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* From House Speaker Michael Madigan’s primary opponent Jason Gonzales…
rich –
Our campaign just received its biggest endorsement yet!
The Chicago Tribune has endorsed Jason as their pick for State Representative of the 22nd District.
We add the Tribune to our growing list of endorsements which includes U.S. Congressman Seth Moulton, Alderman Dick Simpson, State Senator Robert Meza, and Democracy for American - Southside.
Early voting has already begun. Will you stand with us in the final stretch?
Click below to donate or sign up to volunteer!
Jason for Illinois
Moulton is a Massachusetts congresscritter. Meza is from Arizona. Simpson hasn’t been an alderman since 1979. DFA Southside has 38 members. But, hey, any port in a storm I suppose.
* The Tribune, to its credit, actually admits that Gonzales is a Rauner guy…
Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner and his allies are backing a few Democrats — yes, Democrats — who they believe will be more independent of Madigan. They’re funneling resources to the campaign of Jason Gonzales, a management consultant who is running against Madigan in the 22nd House District. It’s a Hail Mary from anti-Madigan forces hoping Gonzales can oust the longtime speaker.
* And here’s the paper’s completely unpredictable endorsement…
Who in his or her right mind would go head-to-head against Speaker Michael Madigan? Many people have asked Jason Gonzales that very question. The 42-year-old management consultant is challenging Madigan for his Southwest Side House seat. Other daredevils have tried to unseat the longtime speaker but crashed and burned on Election Day. Gonzales says his campaign is different. He has resources and money — some from reform-minded donors who support redistricting and term limits, and some from supporters of Gov. Bruce Rauner who are tired of Madigan’s iron grip on state government.
Gonzales has only lived in the district since 2013, but he has family there — and counters that Madigan is rarely there at all. “People want someone accessible and present in the community doing what’s right rather than playing power politics in Springfield,” Gonzales says.
He also is transparent about his past. In his late teens, he was arrested and jailed for using stolen credit cards. He eventually graduated from an alternative high school and went on to earn degrees from several prestigious universities, including Harvard. Gonzales is endorsed.
Maybe I’m wrong, but I’m betting the Speaker is practically living in his district office these days.
*** UPDATE *** Somehow, I doubt this was part of the Tribune editorial board meeting…
Democrat Jason Gonzales today announced his support for a progressive income tax in Illinois as a centerpiece of his candidacy.
“Under the current system, people living in poverty are asked to pay the same as wealthy, corporate CEO’s. We need a more equitable system that looks at ability to pay, so we can take the burden off Illinois families by lowering taxes for the working and middle class and ask the wealthy to pay their fair share.” Gonzales said.
Gonzales, 42, a consultant and former small business owner has master’s degrees from MIT and Harvard. He grew up in a working class union household and became the first member of his family to graduate college. Gonzales is challenging Speaker Michael Madigan in the upcoming Democratic Primary.
“Illinois is just one of a handful of states that still uses a flat income tax. In a time where so many people are struggling and are already paying some of the highest taxes in the nation, our outdated income tax system is an impediment preventing families from having the ability to get ahead,” Gonzales said.
Gonzales’ stance on this issue and other progressive policies like a minimum wage increase and elected school board earned him the endorsement of Democracy for America-Southside, former Alderman Dick Simpson and Congressman Seth Molton.
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Feb 29, 16 @ 1:12 pm
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I hope it means change, but boss Madigan can never be counted out!
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Feb 29, 16 @ 1:16 pm
I hope it doesn’t mean change. Given the choice, I would much rather have Madigan with his institutional knowledge than a Rauner puppet.
Comment by Because I said so... Monday, Feb 29, 16 @ 1:18 pm
===Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner and his allies are backing a few Democrats — yes, Democrats — who they believe will be more independent of Madigan. They’re funneling resources to the campaign of Jason Gonzales, a management consultant who is running against Madigan in the 22nd House District. It’s a Hail Mary from anti-Madigan forces hoping Gonzales can oust the longtime speaker.===
This, by far, and by miles, is the most honest admission that Raunerites are being created, and Democratic Raunerites mean Rauner’s only goal is to have Legislative Caucuses loyal to Rauner, and Rauner alone.
An Executive of one party inserting him/herself in the other party’s primaries to secure Legislative members beholden to the Executive and not the party of choice or their district is a dangerous way to blur the lines of co-equal and separated branches of government.
