* My Crain’s Chicago Business column, which was written a day before two of Gov. Rauner’s wealthy pals dumped $5 million into Leslie Munger’s race…
The Illinois comptroller’s election is often described as a proxy war between Gov. Bruce Rauner and House Speaker Michael Madigan. It is most definitely that, but the result could change the direction of state government.
Rauner appointed fellow Republican Leslie Munger to the job after Judy Baar Topinka, the fiercely independent and outspoken Republican incumbent, died about a month after her re-election in 2014. Normally, Munger would’ve received a full four-year term, but Madigan decided that was too long so the Democrats changed the law. Rauner could appoint Munger for two years only.
Several months after Munger’s appointment, Madigan helped recruit Chicago City Clerk Susana Mendoza into the race. And then he, um, nudged state Sen. Daniel Biss out of the Democratic primary to give Mendoza a clear path to the general election.
As a matter of both pride and credibility, the governor has an obligation to help his appointee win. And since Rauner and Madigan are engaged in a long and nasty war, and since Mendoza is Madigan’s candidate, the speaker most definitely wants to see her prevail.
Whoever wins this contest will obviously give their political overlords bragging rights. Normally, a Democrat would be heavily favored because it’s a presidential election year. But the spectacularly wealthy Rauner is expected to dump a fortune into Munger’s campaign.
And this is about far more than one election.
Go read the rest before commenting, please. Thanks.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Oct 3, 16 @ 9:43 am:
I’ve believed this since Jump Street. Arguable the most important race in the ballot, bar now, it’s not even remotely close that there’s a race that is more important than Comptroller.
This… from Rich in Crain’s…
===And she’s also often taken heat off the governor (or put heat on his detractors) by quickly paying (or not so quickly paying) invoices at his request.===
Let’s keep in mind, Munger IS choosing winners, and Munger IS choosing losers. Now, these winners and losers are Rauner’s who HE wants to win, and who Rauner wants to… fail. Munger is just doing what Rauner asks in that choosing.
At first it seemed as though Munger was trying to save Social Services, but when a $100 million lawsuit aimed squarely AT the Administration and agencies, it’s clear Social Services are being hurt purposely, by Rauner, and HIS choices, and how others are getting paid, it’s by choice, not by the honor of contracts.
I said it, Munger is going to win. Munger is going to bury Mendoza with that $5 million, for starters, and Mendoza is being continually let down by a Crew that spells Baar “Barr” because details and follow through are lacking in that Mendoza Crew. Once Mendoza gets swamped with Ads, and that Crew figures out they just aren’t up to this task, it’ll be too late.
It will be up to Democrats and Labor to bail out an inept Mendoza Crew with the Presidential voting universe…
… and the proxy war that IS “Rauner v. Madigan”.
Munger has the Topinka Crew and the Rauner cash and the Madigan hammer. Mendoza still needs spell check.
Yeah, this race, Rauner needs it far more than Madigan, but Social Services needs Mendoza more than it needs Rauner, and like Labor voting 2 in 5 for Rauner, it’s going to come down to Munger doing what she will do, and well, to win, and Mendoza relying on a lot of other things to win the proxy war.
It’s Munger’s to lose.
- DuPage Bard - Monday, Oct 3, 16 @ 9:56 am:
Thought Munger was out of this until that cash dump. She’s got the “no budget no pay ad”. Mendoza had a shot with the times table deal, but you only get so much out of FB.
Munger is going run that “no budget no pay” ad during the Cubs playoffs and Bear games. And in the St. Louis area during, what do they have in St. Louis now?
Seriously what McAuliffe did on network is going to be nothing compared to Munger. That may also only be the first cash dump.
- Last Bull Moose - Monday, Oct 3, 16 @ 10:12 am:
Let’s see if I have my facts straight.
Leslie Munger is running ads touting the fact that she is breaking her oath and not fulfilling her Constitutionally defined duties.
Susan Mendoza says she would do the same thing.
Nobody in the General Assembly, even those running unopposed, has the courage to file a lawsuit challenging the illegal acts.
No movement in the GA to hold hearings on the breach of Constitutional duties.
- Belle - Monday, Oct 3, 16 @ 10:25 am:
This was an interesting column since not everyone looks at these races from the impact on it might have — this one is pretty easy to see.
Mendoza needs to find a way to get out the vote since Munger has the dough to get it out. So far, Munger’s commercials are pretty good especially for those voters who do not follow politics closely.
- Team Sleep - Monday, Oct 3, 16 @ 10:25 am:
Bard - even though Missouri is a true battleground state you have to run ads there. Both the Missouri governor and senatorial races will surely jack-up prices, but a viable statewide campaign has no choice. 550,000 people live in Madison and St. Clair Counties, and even with antenna-only TV views the St. Louis media market reaches well over 1 million people even on a bad day.
- hisgirlfriday - Monday, Oct 3, 16 @ 11:12 am:
I am super biased so I may be alone in this… but I thought Munger setting that No Budget No Pay ad in and around her home showcased her wealth and privileged lifestyle a bit more than they were probably intending.
- walker - Monday, Oct 3, 16 @ 11:19 am:
The ad was ready to run, and is already widely playing. Simple, direct “No Budget, No Pay” aimed directly at legislators.
Brilliant. Three birds with one stone.
(Since facts and legalities don’t matter in this case)
- Huh? - Monday, Oct 3, 16 @ 11:32 am:
Oh, pretty please, please, please
What number do I punch for Mendoza?
- Delimma - Monday, Oct 3, 16 @ 12:00 pm:
I saw the Munger ad at least 5 times during a football game this weekend. That’s not inexpensive.
- DuPage - Monday, Oct 3, 16 @ 12:10 pm:
The Rauner formula, flood the airwaves with unlimited negative attack ads, gives Munger the edge. If she wins, it will be 100% because of Rauner’s cash to her campaign. She will continue to be 100% controlled by Rauner.
- Captain Obvious - Monday, Oct 3, 16 @ 12:13 pm:
If you are against Rauner you have to vote against his paid-for candidates everywhere they appear on the ballot.
It does no good to oppose his policies and then vote for those who will assist him in implementing them.
- PublicServant - Monday, Oct 3, 16 @ 12:55 pm:
Thanks, Captain Obvious!
- NorthsideNoMore - Monday, Oct 3, 16 @ 4:10 pm:
Bull Moose…We have not had a government that has taken that the fudiciary oath seriously in years. They skirt the IL Con all the time…Spend and Tax , Spend and tax for two decades. Exemple Fund sweeps, which are deceptive practices at best and probably illegal when they beome standard operating procedure. Iits regular practice in ILLINI land and there is no reaction by much of anyone.