* He hasn’t been able to raise much of any money in the governor’s race, so we’ll see how he fares on this one…
*** UPDATE *** Press release…
“The time has come to clean up Illinois,” said Scott Drury – a former federal prosecutor – as he announced his run for Attorney General. “For too long, Illinois has been defined by corruption and self-dealing. We are going to restore people’s trust in government by showing that no one is above the law and making sure that every Illinois citizen is treated fairly.”
According to Drury, since Lisa Madigan announced her plan to retire, there has been a steady push to get him to run: “My phone and inbox have been flooded with requests urging me to enter the race. People are excited about the prospect of an Attorney General with true prosecutorial experience and no entangling alliances.”
Drury is a seven year veteran of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Chicago and a sitting Illinois State Representative. Earlier this year, Drury became the first Democrat in thirty years not to support Mike Madigan for Speaker of the House.
During his time in the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Drury prosecuted corrupt public officials and child sex offenders, among others. He also was part of a multi-jurisdictional effort to curb violent gun crime in and around Chicago. Highlights of his prosecutorial career include the successful prosecutions of a Blagojevich appointee, the Melrose Park police chief and his underlings, and a police officer caught on tape beating a man shackled in a wheelchair.
As a State Representative, Drury has been an outspoken advocate for tougher ethics, anti-corruption and consumer protection laws and successfully fought for the passage of ground-breaking police reforms and toughest-in-the-nation legislation to protect women from online sexual abuse. He also took on the NRA and won – working with numerous communities he represents to implement assault weapons bans and regulations.
Before today’s announcement, Drury was vigorously campaigning for Governor. As a result, he has a statewide campaign operation in place and volunteers throughout the State. This gives Drury a decisive advantage over anyone entering the race at this late date.
On changing races, Drury said the Attorney General position provides a better platform from which to clean up Illinois. “Illinois cannot fix its problems until it first builds a foundation of trust. As Attorney General, I can work outside the channels of the established machine and make clear that the old way of doing business in Illinois no longer has a home here.”
Drury grew up in Illinois and currently lives with his wife and two children in suburban Highwood. In addition to his legislative duties, Drury is an adjunct professor at Northwestern’s Law School and practices law in the private sector.
- Anon221 - Tuesday, Sep 19, 17 @ 10:52 am:
Surprise…sigh…surprise.
- LizPhairTax - Tuesday, Sep 19, 17 @ 10:52 am:
Relegation
- Curl of the Burl - Tuesday, Sep 19, 17 @ 10:52 am:
This actually makes sense. And the irony of one of Mike Madigan’s biggest critics and thorn in his side potentially replacing his stepdaughter is not lost on me.
- DDR - Tuesday, Sep 19, 17 @ 10:52 am:
Anyone know if he’s a lawyer?
- Ducky LaMoore - Tuesday, Sep 19, 17 @ 10:52 am:
Here here, let’s all celebrate Scott “If you think I was a joke before, you just wait” Drury.
- The Muse - Tuesday, Sep 19, 17 @ 10:54 am:
“And then there were [only] three [serious contenders contenders for governor].” -Our fav Asst. US Attorney
Rich, can we get a nice reposting of that photo Drury posted on his Twitter a while back for posterity?
- HoneyBadger - Tuesday, Sep 19, 17 @ 10:54 am:
former US Attorney, right?LOL
- Chicago Cynic - Tuesday, Sep 19, 17 @ 10:55 am:
“And the irony of one of Mike Madigan’s biggest critics and thorn in his side potentially replacing his stepdaughter is not lost on me.”
I wouldn’t hold my breath. While he has a little more logic in this race, he’s the same guy with no money and no friends. It’s hard to win elections with no money and no friends.
- The Captain - Tuesday, Sep 19, 17 @ 10:55 am:
RIP Alex Hirsch.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Sep 19, 17 @ 10:57 am:
Alex Hirsch and Carlos Ramirez-Rosa now have to fight for the 2018 Scott Lee Cohen Award
- Arsenal - Tuesday, Sep 19, 17 @ 10:58 am:
==Relegation==
LOL.
To the post, I don’t think Drury will win this one, either, but it oughtta be less humiliating for him.
- Commonsense in Illinois - Tuesday, Sep 19, 17 @ 11:02 am:
Now he can get his own clock…a better clock…a non-Madigan clock.
- Christopher - Tuesday, Sep 19, 17 @ 11:03 am:
Someone should ask Drury what happened to his desire to be Governor? Or was it that changeable?
- Dance Band on the Titanic - Tuesday, Sep 19, 17 @ 11:03 am:
And in four weeks, when it becomes clear he has no traction in this race either, does Drury shift gears again and declare he’s running for dogcatcher in Highwood?
