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* Sun-Times…
Throughout the recent presidential campaign, this mostly blue state’s Republican governor tried to keep a safe distance from Donald Trump.
While Bruce Rauner skipped his party’s convention last summer, Palatine GOP leader Aaron Del Mar cheered Trump enthusiastically from the arena floor, as a member of the Illinois delegation in Cleveland.
That difference must not matter much, because Rauner picked Del Mar last week to represent him at the city-state agency that runs the port of Chicago through June 2020. Del Mar stands to make $20,000 a year to sit on the Illinois International Port District’s board, which meets once a month.
Del Mar says he’s the best person for the job, citing a degree in public management from Indiana University, his prior service as a Palatine village trustee and his current position as Palatine Township’s highway commissioner.
“I’m honored the governor appointed me to this position,” Del Mar said. “My resume speaks for itself. I have real-life experience and the educational background.”
Some nasty oppo is also included in the story, but nowhere does it mention what could be the actual reason behind the appointment.
When GOP Sen. Matt Murphy announced his retirement, Del Mar coveted the appointment. As a township committeeman he had almost 42 percent of the weighted vote in Murphy’s district, making him a strong contender. He could’ve also appointed himself, by himself, to Rep. Tom Morrison’s (R-Arlington Heights) seat if Morrison got the Murphy gig. But Team Rauner got a lot of pushback on Del Mar (that oppo may have had something to do with it), so they went with Rolling Meadows Mayor Tom Rooney instead.
Del Mar got completely shut out. And now he gets a little plum job at the port district.
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Dec 7, 16 @ 9:35 am
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I’m old enough to remember when Susana Mendoza was accused by these people of being a double-dipper. But this guy hits the trifecta: Palatine village trustee, Palatine Township’s highway commissioner and Port District board member. THREE SCOOPS!
Comment by The Captain Wednesday, Dec 7, 16 @ 9:43 am
$20K a year for 12 “board meetings” of a golf course?
That’ll show those bad ol’ political hacks and bureaucrats.
Reform!
Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Dec 7, 16 @ 9:48 am
Maybe Del Mar can lead the Palatine secession movement now
Comment by Boone's is Back Wednesday, Dec 7, 16 @ 9:50 am
Wonder if that comes with free green fees and your own golf cart at Harborside Golf Course?
I think they built that track, but may not run it now.
Rauner is the governor. Rauner can appoint whomever he wants.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Dec 7, 16 @ 9:52 am
This reminds me of something that happened to a High School classmate of mine many years ago. He was wanting to get a State job, but was being shut out with every attempt.
He was active in his party, was a precinct committeeman etc, but was getting nowhere. His party was desperately seeking a reasonably competent candidate to challenge a sitting and very respected incumbent for a county-wide office.
He ran and was soundly defeated. Yet, amazingly, he quickly got a position with IDOT. And now, after doing his 30 years is enjoying a very comfortable retirement.
Comment by illini Wednesday, Dec 7, 16 @ 9:59 am
Two little plums. Township Highway Commissioner is also nearly a do nothing job.
Comment by walker Wednesday, Dec 7, 16 @ 10:00 am
“Wow. Good grief. I’m amazed,” the governor said…
Wait, different story.
I’m surprised that Aaron didn’t also mention that his name means “by the sea” to further bolster his flimsy credentials for the port job.
U mad bro? Text me.
Comment by LizPhairTax Wednesday, Dec 7, 16 @ 10:12 am
This is more proof that Rauner is just as bad as everyone else? Why is anyone getting $20K to show up at a board once a month. Is this taxpayer funded? How many people are on this board? Who are they? We need to drain the swamp of everyone - including Rauner - in Illinois.
Comment by anonymous Wednesday, Dec 7, 16 @ 10:14 am
This is more proof Rauner is just like everyone else. $20K for attending a meeting once a month? Who is on this board? Is this taxpayer funded?
Comment by Anon Wednesday, Dec 7, 16 @ 10:15 am
@10:14
Why type a whole paragraph here when you can have all the answers you seek by typing 4 words into google? Just fun saying “drain the swamp”?
