* Press release…
“Jesse White is Mike Madigan’s top patronage chief, using the Secretary of State’s office as a jobs machine for Madigan allies. J.B. Pritzker’s willingness to accept the endorsement of the Speaker’s top patronage chief is just another sign that Mike Madigan is orchestrating Pritzker’s nomination.” – Illinois Republican Party Spokesman Steven Yaffe
Jesse White is a Madigan ally through and through – and now he’s supporting J.B. Pritzker.
Just this month, Jesse White broke his promise to not run for re-election after Madigan worked to change his mind.
Madigan likes White because he is well known for a “pattern of patronage” in his office. Mike Madigan relies on patronage for his political machine.
J.B. Pritzker’s willingness to accept a Jesse White endorsement is even more proof that he would give the Governor’s office back to Mike Madigan.
A bit much. White’s still way more popular than any other statewide officeholder, including and especially the governor (which may be why they haven’t found their SoS candidate yet). But, hey, they got their message and they’re sticking to it and you can’t blame them. The one thing I totally agree with Bill Maher on is when he says “Democrats read polls, Republicans change them.”
*** UPDATE *** And here’s the Pritzker campaign release…
Today, Secretary of State Jesse White announced his endorsement of JB Pritzker for governor at Eckhart Park on the West Side of Chicago. They event was kicked off with a performance by the Jesse White Tumblers.
The endorsement is the first by a statewide elected official in the Democratic primary for governor, and comes from a widely popular public servant who has won by large margins in his election bids. Secretary White is currently running for a record sixth term as Secretary of State, and has held a number of different public offices in Illinois for over 40 years. Under his leadership, Illinois has become a nationwide leader in road safety with strengthened DUI laws, a reformed CDL program, and improved teen driving guidelines. Jesse White is a veteran, former Chicago Public Schools teacher and administrator, and a lifelong public servant.
“For over half a century, Secretary of State Jesse White has defined public service in Illinois,” said JB Pritzker. “He is an Army veteran, a Chicago Cubs ball player, a Chicago Public School teacher, the first African American ever elected Illinois Secretary of State, one of the biggest vote getters in the history of our state, and a leader in every sense of the word. By his many good works and by his example, Jesse White inspires our young people to pursue public service and do good for Illinois. I’ve known Jesse for more than a quarter century, and back then as today, he inspires me. That’s why today, I am so proud to receive Jesse White’s endorsement in my campaign for governor.”
“I am so proud to endorse JB Pritzker for governor,” said Secretary of State Jesse White. “JB and I have known each other for 30 years and I can confidently say that he’s always stood up for what’s right. JB has spent his life fighting for Illinoisans, helping create opportunity for working families and expanding quality education for Illinois’ children. That’s exactly the type of leadership we need. As secretary of state, I’ve worked to rebuild trust in Springfield and make government work for the people, but I need a partner in the governor’s office. I know that JB is the right candidate to lead our ticket in 2018 and work with me to get our state back on track.”
*** UPDATE 2 *** Galia Slayen with the Pritzker campaign…
Jesse White has served this state, our country, and contributed to communities across Illinois his whole life. JB is proud to have Jesse White’s support and looks forward to working with this tireless public servant to defeat Bruce Rauner. We know the Illinois GOP has a tough job propping up their failed governor, but Jesse White deserves better than their tired talking points and deeply out of touch attacks. Perhaps they need a refresher on Secretary of State Jesse White’s over 50 years of service to our state and country:
Served our country in the U.S. Army and Illinois National Guard and Reserve.
Founded the Jesse White Tumbling Team and volunteered for 57 years to help over 17,500 at-risk youth.
Taught students in the Chicago public school system as a teacher and administrator for over 33 years.
Started tutoring and scholarship programs to help kids thrive in school and go to college.
First African American elected as Illinois Secretary of State and longest serving Secretary of State in Illinois history.
- Exhausted - Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 11:38 am:
Glad to hear there is no patronage in any of the Governor’s Agencies.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 11:38 am:
My thoughts - What ever happened to the whole Candace Wanzo fiasco under Jesse White?
