36 Comments - RickG - Thursday, Mar 1, 07 @ 8:50 am: On election night, while Simon was at campaign headquarters awaiting results, Cole was in Springfield testifying at the Ameren hearings. Admirable, but not the kind of thing that wins elections. You lose a lot of free media coverage that way. Just a point. - Fan of the Game - Thursday, Mar 1, 07 @ 9:17 am: The Simon name is big, not just because Paul Simon was a long-time politician in Illinois but also because of the ethics and demeanor he brought to the table. As a Republican, I almost always differed with him on issues, but I respected the way he conducted himself with integrity. That reputation could take Sheila Simon a long way in Illinois politics. - leigh - Thursday, Mar 1, 07 @ 9:18 am: It was almost no voter turnout, not low turnout in Carbondale. It will be a close race, but Sheila Simon, while being a nice enough person, is not her father and at some point that will become clear. Has Illinois really become so liberal that she is a viable statewide candidate? - Number 8 - Thursday, Mar 1, 07 @ 9:28 am: Simon is hardly a “legacy” in the same way as somebody named Madigan, Hynes, Stroger, or Beavers. While it could be argued that her father was one of the most respectable members of the U.S. Senate, Sheila is definately her own person with fresh ideas and a positive approach to politics. I think that she can go far if she chooses. - Fan of the Game - Thursday, Mar 1, 07 @ 9:31 am: leigh, That is a valuable point. At some point, Ms. Simon will have to prove herself because she can only ride her father’s coattails so far. The question is how far can she get before she has to show her accomplishments and run on her agenda and record? - one of the 35 - Thursday, Mar 1, 07 @ 9:33 am: As a former Mayor of a downstate community, I am probably a little predjudiced here, but Brad Cole was a very good Mayor. I think the residents of Carbondale will miss him greatly. - whatever - Thursday, Mar 1, 07 @ 9:40 am: The attention on this race is fascinating. Here we have even the Chicago media covering the blow by blow, and Carbondale is a good 350 miles away from Chicago, about the same distance as Chicago is from Des Moines, Iowa. This is a race so small, that the incumbent Cole gets only 817 votes on Tuesday, and that’s enough to survive to a run-off. But whatever floats your boat. Hey, anyone know what else Brad Cole does for a living? I believe the Mayor’s job only pays 7 Grand a year. I know it’s not THAT cheap to live in Southern Illinois. I do know the Mayor’s job is considered part-time. - Anon - Thursday, Mar 1, 07 @ 9:50 am: Actually, contrary to the Trib reference, neither Jackson County, nor Carbondale are traditionally Republican country. They both lean Democratic. The real anomaly was that Cole, a Republican, became mayor of this college town in the first place. - Lifetime Saluki - Thursday, Mar 1, 07 @ 10:13 am: Understanding the last 20 years or so of Carbondale is important to this race. While I try to refrain from talking bad about people, it is a fact that Carbondale struggled for many years to find it’s “place” as a leader in southern Illinois and that was mainly due to the fact that it had leadership that was complacent and didn’t fight for business to come to Carbondale. When new business wanted to come into Carbondale, they preferred the formation of committees and letting them talk it over for 18 months while Marion stole the business away. Under Mayor Cole’s term, Carbondale has exploded with new business and there’s a good relationship with surrounding communities. I am no longer a resident of Carbondale, I spent many years there under the previous mayor and Mayor Cole. There is a clear difference. If you were at her announcement - last spring (which I was), you know that Sheila’s running on such novel ideas like placing solar panels on the civic center and attaching batteries to bikes at the SIU rec center to generate energy. While I am not opposed to finding new, innovative ways to harvest energy, I believe Carbondale needs a serious leader who understands what it really takes to run a city. No question, she is a nice person but anyone who knows the politics of Carbondale knows that she is not just running for the good of Carbondale, but to get rid of someone she doesn’t like personally and further her political career. I hope by April 17 the residents of Carbondale realize the success of the last four years and keep a good Mayor in office and not return Carbondale to the ways of the previous administration. - paddyrollingstone - Thursday, Mar 1, 07 @ 10:36 am: I think there is always room for more, especially when they actually show great promise or ability. I don’t think anyone still looks at Lisa Madigan or Dan Hynes and thinks “Nepotism” largely because they have proven to be good at what they do. The jury is still out on Dan Lipinksi but given the nature of his district, he never really will have to worry about it. As for Todd Stroger, I voted for him because I liked his old man and did not care for the alternatives, but boy he sure doesn’t