Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar » 2004

Thursday, Oct 21, 2004 - Posted by Rich Miller

Barack Obama finally helped voters see tonight that Alan Keyes is smug, condescending and arrogant to the core. Keyes truly believes he is right and the rest of us are wrong. He talks down to us as if we were small-minded children in desperate need of his vast “wisdom.”

The mask Keyes wore so successfully in the first debate was partially removed tonight. Let’s hope it’s pulled all the way off during the next debate.

Now, back to the ballgame.

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Prediction

Thursday, Oct 21, 2004 - Posted by Rich Miller

I finally read the Illinois State Bar Association opinion about the tone and content of the supreme court race’s TV ads. More details in the Capitol Fax, but it comes down much harder on Republican candidate Lloyd Karmeier than Democrat Gordon Maag.

Still, I’d be willing to bet that the media reports it as “both sides condemned,” and leaves it at that, as the AP has already done.

Fixed headline. Oops.

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Debate update

Thursday, Oct 21, 2004 - Posted by Rich Miller

This e-mail just came from the Keyes campaign. It’s a list of radio and TV stations carrying tonight’s debate. CSPAN-2 will be running it live, as will ABC-7 in Chicago.

Radio:

WAIK-AM Galesburg
WBGZ Alton
WCRC-FM Effingham
WEIU-TV Charleston (Oct. 24 at 5:00 PM)
WERV-FM/WKKD-AM Aurora
WFIW-AM/FM/WOKZ-FM Fairfield (Oct. 22 at 10:00 AM)
WKRS Waukegan
WLRB/WKAI/WLMD Macomb
WLS-AM Chicago (Oct. 21 at 9:00 PM)
WMAY/WNNS/WQLZ Springfield
WMEC/WQEC/WSEC Springfield (Oct. 26 at 7:00 PM)
WMIX-AM Mt. Vernon (tape delay if conflict with Cardinals in playoffs)
WNIJ-AM DeKalb
WSMI-FM Litchfield
WSOY-AM/FM Decatur
WVLN/WSEI/WIKK Olney/Newton (tape delay if conflict with Cardinals in playoffs)
WJBC (live stream at http://www.wjbc.com)

Television:

C-SPAN 2
KHQA-TV Quincy (Oct. 23 at 1:00 PM)
WEEK-TV Peoria TBA
WGEM-TV Quincy TBA
WHBF-TV Rock Island (Oct. 21 at 11:35 PM)
WHOI-TV Peoria
WIFR-TV Rockford (Oct. 23 at 10:30 PM)
WNOI-TV Flora (Oct. 24 at 7:00 PM)
WQAD-TV Moline (Oct. 21 at 9:00 PM)
WREX-TV Rockford (Oct. 23 at 12:30 PM)
WSIL-TV Carterville (Oct. 21 at 11:05 PM)

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The other side

Thursday, Oct 21, 2004 - Posted by Rich Miller

I received this e-mail today about Mike Noland’s House race against GOP Rep. Ruth Munson.

I’m intimately familiar with this race. Considering Noland has walked the entire district, and has dozens (plural) of volunteers that are doing literature drops for him in different parts of his district, I think he has run the best low-budget campaign in Illinois.

Considering he has gotten _no_ help from the DPI, including no staffers, let alone $, he is doing awesome ! I am familiar with other state rep races and I think Noland does have one of the best chances of winning a state rep race in Illinois.

Munson, appointed… is in a blue collar district and voted against blocking the federal overtime regulations from taking effect, which even many republicans in the GA voted to block…

Noland has run a real grassroots shoe-leather campaign and has thousands of signs up in the district. Munson has barely any visibility in the district and barely any signs and has not walked door to door like Noland.

This kind of race brings me satisfaction, because it’s not all about raising 50,000 . I would rather spend 10,000 wisely and have a candidate that knows what “right to work” is and walks every precinct in the district to meet every voter individually, than raise 50,000 to have it blown on consultants salaries and other bull… Sweat Equity is worth more than a wad of cash. Noland will shock the world on Nov. 2nd (well maybe not the world but at least the punditocracy class and maybe Madigan & Cross).

And from comments, we get this:

This guy is not crazy (maybe a little too excited about a “Tier 2″ state rep race to be entirely normal), but word has it that Madigan has been monitoring this race for quite some time.

The Repubs may think they have a “sleeper” in the Schock/Slone race (though I’d say the cat’s out of the bag on that one - the GOP should’ve kept their mouths shut and pulled an ambush, might’ve won that seat!) - but the real sleepers are this race and the Churchill race.