- anon2 - Tuesday, Sep 19, 17 @ 11:10 am:
Though I don’t think he has a chance, Drury would be the only Democrat who should be immune to the “Madigan lackey” charge from the GOP.
- Just Observing - Tuesday, Sep 19, 17 @ 11:11 am:
While this obviously was the smart, right decision on Drury’s part… I would be lying if I said I wasn’t a little sad that we the people are going to be deprived of all that Alex Hirsch has to offer.
- Curl of the Burl - Tuesday, Sep 19, 17 @ 11:11 am:
CC - hence why I said potentially.
- lake county democrat - Tuesday, Sep 19, 17 @ 11:13 am:
Between likely media support (esp. the Tribune), possible Rauner dark money, and a background as a former federal prosecutor (for this job it works!), he’s got a chance. In theory, a progressive with a proven independent streak is exactly what people want for an attorney general. And what’s the Speaker going to do? Live with Raoul? Try to put Burke’s progeny over? Gerry Chico? (actually that might be a good move for the Dems given the lack of Hispanics in the Guv/Lt. Guv race).
- George - Tuesday, Sep 19, 17 @ 11:20 am:
Upon this announcement, dozens of people stood up and yawned.
- Jocko - Tuesday, Sep 19, 17 @ 11:22 am:
Drury should save himself printing costs and put eyebolts on the sign under his name. Like those “Days without an Accident” signs.
- A guy - Tuesday, Sep 19, 17 @ 11:22 am:
Could be a big help to the House GOP statewide having this guy firing daily salvos at the Speaker from his own side of the aisle…
- Arsenal - Tuesday, Sep 19, 17 @ 11:27 am:
==Live with Raoul?==
Is there some reason this would be awkward for the Speaker? I wouldn’t put Raoul on the top ten list of in-party critics of MJM.
- 47th Ward - Tuesday, Sep 19, 17 @ 11:34 am:
LCD, he lost the Tribune support along with Rauner’s dark money the second he left the Governor’s race. They don’t need a patsy in the AG race. They already have Harold.
Also, you should tell him those blue on blue signs will be invisible at night. Lol.
- LakeEffect - Tuesday, Sep 19, 17 @ 11:36 am:
Steamboat, come on. All politicians are opportunists. Scott probably less than most.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Sep 19, 17 @ 11:43 am:
“It’s time we cleaned up Illinois”….. how many times in this states Illustrious history has THAT phrase been (insultingly) used?
- Barrington - Tuesday, Sep 19, 17 @ 11:47 am:
The best thing about Drury’s governor/AG races are that he will no longer be a republican representative masquerading as a democrat.
- votequimby - Tuesday, Sep 19, 17 @ 11:50 am:
In one of his old videos online, Drury talks about a “movement”… The only movement this guy knows is a bowel …
- lake county democrat - Tuesday, Sep 19, 17 @ 11:54 am:
47th - We’ll see - sounds like wishful thinking though. Why wouldn’t Rauner throw dark money to Drury and run ads attacking Madigan and trumpeting reform: it just amplifies the same message he’ll be running against JB, only now it will be coming from a progressive. Drury is far more attractive (er…professionally speaking) than a relatively inexperienced social conservative. The Tribune isn’t going to ignore the A.G. race, especially if the likes of Chico and a Burke get into it. You may have a point about the signs, though they didn’t seem to hurt Brad Schneider that much…
- Southern Illinois Democrat - Tuesday, Sep 19, 17 @ 11:56 am:
Much better fit for Scott, his outsider message will play well paired with his vote against Madigan. Especially downstate w/ multiple Chicago candidates likely to enter.
- lake county democrat - Tuesday, Sep 19, 17 @ 11:56 am:
Steamboatsprings - yeah, the route to a bright political future was bucking Mike “never bet against the Speaker” Madigan. Ever hear how President Obama started his political career?
- Ghost - Tuesday, Sep 19, 17 @ 12:23 pm:
A whole entire 7 years, and he got to carry briefcases for lawyers on big cases. And they let him argue a motion by himself…. his credentials read like trying to spread a single rabbit stew amongst 50 people….
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Sep 19, 17 @ 12:52 pm:
If Hastings gets in the race, I hope he brings back his floor speech where he mocked Drury as the “all knowing, all powerful” federal prosecutor.
- RNUG - Tuesday, Sep 19, 17 @ 12:54 pm:
== On changing races, Drury said the Attorney General position provides a better platform from which to clean up Illinois. ==
… the Attorney General position provides an easier office to won, given limited resources and crowded Governor’s race.