look very good right now. As for Sheila Simon, I agree with Fan of the Game above who said that name (combined with the fact that she seems smart and not a hack) could take her far. It is a big bonus that she is from downstate. - VanillaMan - Thursday, Mar 1, 07 @ 11:17 am: The reason we are seeing a rise in political families is because of a failure within both political parties. Neither Republicans nor Democrats demand anything from their nominees except victory and the ability to raise ungodly amounts of money. Neither party is asking basic questions of their nominees such as “Could you DO the job?”, or “Do you have the experience and background to DO the job?” How about, “Do you have any connections to unethical behavior within your inner circle of friends or major campaign donors?” Nope. When it comes to how well they serve the voters, neither party gives a flying fig. After years of this negligence, voters are no longer willing to support candidates just because they have a major party nomination. The failure of both parties to supply us with good candidates worthy of office forces voters to search for other criteria. This is why we are seeing a rise in political families. Voters who have faith in the good work of one family member are willing to consider others from the same family. Even after thousands of years, we see a basic need within communities to allow a few families to lead them. It is probably biological or inbred within us. This belief carried through in Biblical times, through centuries of royalty, and now sits comfortably in today’s democratic world. Until one of our parties starts giving voters some kind of guarantee regarding their nominees, their nominations will be of little use. When Republicans nominate a George Ryan, or Democrats REnominate an ethical failure like Rod Blagojevich, voters can no longer depend on either party to give us good candidates worthy of office. That is why we are seeing a rise in political dynasties, a drop in party affiliation, and a rise in independant voters. - VanillaMan - Thursday, Mar 1, 07 @ 11:27 am: I will say this again. If the GOP wants to every find a future in Illinois again, they should strongly consider my proposal to promote themselves with a “voter guarantee”. “If any Republican candidate is found to violate basic ethics while in office, they will not be eligible for renomination. We promise Illinois voters that every one of our candidates can do the job for which they are nominated for. Should any Republican candidate fail in meeting their office responsibilities, they will not be renominated at the end of their term.” “YOU HAVE OUR GUARANTEE!” Then they need to follow through. The first time the GOP drops an incumbant because of this guarantee, they will have made a huge step towards regaining voter support for their other candidates. Until either party does this, they should not expect anyone to associate with them. - values matter - Thursday, Mar 1, 07 @ 11:31 am: No, no, not another “Legacy Candidate”! The Democrats, the party of the small people, are fast becoming a monarchy where only kings and queens of political dynasties are put on the fast track. I think this is beginning to hurt the Democratic Party statewide, and I am a downstate Democrat who is not from a “Legacy” family. - Carl Nyberg - Thursday, Mar 1, 07 @ 11:33 am: I’d trade Jerry Costello for Sheila Simon and have no qualms about the legacy issue. - so ill - Thursday, Mar 1, 07 @ 12:02 pm: I think it is becoming clear that Simon is in this race for herself, not because she wants to do great things for Carbondale. The shameless parade of Democrats, Lisa Madigan and Dick Durbin, coming to Carbondale to stump for an election they have no business interfering with. It’s a non-partisan mayor’s race for a city of 25,000 people. But here’s the other thing… Simon has been on the Carbondale city council for the past four years, but other than voting “yes” or “no” on Cole’s intiatives, she has done virtually nothing in the way of offering programs, solutions or new ideas. (BUT she sure did talk about wanting to offer programs, solutions and new ideas.) During her time on the council, Simon was outshined again and again by Cole who saw problems in the city and actually fixed them. The result of Cole’s take charge attitude has been a myriad of new buisnesses, a cleaned up downtown, a booming TIF district, better streets, increasing the size of the city’s footprint by 30 percent, an elimination of the city’s property tax levy, more cops and he took responsiblity when things went wrong…. BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, Cole decreed that “Carbondale was the capital of Southern Illinois, and we were going to start acting like it.” And we did. Simon has no intention of maintaining the fast-pace and hard-nose leadership Cole has laid out during his term as mayor. Simon wants to “share” responsiblities with others. She wants to “tap” the knowledge of ad hoc groups for major decisions. She wants more “transparency” in goverment. Translation: She wants someone else to do