by 10 points. Nevermind… I’ll name him for you. Michael Dukakis, in 1988.===
- AlabamaShake -,
With respect, a special non-federal statewide election is far different than a US Senate or Presidential race running statewide. It’s uncharted in the recent past.
Kirk-Duckworth will be about a <$170 million race, combined, with a national narrative.
The POTUS race? We don’t even know who is dropping out next, let alone the nominees sbd how that will drive the bus.
Munger IS running, she WILL be ridiculously well-funded, and it will be centralized in non-national issues. That I do know.
Munger will swamp her opponent in funds, that’s another dynamic.
That’s why I have her winning.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Sep 24, 15 @ 3:50 pm
Rich’s statement ending his post, pretty much says it all.
Comment by walker Thursday, Sep 24, 15 @ 4:13 pm
Madigan’s ward has become largely Hispanic, and I have heard he wants the Hispanic Chicago City Clerk on the ticket. All politics is local.
Comment by Anon III Thursday, Sep 24, 15 @ 4:31 pm
Alright everyone, you got me. SEIU is not entirely public sector. I hereby retract my “extensive research” remark. Maybe if someone could pass along an org chart? Locals, councils, healthcare…GE has an easier corporate structure to follow.
Mr. Balanoff is paid by SEIU Local 1, but he is also listed as the president of the Illinois Council. From what I can tell, doesn’t the Council represent all the locals in the state? If so, that includes Local 73, which pretty much looks like it’s all public sector workers. But Local 1 is a mix of sorts.
So my blanket statement was wrong. Note to self: use qualifiers going forward.
Comment by nixit71 Thursday, Sep 24, 15 @ 4:34 pm
===Madigan’s ward has become largely Hispanic, and I have heard he wants the Hispanic Chicago City Clerk on the ticket. All politics is local.===
Guess that makes Biss the new “Alexi”?
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Sep 24, 15 @ 4:36 pm
Note to nixit71 - use things that are actually true next time.
Comment by AlabamaShake Thursday, Sep 24, 15 @ 4:37 pm
OW
== Biss the new Alexi ==
Don’t forget, Alexi beat Madigan’s candidate in the primary and then won the general, so at least for one election cycle, Biss would love to be the new Alexi. After that, not so much.
I almost never disagree with you, Willy, and Munger might very well win thanks to her sugar daddy. But you’re way out on a limb calling her an “easy favorite.”
Comment by Fred Thursday, Sep 24, 15 @ 8:19 pm
Why is it when working people ban together to elect a candidate it corrupt ” rauners words ” but when he spends millions to get elected his own personal boot licker it doing the right thing. Hypocrites to say the least rauners personal ball washers best describes it
Comment by Thomas stell Thursday, Sep 24, 15 @ 9:19 pm
Looks like Mendoza wants it both ways. She wants higher office as State Comptroller, but wants the safety net of not giving up her City Clerk position and can run again for that again in 2018. I think that says a lot about a candidate’s character. She will get crushed outside Chicago in a General. Biss is the stronger candidate in a General and has no ties to Emanuel and Madigan which will only hurt Mendoza.
Comment by anon Friday, Sep 25, 15 @ 7:10 am
===Looks like Mendoza wants it both ways. She wants higher office as State Comptroller, but wants the safety net of not giving up her City Clerk position and can run again for that again in 2018. I think that says a lot about a candidate’s character.===
Ugh.
Presidents Obama and Gerorge W. Bush ran for President during off-elections for US Senate and Governor, respectively.
Running in off-election time happens constantly, by both parties, for many offices.
Wonder if Biss is running in his off-election?
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Sep 25, 15 @ 7:29 am
is Biss still in office as he runs for another office? I thought so.
Comment by Amalia Friday, Sep 25, 15 @ 8:12 am