Comment by LizPhairTax Wednesday, Dec 7, 16 @ 10:31 am
I assume this “board” will be on the governor’s target list when he begins local government consolidation as part of the TA.
But, I won’t hold my breath.
Comment by JS Mill Wednesday, Dec 7, 16 @ 10:33 am
That’s not even the nastiest of the nasty oppo out there on this guy. When he wrested control from the local establishment Republicans the right wingers had a field day going after Del Mar but he always comes up smelling like roses.
Del Mar’s a piece of work. He routinely crashed Democrat events to “learn” before he went after the Palatine and Cook County seats.
He also foiled right wing darling Ruth O’Connor (the long time GOP committeewoman next door) to take control of the Cook County GOP a few years ago.
The dude knows his way around a smoke filled room.
Comment by West of Wilke Wednesday, Dec 7, 16 @ 10:40 am
If I were a legislator and a tracker made me feel unsafe or creeped me out I would not hesitate to call 911. Sometimes there’s a very thin line between tracking and stalking and I would let law enforcement sort it out.
Comment by northsider (the original) Wednesday, Dec 7, 16 @ 10:47 am
From the article
Del Mar “U don’t know me or what I’m capable of.”
Rauner (allegedly) from Cap Fax 10/7/14
“I will make her radioactive,” Rauner allegedly told Gilman, according to the complaint. “She will never get another job anywhere, ever. I will bankrupt her with legal fees. I don’t know if she has a family or not, but if she does, she better think twice about this.”
Del Mar sounds like his kind of guy
Comment by Lost in Translation Wednesday, Dec 7, 16 @ 10:55 am
Who was the federal investigator, along with Mike Shakman who approved this?
Comment by Dr X Wednesday, Dec 7, 16 @ 11:42 am
What an embarrassment! This appointee is a disgrace. The deeper you dig, the uglier the oppo research on this creep becomes.
State Senate President Cullerton and Mayor Emanuel: Do your jobs and reject this appointment.
Aaron Del Mar is sui generis — one of the worst to have pushed his snout into the political trough.
Comment by Just Say No! Wednesday, Dec 7, 16 @ 12:02 pm
@Oswego Willy:
The Harborside Golf Course is in the vicinity of the Illinois International Port District, but I am fairly sure that the golf course belongs to the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District.
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Dec 7, 16 @ 12:09 pm
===…but I am fairly sure that the golf course belongs to the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District.===
Thanks. I thought I saw a plaque in the clubhouse about the Port, but I may be mistaken.
If it wasn’t December with snow on the ground is head over to play and see…
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Dec 7, 16 @ 12:15 pm
Harborside was developed and is owned by the port district. The google shall set you free.
Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Dec 7, 16 @ 12:25 pm
Thanks for the correction, but I did try to google it and came up empty by reading the golf course web site. Lots of sewage treatment works in the area. It smelled worse when the paint factory was close by too.
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Dec 7, 16 @ 12:35 pm
The odor of raw sewage is like perfume compared to this rank appointee!
Comment by Hold your noise and your wallet Wednesday, Dec 7, 16 @ 1:35 pm
Gov.Rauner-you want to clean up the stench from politics as usual in Illinois then end the pay for all these commissions. Make them volunteer jobs and we’ll see who is really public spirited.
Comment by NeverPoliticallyCorrect Wednesday, Dec 7, 16 @ 1:59 pm
Looks like some evidence at least of a quid pro quo for a government job (i.e. step back now and I’ll give you something later).
Exactly how is this different from what got Blago 14 years in the pokey?
Comment by GOPgal Wednesday, Dec 7, 16 @ 3:32 pm
Without Del Mar Rauner never gets the cook county GOP endorsement when he ran in primary. That was his first county endorsement and that got the ball rolling. He delivered now Rauner gives him a nice Christmas Thank You
Comment by Spot the dog Wednesday, Dec 7, 16 @ 3:43 pm