Does John G have it sewn up for his guy or not? The QC Times Dispatch and Rock Island Argus fills us in.

Rock Island County Democrats may not be the king makers of the 17th Congressional District, if party bosses in other counties get their way.

Rock Island County Democratic party chairman John Gianulis said he will endorse a candidate from within the county and expects other chairmen from around the district will fall in line.

Mr. Gianulis called a press conference Friday to announce who he’d endorse to replace U.S. Rep. Lane Evans on the November ballot. Instead, he said he will make the announcement next week.

He believes his backing will bring others throughout the congressional district in line behind his candidate, especially other county party chairmen.

“I told them who I support will be a Rock Island County candidate and I am sure they will support that,” he said.

But that may not be the case.

“I’ve talked to a lot of county chairmen, and the chairmen I’ve talked to don’t care for the person John is going for,” Vern Hagstrom, Adams County Democratic party chairman, said.

[Hat tip: Inside Dope, who has more]

What have you heard lately?

UPDATE: Just got this e-mail:

Rich:

Today’s bit on Lane Evans attributes a story to the QC Times. The story you quote actually ran in The Dispatch and The Rock Island Argus.

Sorry, again, for that time a few years back when we accidently identified you as a murderer.

Joe Beach
Metro editor
The Dispatch/The Rock Island Argus

True story.

       

16 Comments - anonymous - Monday, Apr 10, 06 @ 8:43 am: Word is that Sen. John Sullivan is a serious contender, with support from U.S. Senator Dick Durbin. Look out. He could wrap this up early. - Observer-2-all - Monday, Apr 10, 06 @ 8:56 am: It is my hope that the Dem’s will put forth a candidate that can truely appreciate service to the people. I am amazed how, in the past 2 weeks, we have heard about what an amazingly wonderful Representative Mr. Evans has been. Let’s see, the issues that face our Country, and the people of the 17th… 1. Jobs - very poor performance by Mr. Evans. 2. Immigration Reform - silence. 3. Social Security reform - the man will not even agree that there is a problem. 4. Tax & Spend - the worst Representative in Congress. 5. Healthcare reform - again, silence. 6. Energy policy - ‘let’s have the taxpayers pay for the bills of those who cannot afford to, expanding the welfare state (bad policy’ 7. Voted against protecting the flag. 8. Voted against protecting the ‘Pledge of Allegiance’ 9. Voted against the ban on ‘Partial Birth Abortion’ How does a man who so poorly represents the needs and the values of the people get elected to office 12-times! PLEASE, please, please - can you please put forth a candidate that cares about the people he represents (and not the typical (both sides of the isle) politician)? - Observer-2-all - Monday, Apr 10, 06 @ 8:56 am: It is my hope that the Dem’s will put forth a candidate that can truely appreciate service to the people. I am amazed how, in the past 2 weeks, we have heard about what an amazingly wonderful Representative Mr. Evans has been. Let’s see, the issues that face our Country, and the people of the 17th… 1. Jobs - very poor performance by Mr. Evans. 2. Immigration Reform - silence. 3. Social Security reform - the man will not even agree that there is a problem. 4. Tax & Spend - the worst Representative in Congress. 5. Healthcare reform - again, silence. 6. Energy policy - ‘let’s have the taxpayers pay for the bills of those who cannot afford to, expanding the welfare state (bad policy’ 7. Voted against protecting the flag. 8. Voted against protecting the ‘Pledge of Allegiance’ 9. Voted against the ban on ‘Partial Birth Abortion’ How does a man who so poorly represents the needs and the values of the people get elected to office 12-times! PLEASE, please, please - can you please put forth a candidate that cares about the people he represents (and not the typical (both sides of the isle) politician)? - Anon - Monday, Apr 10, 06 @ 9:23 am: Has anyone else heard that Ted Brunsvold is the dark horse in this race? - anon - Monday, Apr 10, 06 @ 9:29 am: Observer-2-all just dumped all over this thread. - Anonymous - Monday, Apr 10, 06 @ 10:09 am: I understand that Boland will have it sewn up with Don Johnston as his campaign manager. I also heard that Sullivan won’t run - he is waiting to run in the 17th District at a later date. I heard RI mayor Schweibert is calling all precinct committemen to introduce himself and answer any questions they may have. News today is that Verschoore is out of the running. There is a forum on Sat. the 15th. - Anonymous - Monday, Apr 10, 06 @ 10:25 am: Hal Baine, a previous republican challenger to Lane Evans, will be at the democratic forum on April 15. Is he flip flopping parties? - VanillaMan - Monday, Apr 10, 06 @ 10:49 am: Watching from the southern tier of this congressional district, I resent watching these local Quad City hacks trolling for support without consideration of Decatur or Springfield. If the Democratic party decides to annoint one of these local lightweights, they won’t get support outside their little island. When this district was gerrymandered to include every Democrat outside Cook or St. Clair counties, it created an embarrassment of communities with no relationship to one another. With no incumbant for the first time in a quarter century, there is no reason to assume our support. We aren’t voting for a RI or Moline politician to represent Macoupin county, Springfield or Decatur. The Democrat’s assumption of our support show their disinterest in choosing a candidate with wide appeal. Zinga won by going outside the Quad Cities and building support in the rest of the 17th District. If the Democrats think they can just annoint one of their local hacks from Rock Island and win, they are making a big mistake. Freed from a lifetime commitment to Lane Evans, the 17th is open to consider both candidates, Zinga, and whoever gets the backroom deal from the Quad City hustlers. - Mackinaw - Monday, Apr 10, 06 @ 11:18 am: Boland has his ace in the hole - Pat Quinn. - Anonymous - Monday, Apr 10, 06 @ 12:52 pm: hahahaha - Criminal Enterprise Called Illinois - Monday, Apr 10, 06 @ 1:16 pm: Somebody get that old man Gianulis out of the driver’s seat. How did he ever get the job in Blago’s office anyway? Did Gianulis promise early endorsement votes for Blago for a job…a new concept in Illinois! Gianulis’ word is widely known as being no good. Virtually no one likes the man. So why is he still the head of the County Chairman’s association? His power is waning…except for when he holds Springfield fundraisers for the pitiful Democrats waiting to kiss the ring and pick up the scraps of any state jobs left over from the Blago massacre of the state work force. I hope he goes down in flames with Blago. That would be too sweet. - Goodbye Napoleon - Monday, Apr 10, 06 @ 1:58 pm: Sullivan would be good, he’s very Congressional - in a good way. - anon - Monday, Apr 10, 06 @ 2:20 pm: If Sullivan can get Scholz to back him I think the have the votes to win. We need a moderate like those guys. - Minion - Monday, Apr 10, 06 @ 7:34 pm: John G. is a great guy…very much a class act. I met him when I was a lowly intern. It didn’t matter to him. He was always quick with a kind word and words of encouragement. Its been over 10 years since I saw the man, but I never forgot his kindness. We need more people like that in Democratic politics–more people who don’t think they are better than everyone just because they have a title or some power of some kind. John G. has not forgotten where he came from. - committeeman-voter - Tuesday, Apr 11, 06 @ 3:38 pm: John G is fine, not the problem. Problem is a lack of real good electable people wanting the job. Be nice to get somebody in there who could deliver some real $$ to the district. - Dave - Wednesday, Apr 12, 06 @ 3:27 pm: Denny Jacobs is the only recent candidate in RI county that could rais CASH. Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.