- PJ - Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 11:39 am:
Their links don’t even work. Maybe someone on the crack team over at the ILGOP could google “embedding URLs”.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 11:43 am:
Wonder if there are any republican officials that have people they know working for the Secretary of State’s office?
Sorry, I was just wondering aloud…
- Gruntled University Employee - Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 11:43 am:
=== Just this month, Jesse White broke his promise to not run for re-election after Madigan worked to change his mind.===
That’s some straight up Jedi mind trick stuff right there.
- Mr. K. - Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 11:45 am:
Click on the links, and you get this:
Bad request
For request ‘GET /u/eu’ [Missing parameter: _t]
What kind of operation puts out a PR without checking whether or not the links work?
- Thomas Paine - Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 11:46 am:
Bruce Rauner appears to be on a mission to turn out every African American voter in the state. BTIA(TM)
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 11:51 am:
Meh, I think you give them too much credit on this one,
Rich. They’re just going phoning in the old script. There’s no planned upside to whacking Jesse White.
He is the most popular state politician by far even though he runs a state agency that virtually everyone you meet complains about their experience with it. That’s some serious personality skills.
- The Captain - Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 11:51 am:
=== Jesse White is a Madigan ally … ===
In the eyes of Rauner anyone who doesn’t work at IPI is a Madigan ally. Here’s what the state party chair said about fellow Republicans:
These guys see Mike Madigan everywhere in their waking hours then they go home and see him in their dreams.
- We'll See - Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 11:57 am:
SOS White has nothing on former SOS Ryan, that dude had game… and scandals.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 11:58 am:
I said this during Governor’s Day, but I’m still not dismissing the thought as I think on it…
Rauner needs low turnout. The last thing Rauner needs is energetic Dems geared up to vote.
So… Rauner runs, ole Slip and Sue runs… you have Erika Harold running the “Madigan” statewide meme.
Why focus outside those races, getting others ginned up statewide?
Focus on the micro… the state House and Senate seats, trying to pick off a Dem or 3, but really suppress the excitement statewide.
Why go after Jesse White?
Why try to “uni-fy” Dems in all sorts of races?
Maybe it’s not all bad if Rauner doesn’t field a slate?
Then again, as Republicans, the party belongs to Democrat Diana Rauner, Uihlein, Griffin… they may want a slate, plus Ken Dunkin’s ally, Matt Besler needs “something” more to do, besides what Proft tells him… So…
- Pot calling kettle - Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 12:00 pm:
==he would give the Governor’s office back to Mike Madigan==
Which Governor was in Madigan’s pocket?
- Carhartt Union Negotiating Team - Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 12:02 pm:
Two problems here…
1) There is NO Illinois GOP. It is a subsidiary of Rauner, Inc. He bought it. Like the GOP caucuses, it’s only a storefront that attempts to appear to be an independent franchise.
2) Jesse White may well have built into his office some patronage. But, Jesse has been tremendously accommodating to Republicans in his role. So, for whatever splash they’re trying to get, they’re gonna need some of those folks to carry petitions for the Rauner, Inc. candidate in the Jiminez seat.
- Norseman - Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 12:04 pm:
I have to agree with Word, that ILGOP is just phoning it in nowadays. They have a “Because Madigan” template and all they have to do is add a name and a small connector line.
- JS Mill - Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 12:23 pm:
This is just too easy, I am almost embarrassed for them…
To the ILGOP- Two words on patronage people “Leslie Munger”
Get back to me when you can, no rush.
- Flynn's mom - Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 12:32 pm:
@Mr. K. TBIA puts out that kind of a link.They are really sloppy little kids.
- blue dog dem - Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 12:36 pm:
Patronage=the nations current two party system.
- Fixer - Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 12:43 pm:
JS Mill, don’t forget the approximately 30 staffers of hers brought on board, as well.
- Sheesh! - Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 12:47 pm:
Duh! The Secretary of State’s Office is ALWAYS the patronage prize for the political party that is in office. Same was true under Dixon, Edgar, Ryan and White.