Don’t be too surprised if late money and troops are dropped into the Munson race…it’s a fair bet it’ll happen folks…

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Bean buys broadcast TV

Thursday, Oct 21, 2004 - Posted by Rich Miller

Congressman Phil Crane’s Democratic challenger is taking the broadcast TV plunge. The Democrat goes up on Chicago network stations with about $350,000 in ads tomorrow. More is on its way, however, and the League of Conservation Voters is already up with an anti-Crane ad. Crane, himself, is already in for 1,100 points, with more to follow.

Check tomorrow’s Capitol Fax for more info.

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$300,000

Thursday, Oct 21, 2004 - Posted by Rich Miller

JustPAC, a business-related tort reform “group” has dropped another $300,000 into Republican Supreme Court candidate Lloyd Karmeier’s campaign. That contribution means JustPAC has dropped all but $200,000 on Karmeier of the $1.2 million it has raised so far this year.

And stay tuned for a truly huge contribution to Karmeier very soon.

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Not what he wanted

Thursday, Oct 21, 2004 - Posted by Rich Miller

Republican Supreme Court candidate Lloyd Karmeier asked the Illinois State Bar Association last week smack Democrat Gordon Maag for running ads that violated a clean campaign pledge that both men signed.

Today, the ISBA called on both Karmeier and Maag to disavow their negative ads, two by Maag and one by Karmeier.

A committee set up to act as ethical policeman in the hotly contested state Supreme Court race in southern Illinois said Thursday that both campaigns stepped over the line with negative television advertisements.

A nine-member committee formed by the Illinois State Bar Association sent letters to the campaigns of Republican Lloyd Karmeier and Democrat Gordon Maag saying the ads were misleading and include statements that violate the ethical campaigning pledge both candidates signed in August.

The letters urge both campaigns to disavow the ads, paid for by the state Republican and Democratic parties, and say the committee is “troubled” by the negative tone of some ads in the 5th District race.

The ads, approved by Karmeier and Maag, accused the other candidate of going soft on crime while serving on the bench.

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Lake County heats up

Thursday, Oct 21, 2004 - Posted by Rich Miller

Strange goings-on in the land to the North.

As candidates for county-wide office enter the final weeks of campaigning, challengers for two usually low-profile races are ratcheting up the pressure on their incumbents.

Dr. Richard Keller, the Democratic candidate for coroner, is pressing his attacks against incumbent Jim Wipper’s acceptance of public aid money and use of a county vehicle to cremate indigent bodies.

The Lake County States Attorney’s office has formally asked the state Attorney General’s office to look into the practice. [Snip]

Meanwhile, in another countywide race, Democrat Mary “Margo” Nelson has criticized Republican incumbent circuit clerk Sally Coffelt for sending out office e-mails to staff last year seeking help with political activities. Coffelt previously came under fire from her Democratic challenger for hiring relatives to the office.

Keller, a Waukegan physician, said Wipper has reportedly received as much as $1,000 in state public aid reimbursements for having the indigents cremated at a Lake Villa crematorium at a cost of $150.

“It’s definitely an ethical problem to profit from the death of indigent individuals through his office as coroner,” he said.

That’s some creepy stuff about the coroner’s race. You definitely should read the rest of the article.

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Coulson piece

Thursday, Oct 21, 2004 - Posted by Rich Miller

Keep in mind when reading this story that the 59th Senate District race may break the $2 million mark.

In what could be one of the state’s most expensive General Assembly races, Republican Rep. Elizabeth Coulson of Glenview is fighting for her political life against a well-funded opponent on the independent-minded North Shore.

As of Wednesday, Democratic Party officials had invested more than $100,000 in the candidacy of Michele Bromberg, 43, a Skokie village trustee since 2001 and a registered nurse who is making Coulson’s GOP credentials a major issue.

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Not what you would call “hot”

Thursday, Oct 21, 2004 - Posted by Rich Miller

Keep in mind when reading this story that Democrat Michael Noland has raised about $12,000 since July 1st. This ain’t no hot race.

With campaign signs sprouting like dandelions in front yards and candidate forums airing almost every week, the race for state representative in the 43rd District is shaping up as the most contentious legislative campaign in the northwest suburbs.

The matchup pits Republican incumbent Ruth Munson, seeking her first election to the Elgin-area House seat, and Democrat Michael Noland, who is waging an aggressive challenge in his second bid for the office.

There is a far more competitive, contentious and expensive northwest suburban race. Check out today’s Capitol Fax for details.

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Oh, that’s rich

Thursday, Oct 21, 2004 - Posted by Rich Miller

From the Tribune:

Gov. Rod Blagojevich said Wednesday that a trip to a posh Puerto Rican resort paid by companies and lobbyists for 11 Latino legislators creates a “perception problem.”

The governor flies all over the country and is feted, wined and dined at the finest hotels and restaurants, almost all paid for by lobbyists, state contractors and other hangers-on through his campaign fund, and he has the gall to even suggest that somebody else has a “perception problem”?