the work. Well, I want a leader for my city. Not someone who wants to talk about talking about leading the city. Simon wants to install solar panels on city hall?? That’s nice. But I prefer having Carbondale powered by Cole. - Southern Ilinois Democrat - Thursday, Mar 1, 07 @ 12:06 pm: You mean that Chicago would let us have someone from South of I-80 run on the Democrat’s ticket? - archpundit - Thursday, Mar 1, 07 @ 12:09 pm: I don’t think starting out as a Council Member and then trying to move up to Mayor of Carbondale is much like the other legacies. She’s putting in the work at the local level and not just deciding one day to run for statewide office after a short period in the Lege. Some of those legacies have been very good, but all could have used a bit more seasoning as Simon is undergoing. - NW burbs - Thursday, Mar 1, 07 @ 12:51 pm: There’s a huge difference between nepotism and ‘legacy’ — it’s the difference between the Stroger and Beavers fiascos and Sheila Simon running for city council (and winning) and then wanting to move up from city council to the mayor’s office. In our celebrity driven culture name-recognition opens doors — it’s the same with entertainment, sports, etc. - Boone Logan Square - Thursday, Mar 1, 07 @ 1:13 pm: The one name in Illinois politics with a devalued currency is Ryan. - Squideshi - Thursday, Mar 1, 07 @ 1:19 pm: Things are getting interesting down in Carbondale. - Pundit - Thursday, Mar 1, 07 @ 1:24 pm: Brad Cole’s election, just like Mike Bost’s, both Republicans, were a big surprise to many in Democratic-leaning Southern Illinois and elsewhere. Although I know and admire Sheila, as well as know her husband and still miss the late Paul and Jeanie Simon - I am impressed at the business savvy that Brad Cole has brought to Carbondale. I supported his first opponent, Councilwoman Maggie Flanigan, who lost to him in a painfully-close election. Until recently, I thought he was just a flack for the state Republicans, but he has proven to be a proactive, business-oriented mayor. Carbondale long needed an economic diversification “shot in the arm” - it IS the capitol of Southern Illinois. However, I know that Sheila often differed with her father on issues and will be independent. She has tremendous support among the progressive voters of Carbondale and will be a formidable opponent because of this support and her name. Both candidates bring excellent, varied skills and ideologies to the job. Brad Cole had the support of students before…that support and his accomplishments in bringing economic vitality to southern Illinois may carry him. - Sango Dem - Thursday, Mar 1, 07 @ 1:45 pm: First, let’s not pretend that Brad Cole has no political ambitions beyond being Mayor of Carbondale. There’s a big difference between someone’s son or daughter being handed a seat by the Chicago machine that they would otherwise have no shot at winning, and Sheila Simon who earned her own election to the city council. There’s no machine in Jackson county that can hand a seat to Simon or anyone else. There’s also a big difference in how people view the legacy of yet one more Chicago ward boss, and Paul Simon, who represented a very different kind of politics in Illinois. Great point by “Anon” in pointing out how clueless the Trib is about Southern Illinois. Jackson County is Democratic but I guess the writers in Chicago assume that downstate=Republican. Great reporting guys! - Sango Dem - Thursday, Mar 1, 07 @ 1:47 pm: To So Ill: The last time I went back to Carbondale the area around campus looked dead. It wasn’t what I remembered. It hasn’t been all peaches and cream with Cole as Mayor. What has he done politically to help stop the decline of SIUC? Thankfully, most voters don’t share your obvious hostility toward the environment. - North by Northwest - Thursday, Mar 1, 07 @ 2:19 pm: Your last question, Rich, is the right one: How many more Legacy Democrats can this state take? I sometimes wonder if we’re back in 18th Century England, with only those of royal blood allowed to hold positions of responsibility and power. Simon, Hynes, Madigan, Daley, Stroger, Steele, Lipinski…ugh, the list of the “royal we” goes on and on….. - i d - Thursday, Mar 1, 07 @ 2:24 pm: When we base our votes on the legacy of a family, we are apt to end up with Billy Carter instead of Bobby Kennedy. I’d name some Illinois famililies but I could get my knee shot out. - decaturboy - Thursday, Mar 1, 07 @ 2:34 pm: You forgot Dick Mell and his terrible son-in-law - Anonymous - Thursday, Mar 1, 07 @ 2:35 pm: North by Northwest is right on the mark. People all over this country have become so detached from politics thus enabling the royalty factor to take over and run our state and our country. In your list of IL legacy democrats, you need to add Jacobs to your list. - Team Sleep - Thursday, Mar 1, 07 @ 2:43 pm: To me, people like Mike Jacobs, Darcel Beavers and Dan Lipinski are more of an “issue” than someone like Ms. Simon. They are placed in their positions and then have the power of inbumbency and gerrymandering. Ms. Simon has, at