- Ahem! - Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 12:52 pm:
(Snark)Memo to J.B. — Jesse White was also the one who promoted and endorsed former State Representative Derrick Smith who was sentenced to five years. Jesse can pick ‘em. His aldermanic candidate needed a gubernatorial pardon to serve in the Chicago City Council. Just saying…
- Steve Rogers - Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 12:56 pm:
Let me get this straight, Madigan controls Jesse, who now controls JB, so Madigan controls JB. Why does the old Ray Stevens song, “I’m My Own Grandpa,” always come into my head when the ILGOP tries to make these connections?
- Ducky LaMoore - Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 1:01 pm:
===Which Governor was in Madigan’s pocket?===
To answer the question seriously… George Ryan(R) is as close as it gets.
- Demoralized - Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 1:20 pm:
They are wasting their breath with this line of attack on Jesse White. Concede the office and don’t waste your breath.
- City Zen - Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 1:23 pm:
=I know that JB is the right candidate to lead our ticket in 2018 and work with me to get our state back on track.”==
Um, Jesse, you’ve been riding that train since 1999.
- Name/Nickname/Anon - Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 1:29 pm:
Did any of the Aldermen who the Trib said were at the event endorse?
- VanillaMan - Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 1:30 pm:
LOL
ILGOP
LOL
Pitiful, sad ILGOP
- Demoralized - Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 1:32 pm:
==Um, Jesse, you’ve been riding that train since 1999.==
And he’s been riding it well. In three of his five elections he was the top statewide vote getter.
- City Zen - Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 1:46 pm:
==And he’s been riding it well. In three of his five elections he was the top statewide vote getter.==
Maybe now he’ll check everyone’s ticket.
- Trapped in the 'bubs - Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 2:03 pm:
Given multiple opportunities to denounce racism, Rauner just can’t do it. Now, he paints Jesse White as Madigan’s lackey. Rauner and his wife should be ashamed for the messaging of late.
- Just One More - Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 2:17 pm:
Another former Illinois governor was infatuated with the Madigan’s. I believe he calls Colorado home now.
- Ginhouse Tommy - Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 2:20 pm:
While I disagree with the way he runs his office there is no doubting the character of the man. Former 101st Airborne paratrooper, he formed the Jessie White tumblers for disadvantaged youth in Chicago and God knows what other charitable work. That’s hard to beat.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 2:22 pm:
===infatuated with the Madigan’s===
Not the word I would use. lol
- Realkewlio - Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 2:41 pm:
=By his many good works and by his example, Jesse White inspires our young people to pursue public service and do good for Illinois.=
Secretary White is a true hero and arguably the greatest elected official to serve the State of Illinois. He inspires young people every day through he Jesse White Tumblers program and does not hesitate to add young professionals to his prolific organization! #JesseWins #JB2018 #MakePoliticsCoolAgain
- Mama - Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 3:09 pm:
- VanillaMan - Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 1:30 pm: =
VM, I want to hear the rest of your song.
- Timothy Sacajawea - Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 3:54 pm:
Clearly the GOP IPI forgot to fact check voting records of SoS deputy directors, directors, and other exempts who are loud and proud Republicans since 1999.
Also, did they forget that Gov. Ryan’s son-in-law is on the SoS payroll (Vehicles Dept.)? Tisk tisk.
White hires from both sides because it ensures he gets the best choices. There’s a reason why he’s been SoS for almost two decades and it’s not just b/c he’s Mr. Congeniality or as surmised…only hires Madigan-esque lackeys. He’s got a Pitbull for a chief of staff and a German Shepherd for a personnel director. They don’t put up with crap from employees…no matter what side of the aisle they’re on. I’ve heard they’ve got rules for their rules around there. Work for White? No way. You’d have to actually work. Pass.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 4:31 pm:
Bull crap more patronage in governors office than anywhere
- thechampaignlife - Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 7:59 pm:
Missed a golden opportunity to christen the title of Patron-in-Chief