Give me a break.

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“Here” is a little background on today’s issue

Thursday, Oct 21, 2004 - Posted by Rich Miller

Go here to watch the new TV ad by 32nd Senate District candidate Patrick Ouimet (D-Woodstock). You can find an article about Sen. Pam Althoff’s support for a school tax swap here.

Go here for a decent background piece on 38th Senate District candidate Gary Dahl (R-Granville). You can find Dahl’s response to Sen. Pat Welch’s attack ads here

Here is the recent press release from the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform that talks about fundraising totals.

The Illinois State Rifle Association’s press release on Attorney General Lisa Madigan’s call for an assault weapons ban is here.

And here is an article about Rep. Ron Stephens’ battle with prostate cancer.

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Newbie

Wednesday, Oct 20, 2004 - Posted by Rich Miller

Welcome to the world, Madison Olivia Clarke, daughter of Jerry and Lanae Clark!!!

2 Comments

Strike averted

Wednesday, Oct 20, 2004 - Posted by Rich Miller

Unionized journalists and management at the Chicago Sun-Times narrowly averted a strike this afternoon after reaching a tentative agreement on a new three-year contract.

Roughly 185 reporters, copy editors and other newsroom personnel affiliated with the Chicago Newspaper Guild had threatened to walk out at noon today if a new deal could not be hammered out.

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Busted

Wednesday, Oct 20, 2004 - Posted by Rich Miller

They’ve been doing this for years, so it was only a matter of time before somebody questioned the ethics of the trip.

Struggling to restore confidence in a state government battered by scandal, Illinois lawmakers late last year passed sweeping ethics reforms that included new restrictions on gifts from those who could influence them.

But two weeks ago, a large group of legislators passed through a gaping loophole in that law on their way to a posh Puerto Rican resort in a trip paid for by companies and lobbyists seeking favors from the state, a Tribune investigation has found.

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Stop, thief!

Wednesday, Oct 20, 2004 - Posted by Rich Miller

Another sign-theft story, this one from the Northern Star.

As the 2004 presidential election heats up in its final month, wrecked and strewn political signs have become a common sight in DeKalb.

â€œItâ€™s an annoyance, itâ€™s rude and itâ€™s undemocratic,â€ said professor emeritus of sociology Herb Rubin, whose signs have been stolen for the second election in a row.

Rubin said that this election season, his signs for presidential candidate John Kerry, Illinois senate candidate Barack Obama and state representative candidate Bob Brown were stolen from his property.

â€œItâ€™s happened to me in the past. [Signs] were all taken and tossed into peopleâ€™s lawns,â€ he said.

The experience is not new for Julia Fauci, Democrat DeKalb County Board member.

Fauci said she had 20 of her campaign signs taken from supportersâ€™ yards in one night while running for DeKalb County Board two years ago…

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Will County update

Wednesday, Oct 20, 2004 - Posted by Rich Miller

Check out this update on Sen. Larry Walsh’s race for Will County executive.

While Will County Executive Joe Mikan touted his record in office, Sen. Larry Walsh turned up the heat Monday night during the candidates’ forum at the University of St. Francis.

Although both men wore dark suits, white shirts and red ties and hit the same notes on many issues in the race for county executive, they had different styles. Walsh, the Democrat, was fiery. Republican Mikan was calm and in control.

In his opening remarks, Walsh vowed to reach out to Will County residents who now feel ignored, implying that many of them lived in the eastern part of the county near the airport now proposed for Peotone. And he promised an immediate change if elected.

Also, here’s an update on the increasingly bitter Will county state’s attorney race.

Monday’s debate between the two candidates for state’s attorney was a raucous affair at the University of St. Francis.

Topics ranged from the serious â€” the federal probe of the Hired Truck Scandal in Chicago â€” to the silly: challenger Jim Glasgow calling incumbent Jeff Tomczak’s supporters the “chicken gallery.”

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Pangle scores again

Wednesday, Oct 20, 2004 - Posted by Rich Miller

If newspaper endorsements won elections, Kay Pangle would be walking away with this one. (From the Daily Southtown):

Long-time state Rep. Phil Novak of Bradley resigned last year and was replaced by Lisa Dugan of Kankakee. She is the Democratic nominee for the seat. We endorse the Republican, Kay Pangle, who is the elected Regional Superintendent of Schools for Kankakee and Iroquois counties. We prefer Pangle because of her well-informed and realistic position on school funding reform. Pangle is a life-long educator and school administrator who understands the inequities and inadequacies of the state’s school funding system and supports a thoughtful solution, House Bill 750, which would increase state support for schools and reduce local property taxes. The Legislature needs more voices like Pangle’s.