Dangerous.
Plus, the Tribune is endorsing the Rod Blagojevich plan more than going against Madigan, which I find most delicious…
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Feb 29, 16 @ 1:19 pm
Cue Bill Kurtis:
The ==epic struggle== and ==war== that began in 2015 raged on with the deployment of ==kamikaze== candidates.
Comment by Formerly Known As... Monday, Feb 29, 16 @ 1:21 pm
We really can’t afford change right now. We need a strong leader like Speaker Madigan to partner with the Governor to hash through all the issues and resolve the budget impasse. Starting over in the House with anyone just doesn’t make sense at what’s probably the most crucial point in the state’s history
Comment by cgo75 Monday, Feb 29, 16 @ 1:35 pm
The chicago tribune is a joke. I cant think of a paper nore in the tank for rauner. I plan to use their endorsements as a guide for who NOT to vote for.
Comment by anonymous Monday, Feb 29, 16 @ 1:39 pm
Tribbie is so in the tank that it couldn’t even endorse in Dunkin’s race.
Comment by anonymous Monday, Feb 29, 16 @ 1:41 pm
Rich, inquiring minds want to know, did you click to donate or volunteer?
Comment by burbanite Monday, Feb 29, 16 @ 1:46 pm
The powerful Tribune Democratic endorsements. If anything, Mike Madigan keeps the Trib ed board employed inhaling its own fumes.
Comment by Albany Park Patriot Monday, Feb 29, 16 @ 1:50 pm
“who they believe will be more independent of Madigan” …. And COMPLETELY beholden to Rauner.
Comment by CrazyHorse Monday, Feb 29, 16 @ 2:05 pm
My guess is that there is also going to be a republican or independent running against Madigan now too, might as well keep him and his resources in his own district.
Comment by Ahoy! Monday, Feb 29, 16 @ 2:13 pm
Whatever happened to the not-for-profit that was so highly-touted earlier in Gonzo’s campaign? Did someone finally do a little research into that and decide that the less said about it the better?
– MrJM
Comment by @MisterJayEm Monday, Feb 29, 16 @ 2:17 pm
The Trib endorsed Gonzales? I’m stunned!
Comment by Chicago Cynic Monday, Feb 29, 16 @ 2:23 pm
I always find the Tribune’s endorsements an excellent guide … of who NOT to vote for!
Comment by forwhatitsworth Monday, Feb 29, 16 @ 2:38 pm
Given the editorial slant of the Trib, I’m amazed that any House Dem candidates (other than Dunkin) might think the endorsement is a good thing.
Jac Charlier, running against D’Amico, is also bragging about the endorsement. Seems like an odd thing for a Democrat to brag about.
Finally, it is sort of funny that even siding with Rauner was not enough for Dunkin to get the nod.
Comment by Gooner Monday, Feb 29, 16 @ 2:44 pm
It is hard to be more dependent on Mike Madigan than actually being Mike Madigan. I’m glad that the Trib was looking for a candidate who could be more independent from Mike Madigan in the race for Mie Madigan’s seat.
Comment by The Way I See It Monday, Feb 29, 16 @ 3:18 pm
Tribune:
We love Rauner but Trump sucks.
Why?
Because we said so.
Comment by Austin Blvd Monday, Feb 29, 16 @ 4:03 pm
Actually, Madigan probably had to be told about the editorial board’s endorsement since he doesn’t read their editorials anyway.
Comment by Austin Blvd Monday, Feb 29, 16 @ 4:05 pm
Didn’t the trib EdBoard come out against the progressive income tax?
Comment by AlabamaShake Monday, Feb 29, 16 @ 4:12 pm
I drove through Madigan’s District his signs are everywhere. I know signs don’t vote. For Gonzales It would be a huge upset. If he won I’m sure their are plenty of people to take over for Madigan.
Comment by mokenavince Monday, Feb 29, 16 @ 5:22 pm
I said it before and I will say it again - Gonzalez’s numbers won’t even reach Piscszor levels.
Comment by Anonymouth Monday, Feb 29, 16 @ 5:55 pm
Gonzo, Rauner, and the Tribune are about to be handed their lunch.
Comment by Bob Blade Monday, Feb 29, 16 @ 11:43 pm