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Sep 19, 17 @ 1:21 pm:
We’ll see if he files. ISBE lists just one, $1K contribution since July 1.
He raised $66K in the second quarter and had $347K on hand.
- Wishful Thinking - Tuesday, Sep 19, 17 @ 1:22 pm:
Anonymous - nailed it.
Hastings v Drury: this quite simply would be the most epicly poetic Drury defeat. If only we could be so lucky.
- Springfieldish - Tuesday, Sep 19, 17 @ 1:38 pm:
LCD: Schneider signs are white lettering on a dark blue background with a green border. Never had blue on blue. Maybe you’re thinking of Rod Drobinski signs?
It would have helped if Drury had the ability to work with ANYONE in the House. Madigan was merely his deflection. Lacking money, it’s good to have friends. Lacking both Drury will never get further south than Peoria. C’mon, who’d want to spend hours in a car with him?
- The one - Tuesday, Sep 19, 17 @ 1:44 pm:
Successful prosecution of a police officer caught on tape beating a man shackled in a wheelchair.
I see Drury was getting all the tough cases. How did he pull that one off?
- lake county democrat - Tuesday, Sep 19, 17 @ 2:39 pm:
Springfieldish - true, they weren’t blue on blue. Eh, so he plants them under streetlights. Again, I note the LaRouchie victory: people may vote against the others rather than for him, for reasons principled and not.
- 47th Ward - Tuesday, Sep 19, 17 @ 2:43 pm:
===I note the LaRouchie victory===
Speaking of wishful thinking, lol.
If Drury is Mark Fairchild, who is the Aurelia Pucinski or George Sangmeister in your example?
- Morty - Tuesday, Sep 19, 17 @ 3:52 pm:
‘In theory, a progressive with a proven independent streak is exactly what people want for an attorney general’
Too bad it’s Scott Drury running and not a candidate that has those qualities
- Morty - Tuesday, Sep 19, 17 @ 3:54 pm:
‘Lacking both Drury will never get further south than Peoria. C’mon, who’d want to spend hours in a car with him?’
The running mate he paid to be his pal whom he just threw under the bus?
- Lucky Pierre - Tuesday, Sep 19, 17 @ 3:54 pm:
Chicago Cynic-
“I wouldn’t hold my breath. While he has a little more logic in this race, he’s the same guy with no money and no friends. It’s hard to win elections with no money and no friends.”
He has no money and no friends in a political sense precisely because he is one of the few to criticize the Speaker publicly.
Lisa Madigan has been the State’s Attorney since 2003 and has pledged to investigate public corruption. There are absolutely zero scalps on her wall.
An outsider with no friends who was is backed by no one in the establishment would be a great pick. Very similar to Patrick Fitzgerald who was an outsider with no friends or ties to political establishment in Illinois.
- Morty - Tuesday, Sep 19, 17 @ 3:56 pm:
‘Now he can get his own clock…a better clock…a non-Madigan clock.’
Oh, he’s getting a clock.
Im betting he gets it ‘cleaned’ too
- Morty - Tuesday, Sep 19, 17 @ 4:05 pm:
– LakeEffect - Tuesday, Sep 19, 17 @ 11:36 am:
Steamboat, come on. All politicians are opportunists. Scott probably less than most.
Drury’s campaign slogan?
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Sep 19, 17 @ 4:05 pm:
===precisely because he is one of the few to criticize the Speaker publicly===
Yeah, it all started then. Right.
Sheesh.
- Morty - Tuesday, Sep 19, 17 @ 4:24 pm:
You know, in a weird way I’m going to miss Scotty when he’s gone.
He’s entertaining in the same way one can enjoy a ‘bad’ movie like Xanadu or Super Troopers- it can be amusing if you don’t take it too seriously and enjoy the campy ridiculousness of it all…
Kind of like Scott
- Arsenal - Tuesday, Sep 19, 17 @ 4:27 pm:
==He has no money and no friends in a political sense precisely because he is one of the few to criticize the Speaker publicly.==
You brave martyrs, dying for our sins.
- Michelle Flaherty - Tuesday, Sep 19, 17 @ 5:25 pm:
Isn’t AG a step down for a former federal prosecutor?
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Sep 19, 17 @ 9:58 pm:
Will it be more humiliating or less when he loses for AG instead of losing for GOV?
- Ela Observer - Tuesday, Sep 19, 17 @ 11:28 pm:
Not so fast — Drury seems to be hedging his bets. His “new” website asks for donations to “Drury for Governor.” https://secure.actblue.com/donate/drury4il