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Not political?

Wednesday, Oct 20, 2004 - Posted by Rich Miller

Remember when the secretary of state’s office told me that an announcement would be made at Rep. Ralph Capparelli’s drivers services seminar that it was NOT to be considered political in any way?

As you will recall, the SoS used tax money to pay for several thousand fliers announcing the event. Many of those fliers were sent into the 20th District, which Cap doesn’t now represent but hopes to soon.

Well, the Repubs snapped a few pics outside the White Eagle on Tuesday morning. Sure looks like a campaign event to me:

Notice the Secretary of State driver services van not far from the Cap sign.

2 Comments

Althoff race

Wednesday, Oct 20, 2004 - Posted by Rich Miller

We’ve been keeping half an eye on this campaign, but it’s completely on the radar now. More in tomorrow’s Capitol Fax. Until then, check out this Daily Herald story.

With a 40-fold increase in fund raising, the Fox Valley race for the 32nd District state Senate seat could jack spending from 39 cents a vote two years ago to nearly $14 a vote this year.

A traditionally Republican stronghold now has become one of Illinois’ hottest contests - with a Democratic newcomer leading the combined campaign fund-raising charge very near the $1 million mark, state reports show.

Two years ago, the seat wasn’t so costly. Republican incumbent Dick Klemm spent less than $20,000 to earn 41,233 votes. His Democratic challenger, Ray Flavin, spent less than the required $3,000 to file a campaign contribution report in collecting his 17,694 votes.

Klemm resigned in February 2003 after he was diagnosed with cancer. Pamela Althoff of McHenry took over.

As of Tuesday, Althoff had netted about $289,000 for her campaign.

Democratic challenger Patrick Ouimet has collected about $503,000. The Woodstock attorney notched $182,000 last week just from the Illinois Senate Democratic Fund.

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Shafted

Wednesday, Oct 20, 2004 - Posted by Rich Miller

It’s unreal how these schools were screwed. The Bloomington Pantagraph profiles one of them.

El Paso-Gridley Superintendent Jim Miller guided about 150 letters from El Paso-Gridley parents out of the district office toward the hands of legislators Tuesday.

The letters were a combination of those hand-written and those signed by community members asking the state to pay the merger incentives originally promised to the newly formed district.

Like Prairie Central and six other newly merged districts, El-Paso-Gridley first was told it would get 40 percent of the money originally promised and then learned it would be zero.

Only districts that consolidated before March will receive the incentives.

Legislators who support full funding of the merger incentives are planning to introduce a bill during the General Assembly’s November veto session asking that the money be paid.

“The general word is we have a lot of support. It’s whether that will translate into ‘yes’ votes and if there is the money to fund it,” Miller said.

Read the whole piece.

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Hassert up against a Libertarian

Wednesday, Oct 20, 2004 - Posted by Rich Miller

I don’t usually do stories about these marginal races, but local papers always run them late in the game. Here’s the Daily Southtown’s take on Rep. Brent Hassert’s race against a Libertarian.

For the second time, state Rep. Brent Hassert (R-Romeoville) is facing a Libertarian in his run for re-election. [Snip]

Hassert’s opponent, Bolingbrook resident Austin Hough, has been active in the state Libertarian party and serves on the Fountaindale Public Library Board. Hough said he was asked to run by the party and he felt obligated to do so.

“I’m a big believer in privatization,” Hough said. “I believe the reason we founded this country (an escape from England’s taxation system) — we’re getting away from all that.”

Hough sees publicly funded fountains, golf courses and other projects that go beyond the basics of what a government should do, and says, “It’s that kind of stuff that makes people like me decide to run.”

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Bicycling to victory

Wednesday, Oct 20, 2004 - Posted by Rich Miller

Despite the eye-catching lede, this isn’t a terrible story for Rep. Ed Sullivan, although I bet the thing is run by papers everywhere.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) A state representative who was barred from driving because of a drunken driving conviction has hit the campaign trail on a bicycle.

State Rep. Edwin Sullivan Jr. has been pedaling door-to-door in his northern Illinois district with a helmet and a backpack stuffed with fliers.

“It’s really convenient in rural areas where the houses are more spread out,'’ said the 35-year-old Republican. “They’re a lot easier to get to on a bike compared to if I had to walk up and down the driveways.'’

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Forby Speaks

Wednesday, Oct 20, 2004 - Posted by Rich Miller

If you’re in the mood for a chuckle, listen to our favorite inarticulate state Senator, Gary Forby, speak about a few issues of interest. Despite what the Tribune editorial board would have you believe, you can understand him perfectly, but his reading skills do leave a little to be desired.

Why the Senate Democrats would do this to their own guy is beyond me.

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