least, already been elected to a low-level position and is now running form something that isn’t much higher. I do think those who suffer are the voters. It appears to many that they would never a chance if they went up against a name- brand candidate like a Simon or a Demuzio. How do you overcome someone like that? Unless you have fistfuls of cash and are in a down year for the opposite party, it would be impossible. It’s also becoming a clear problem for the Dems. They have a DEEP bench and a great farm team in a blue state and yet they keep trotting out the same. I guess they figure on the votes being there. What a shame. - Squideshi - Thursday, Mar 1, 07 @ 2:44 pm: “People all over this country have become so detached from politics thus enabling the royalty factor to take over and run our state and our country.” Bingo! People are not interested in politics because they’re nothing interesting about politics–they don’t like the choices they’re being offered. We don’t know where the true political center because voters are only a narrow segment of the population and a shrinking one at that. Democrats and Republicans complain that Greens and Libertarians take votes away from them; but in reality, these new parties offer additional choices in our marketplace of ideas, which energizes new voters who would have not otherwise been at all interested in the process. - so ill - Thursday, Mar 1, 07 @ 4:34 pm: To Sango Dem: Well, the university campus is run by the state — not the city. Carbondale (the city) has tried to accomade the needs of students through new retail and resturants where they can spend money, as well as possibly work. But the city can not improve enrollment, which usually hinges on education factors, such as quality, price and prestige, at a college. Simon works at SIUC. As for the “environment,” I don’t hate it. I said “COLE” not “COAL” Either way, my point was how both candidates approach a topic. Example: Energy. Simon concerns herself with paying and placing solar panels on city hall, which may not even save money nor the environment — or even work. Meanwhile, Cole currently trying to help the people of Southern Illinois regain control of their outrageous Ameren bills — as he spent the day of the primary election in Springfield at the House hearing regarding the issue. Which person do you think really has a handle on how to actually make an improvement in the lives of residents? This is why I choose Cole. - Lifetime Saluki - Thursday, Mar 1, 07 @ 9:55 pm: so ill - You are absolutely right. Again, anyone who knows anything about Carbondale knows the choice in this race is crystal clear. I just hope the voters figure it out by April 17 and not just go into to the booth and vote for someone simply because they felt her father was a good public servant, therefore she’s somehow worthy of office. - Yellow Dog Democrat - Friday, Mar 2, 07 @ 12:03 am: Some families, children follow parents into teaching, policing, law, dentistry, doctoring, business, you name it. Some families, children follow parents into politics and public service. Where’s the crime? - Saluki Yay-hoo - Friday, Mar 2, 07 @ 12:47 am: The issue isn’t so much with Simon riding the coattails of her father as it is with the press and punditry riding the coattails of her father. I’m weary of all the upstate ink that has been spilled over this issue — and the primary just got over. Y’all have to be mindful that downstate politics ain’t like it is up North. Paul Simon could have easily slipped into some kind of cushy post-senatorial career in DC or at an Ivy-League-type institution elsewhere. Instead, he retired to Makanda, a quaint little hamlet just south of Carbondale, and started a public policy institute at Southern Illinois University in 1997. I really doubt Sheila Simon has set her sites on becoming a “statewide contender,” as Rich put it. She just wants to do what’s right for Carbondale, only nobody else seems to believe that such a thing is possible. Why is it so hard for people to fathom such a thing? - Anon - Friday, Mar 2, 07 @ 7:40 am: People don’t mind nor care. It just doesn’t matter. Monarchy. Oligarchy. Dynasty. Illinoisians will accept anything. - Jr. - Friday, Mar 2, 07 @ 12:19 pm: Mayor Richard J. Daley begat Richard M. Daley Cullertons begat more Cullertons Hynes begat more Hynes Bill Lipinski gave us Dan Lipinksi John Stroger gave us Todd Stroger Mell gave us his non blood so should not be blamed as much Bill Beavers gave us Darciel Beavers Tom Hynes gave us Dan Hynes Bill Dart gave us Tom Dart it goes on and on and on into the break of dawn don’t forget about Lisa Madigan from Michael Madigan from Grandpa Madigan - cubsprevail07 - Saturday, Mar 10, 07 @ 5:24 am: The fact is that the voters of Carbondale need to decide whether or not the value of a full-time mayor, dedicated at selling the city for $7k a year is a worse value than hiring a lofty thinker with her punch-card in her hand. Wait til you see the sign vandalism videos on YouTube…yeah, its going to get interesting! Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.