Jacobs profile
Monday, Feb 14, 2005 - Posted by Rich Miller
I’m still getting over the fact that I went to college with newly appointed state Sen. Mike Jacobs.
Father and son are as different as a spotlight and a light in a refrigerator.
Denny Jacobs, the recently retired state senator from East Moline, often basked in the glow of the spotlight and even searched out the attention. His son, Mike Jacobs, who was appointed to his father’s 36th District Senate seat, said he is more grind than glamor.
“Denny and I are different people — our styles are different,'’ Sen. Jacobs said. “He is more shoot-from-the-hip. I’m a planner and a plotter. I’m a behind-the-scenes guy.'’ […]
He’s already knows that cooperation goes a long way in getting things done. That is why Sen. Jacobs is making an early effort to reach out to state Rep. Mike Boland, D-East Moline, a longtime rival of Denny Jacobs.
“I’m not going to let petty battles in the past hold back progress for this area,'’ he said.
If Mike persuades Dennis Ahern to drop out of the primary against Boland, that would be a good start towards healing some wounds.
- Anonymous - Monday, Feb 14, 05 @ 8:45 am:
My impression has always been a mile wide and an inch deep. Certainly not a blue-collar guy like his dad. Maybe you have better insight, Rich. I think Mike’s definitely vulnerable to a credibile primary.
- Anonymous - Monday, Feb 14, 05 @ 10:33 am:
It’s certainly not fair to compare him to Denny Jacobs. There is only one Denny — definitely one-of-a-kind!
Where Mike may be vulnerable is in a primary — from the Darrows or the Bolands.
But he’ll have hid dad’s war chest for starters, and that’s a good place to start.
- Anonymous - Monday, Feb 14, 05 @ 2:44 pm:
so now it’s up to mike jacobs to madate who can run for public office or not? didn’t know he was so powerful!
- Rich Miller - Monday, Feb 14, 05 @ 2:58 pm:
Mike put Ahern in the first time and the second time. He could take him out.
- Anonymous - Monday, Feb 14, 05 @ 4:54 pm:
I know both Denny and Mike Jacobs…..and Mike ain’t no Denny. The younger Jacobs will lose the Senate to Boland, a proven vote-getter.If Ahern is the dem choice, The GOP will pick up Boland’s old house seat.
- Anonymous - Monday, Feb 14, 05 @ 5:35 pm:
Boland will not beat Jacobs for three reasons. First Mike Jacobs starts with 80K more than Boland, and the title Senator. Second, Boland and Jacobs run neck and neck in every county, except Jacobs wins Mercer, where he will get the endorsement of Verschoore. Though the Darrows will be a thorn to Jacobs in that area, they won’t go out of their way for Boland. Third, Bolands quitting his union and then re joining it, as well as his endorsement of a republican (as well as his circulating petitions against dem l.evans in 2000) will hurt him in a dem primary.
Ahern will not lose the rep seat to a republican; Mcneil is the ordained one though for that job, and he would not lose either (see 60/40 split of D’s and R’s in that area. JMHO
- Anonymous - Monday, Feb 14, 05 @ 6:08 pm:
the gop eyed mcneil last week, now they are eyeing ahern; what gives?do they really think they have a chance with r.i. county in play?
- Anonymous - Monday, Feb 14, 05 @ 9:40 pm:
Haring got 45% of the vote last time in the House race against Boland, and that’s why the House Dems may Boland to stay in his seat to win again.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Feb 15, 05 @ 3:14 pm:
Mike Jacobs needs to enjoy his brief stint in the senate because he’ll be gone after the primary in November. It doesn’t matter how much money he spends, how many lies he tells, or how many times he tries to reinvent himself. He is not Denny! People do not like him. In fact, most people are resentful of his appointment.
Simply put, Mike Boland is better- liked, better-known, has the funds to match Jacobs, and will work twice as hard!
The only way Mike Jacobs has a chance is if labor and the senate leadership back him, then it might be close - otherwise, forget it.
What a shame - Mr. Jacobs will actually have to hunt for his first real job ever! Unless of course dad can still pull some strings.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Feb 15, 05 @ 4:27 pm:
To the last anonymous,
What primary is in November? Did Illinois just change its election law and campaign calendar?