* Speaker Madigan isn’t making a whole lot of new pals in the Quad Cities these days. I’ve already told you about what he’s doing to House candidate Katelyn Hotle, but check this out…
Statement from Citizens for Jeff Jacobs on Halpin TV Attacks
Yesterday, March 9, 2016 the Illinois State Board of Elections reported a contribution of $75,000 to the Mike Halpin campaign from State Representative Mike Smiddy. Until this past weekend, Representative Smiddy had professed to be neutral on this campaign.
On Monday, March 7, 2016, Smiddy called Representative Pat Verschoore to tell him Madigan’s staff had called and pressured him heavily to contribute money to the Halpin campaign immediately. He apologized to Representative Verschoore for his call but said “I had to do it for my future.” This clearly shows that Speaker Madigan’s promise of neutrality to Rep Pat Verschoore was untrue.
The money is being spent to continue funding baseless and untrue claims by Mike Halpin against Jeff Jacobs. For over five weeks now, Halpin has been attacking Jacobs with these untrue claims to confuse voters. “This is the kind of politics that creates deadlocks and prevents us from getting things done for the people of Illinois in Springfield,” said Jeff Jacobs. The Halpin campaign has trailed Jacobs in various polls for the duration of the campaign. The money from Smiddy is clearly intended to smear Jacobs with untruths in the final days through heavy TV, personal phone calls to voters and direct mail
“Our campaign from day one has been about positive ways to grow our Middle Class through good paying jobs in our communities while working together here and in Springfield to build, not destroy,” said Jacobs.
Verschoore has backed his nephew Jacobs from the get-go. Madigan has claimed time and time again that he’s neutral. But, just like the Dunkin race, it’s not very believable. And just like the Dunkin race, we now have some evidence that he didn’t tell the truth here, either.
I tried e-mailing, calling and texting Rep. Smiddy. If he ever responds, I’ll post it in full.
*** UPDATE *** Rep. Smiddy’s response…
[ *** End Of Update *** ]
* Meanwhile, speaking of Hotle, she has one of the better homemade social media ads I’ve seen in a while…
A few more bucks for production and lots more dollars to put it on TV and that might’ve made a difference.
* Hotle, by the way, was endorsed this week by the Moline Dispatch…
Leading the money race in the four-way battle for the Democrats is a pair of lawyers who have split local party and labor backing: Mike Halpin and Jeff Jacobs.
By contrast, Rock Island Ald. Kate Hotle and Glen Evans, are outside looking in on the money race, though Ald. Hotle has felt its bite as the target of attack mailers paid for by Speaker Madigan. We urge voters to reject specious claims, including that she is a Rauner plant, and to focus on the facts. The only elected official in the field, Ms. Hotle is a hard working alderman not afraid to make the tough decisions. She could be the independent voice in Springfield some crave. She also promises a “better style of politics” our state needs.
- Downstate Voice - Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 2:20 pm:
Maybe the most surprising thing about this race is that no one (and not the well-funded Halpin Campaign) has tried to make a big deal about the nepotism involved with Verschoore trying to hand off his state rep seat to his nephew Jacobs. Halpin could have run an entire campaign on that theme which voters are sick of and understand. Republicans are going to have a field day with nepotism if Jacobs wins the primary.
- SAP - Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 2:23 pm:
If feels like the Speaker is Queeging out a little bit this cycle.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 2:25 pm:
Some of what Ald. Holte is facing is being caught in a vacuum between who is a Raunerite, and can be framed as a Raunerite.
Until that shakes out, the label Raunerite will fall upon anyone not “favored” or anyone who can be marginalized.
I’m sorry.
Meanwhile, Dunkin and Gonzo are Raunerites, and as long as a single true “Democratic Raunerite” exists, and its not like a “snipe hunt” to find one, others will face a similar fate. Why?
“Why take a chance… ”
… because having just one real Raunerite, that’s going to be enough to marginalize anyone.
- Ahoy! - Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 2:27 pm:
Madigan doesn’t even have the guts to tell the truth about who he is endorsing anymore? Am I the only one that thinks he’s starting to loose his mind or put on way too many layers of tinfoil on his hat?
