* As I told subscribers the other day, Scott Drury has a built-in constituency of right-leaning pundits, editorial boards and talk radio hosts who all hate Speaker Madigan…
Thursday morning, Highwood State Representative and Gubernatorial candidate Scott Drury told “The Big John and Ray Show” that the tapes show Pritzker should not be Governor.
“Those tapes are very disturbing and I don’t think we know close to enough about the back story to those tapes. One of the biggest problems I saw in those tapes is that Pritzker clearly comes up with the idea on his own that he wants to be the Treasurer. Sure that’s fine. But later in the tapes he starts talking about how they’re going to pull the wool over the public’s eyes and make it look like the head of the Board of Trade and the Mercantile Exchange how the idea came from them. So you have Pritzker on tape already scheming with a corrupt Governor about how they’re going to make one fact look like it was different and that’s not the type of person we need running our state.”
Drury is a former Assistant U.S. Attorney. He is also one of the few Democrats to publicly oppose powerful Illinois Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan. He told WLS that while he does not have the money of Pritzker, Democratic Candidate Chris Kennedy, or Governor Bruce Rauner, he can still win.
“What we all know is that money can’t buy character, money can’t buy judgement. Money can’t buy a good message. There is no one in this race until now, who has the scars that I have from actually fighting for the people of Illinois and giving people a voice. We’re gonna return Illinois to the people.”
We’re gonna see a whole lot more free publicity like this. Bet on it.
*** UPDATE *** Jim Dey got into the act, too…
Readers may recall previous stories in this space about Democratic state Rep. Scott Drury, the only member of House Speaker Michael Madigan’s caucus who wouldn’t back Madigan for another term running the House.
For that, Drury has been effectively banished from the club by Speaker Madigan. As persona non grata, Drury, among other things, lost a prestigious committee assignment.
This week, a Democrat in Drury’s suburban Chicago district announced he’ll challenge Drury for re-election in the March primary. That’s generally how Madigan rids himself of independent-minded Democrats.
But Drury had an announcement of his own — he’s entering the primary race for governor. Those who like Madigan, he said, should back one of his opponents, and those who don’t should vote for him.
“I like those odds,” Drury was quoted as saying.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jun 8, 17 @ 1:14 pm:
This is the Ken Dunkin “running game” playbook on Steroids.
Pure genius, IllinoisGo, with a hidden hand
- lake county democrat - Thursday, Jun 8, 17 @ 1:21 pm:
He also will get a fair hearing from the anti-Madigan moderate progressives. People who voted for Quinn (because they realized what Rauner was even though clean government mattered to them). Unfortunately for Drury, such people aren’t going to dump their practical sides, which is why they’ll be very open to Kennedy even if they’re cynical about their anti-Madigan talk.
- lake county democrat - Thursday, Jun 8, 17 @ 1:25 pm:
I dunno how many WLS listeners are voting in the Dem primary. This is where Sinclair could have an impact - if Drury becomes a regular on Steve Cochran, he’s going to reach independents and democrats (and 99% of them know nothing about his Ted Cruz issues).
- Annonin' - Thursday, Jun 8, 17 @ 1:26 pm:
“Scott The Present” has scars
BTW who is “Ray”
- Roman - Thursday, Jun 8, 17 @ 1:37 pm:
Has he hired Greg Goldner yet?
- cdog - Thursday, Jun 8, 17 @ 1:43 pm:
Might have to pull a dem primary ballot.
I am definitely paying attention as someone who can’t stand either billionaire, or the old guy.
- Brooke - Thursday, Jun 8, 17 @ 1:50 pm:
Drury will do fine as long as voters don’t have to listen to him speak or actually meet him.
- lake county democrat - Thursday, Jun 8, 17 @ 1:51 pm:
There’s Bipartisan intense dislike of Madigan.
Illinois is a blue state.
Drury’s legislative record is center-left.
Drury is genuinely anti-Madigan.
I bet if he did get nominated, the party would rather lose again to Rauner. Kind of like the way the Republicans hated Peter Fitzgerald and weren’t going to help his reelection because he was so “uppity” with Ryan and the oh-so-respectable GOP establishment.
- Brooke - Thursday, Jun 8, 17 @ 2:01 pm:
LCD I agree mostly except Drury record is Right of center. He’s anti labor and pro Rauner.
When he talks about scars he means no clock ?
- SwingVoter - Thursday, Jun 8, 17 @ 2:08 pm:
he’s extremely left on choice, guns, the environment, and has passed pro Af-Am criminal justice reforms that Anita Alvarez’s office tried to block. so I think LCD is correct here, Brooke
- Illinois O'Malley - Thursday, Jun 8, 17 @ 2:17 pm:
Here’s what I like to ask Scott: “As an AUSA from 2003-2011 what did you do to prosecute any banker/mortgage broker who caused the financial crisis
- lake county democrat - Thursday, Jun 8, 17 @ 2:20 pm:
Brooke - the only anti-labor thing I recall about him was that he was against the bill to force temporarily binding arbitration on labor disputes. Though some would accuse me of being anti-labor (I think the public worker unions have too much power in this state, especially when they almost got Dillard nominated), I recall opposition across the pundit spectrum including opposition from every media outlet. If he were governor today I doubt there’d be a budget more conservative than the “grand bargain” and probably more progressive.
That said, I watched Pat Quinn go from reformist champion to Madigan toady who threw his own reform commission under the bus almost the moment he got a taste of real power, so who knows.
- The Captain - Thursday, Jun 8, 17 @ 2:24 pm:
Meh. Somebody set the over/under on Drury so I can take the under and we can all move on.
- Free Set of Steak Knives - Thursday, Jun 8, 17 @ 2:30 pm:
Scott Drury had a choice between cutting services for rape victims or raising taxes on millionaires, and Scott Drury chose to cut services for rape victims.
- SwingVoter - Thursday, Jun 8, 17 @ 2:42 pm:
Captain, how about 8.5% as the early line?
- The Captain - Thursday, Jun 8, 17 @ 2:54 pm:
That’s good, under.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Jun 8, 17 @ 2:56 pm:
Drury is a hypocrite. He accepted significant contributions from Blair Hull, the wife abuser. He accepted significant contributions from Brian Black who represents gaming interests. He got his state rep seat because he was chosen by Speaker Madigan. He has taken money from Insurance interests and pharmaceutical companies. This guy is a hypocrite.
- Rocky Rosi - Thursday, Jun 8, 17 @ 3:13 pm:
Someone might have to drop out the race. JB is getting too much heat too early in the race. Tax issues and FBI Hot Rod tapes will be to much for him.
- Downstate - Thursday, Jun 8, 17 @ 3:45 pm:
The Democratic Primary is shaping up to be a referendum on Michael Madigan.
Wonder when the last time an incumbent governor had such a target to run against?
- Kippax Blue - Thursday, Jun 8, 17 @ 6:51 pm:
Scott Drury — No. As a Democratic voter, No. As a General Election voter, No. No.
- Springfieldish - Friday, Jun 9, 17 @ 7:51 am:
“Drury’s legislative record is center-left.”
Irrelevant! Dreary’s legislative record is an epic failure. GOP members of the House have sponsored and passed more legislation.
We need someone who doesn’t seem to be able to work with anyone but himself and has a big ol’ chip on his shoulder like we need a second Rauner term. Oh, wait, it WOULD be like a second Rauner term!