- AlabamaShake - Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 2:28 pm:
If Verschoore supports Jacobs so strongly, why hasn’t he given Jacobs more than 20k of that 200k he’s sitting on in his PAC?
- old pol - Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 2:30 pm:
And the Madigan camp calls Rauner “extreme”.
How do you spell “extor….”?
- lake county democrat - Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 2:34 pm:
“Do it in the name of Heaven, you can justify it in the end.” - Coven, “One Tin Soldier (The Legend of Billy Jack)”
- Politix - Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 2:42 pm:
Ahoy: Why would Madigan “tell the truth” about who he is supporting when Rauner has spent year turning it into the kiss of death? Who wants that known?
Cmon man.
- Anon2U - Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 3:36 pm:
Why would Smiddy give up any money to anyone without being told to do so? His race will be be one of the hottest come November. Madigan told him to do it with the understanding that post-primary $$ will roll in to cover it. This is nothing more than cash management while trying to keep Madigans name out of it. For Smiddy to suggest he is free from Madigans power is daft.
- Rock Island Dem - Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 3:54 pm:
This may or may not be true, but I heard that Verschoore told local party officals he wanted to resign and have his nephew Jeff Jacobs appointed in his place. This is how Verschoore first got the job when Joel Brunsvold resigned mid term to became head of the DNR. When that plan didin’t work, Verschoore gave notice to his nephew Jeff Jacobs, announced his retirement and Jacobs announced his candidacy the next day. Then Verschoore drops $59,000 of his campaing money into his nephew’s pocket hoping to scare away all potential rivals. It seems the family business of politics here in Rock Island County is more important than the business of taking care of families. Complaining about a campaign donation sure seems like the Pot calling the kettle black. Jacobs money comes from the same place. Check Verschoore’s voting record, has he ever opposed Speaker Madigan, or has he just done what he is told? So this is the first election since 1983 that this is truly an open seat. And voters get to choose if we want to keep it in the family or vote for a fresh face. Mike Halpin has worked for Democrats, including Lane Evans, and Kate Hotle has served on the City Council. The Madigan attack ads against Hotle would by any definition be Defamation of Character saying she “funneled” money to her employer by voting to pay the cable bill at the Fire Station. Which special interests did Verschoore’s $59,000 come from he gave to Jacobs? If you think Jacobs won’t be accountable to those mystery donors, then you don’t understand Illinois politics. Madigan probably doesn’t care if Halpin or Jacobs wins the primary, but he might be surprised to find out if weither o ne support him when they get to Springfield. This is the dirty campaign money Illinois allows and is allowed on the federal level by Citizens United. These sums should not even be allowed to be donated in State House races. But with Smiddy’s contribution to Halpin, at least the playing field is more level. But is it too little too late?
- Just a wondering - Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 5:09 pm:
Why Pat Verschoore mentioned in the ad that Jacbs was a “fellow Alleman grad” but left out the nephew part. Oh, let’s not forget the arrogance at the end of the ad of Jacobs being best qualified to have “his seat” It’s not a throne Mr. Verschoore. Mike Halpin has been involved with the Democratic Party for years. The only time I ever heard of Jacobs was that he was Verschoores nephew and Pat wanted him for the spot. And let’s not forget the scathing letter to the editor that Iowa resident and Verschoore crony Quad City Building Trades director Rory Washburn supposedly wrote. That doesn’t set well with Rock Island County residents. Stay in Iowa politics Mr. Washburn.
- Downstate Voice - Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 10:39 pm:
This race has gone from negative to toxic.
Hardball tactics by Verschoore and Jacobs - going public with a private conversation between legislators - is over the top. Good luck to those Rock Island County Democrats trying to unify after this primary. Disaster.
- Mama - Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 11:32 pm:
“This is the dirty campaign money Illinois allows and is allowed on the federal level by Citizens United. These sums should not even be allowed to be donated in State House races. But with Smiddy’s contribution to Halpin, at least the playing field is more level.”
All campaign money should be transparent, detailed campaign expense records should be kept, and all campaign financial records should be audited annually. Dark campaign money should not be allowed at the local, state or federal level, period!