* WCIA…
Grundy County State’s Attorney Jason Helland is preparing to announce his campaign to run against Democratic Secretary of State Jesse White.
“I met with Governor Rauner’s campaign staff,” Helland told WCIA Wednesday night, “and after thorough discussion, ultimately, I made the decision to go for it.”
Helland is supremely confident his campaign will secure the public support and financial backing of the Republican Governor and the state party.
“I have reason to believe [Rauner’s endorsement] is a done deal,” Helland said.
I’m not sure tying himself so closely to Rauner is gonna help in these trying times, but he may wind up being the only Republican who gets on the ballot.
And still we wait for Republicans to float their names for treasurer (against a not well known incumbent Democrat) or comptroller.
- GOP - Thursday, Oct 5, 17 @ 9:48 am:
With whom does one meet on the Governor’s staff these days to have these discussions?
- Henry County Tavern - Thursday, Oct 5, 17 @ 9:52 am:
He is not up for re-election as Grundy County State’s Attorney until 2020, so why not?
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Oct 5, 17 @ 9:54 am:
===Helland is supremely confident his campaign will secure the public support and financial backing of the Republican Governor and the state party.===
I probably would’ve left it at “state party” and let that say whatever that is.
It’s a tough road, no matter who does get to run against Jesse White. That alone, he’ll need all the help he can get.
- We'll See - Thursday, Oct 5, 17 @ 9:54 am:
“I have reason to believe [Rauner’s endorsement] is a done deal,”
You can take that to the bank — the Gov’s word is solid (until it’s not).
- wordslinger - Thursday, Oct 5, 17 @ 9:56 am:
He gets points for taking a shot at a tough race.
Until someone else steps up, Rauner is the ILGOP bank. At this point, if you want to run statewide, you have to kiss the ring.
Times-a-wasting if any of the “outraged” we’ve heard so much from in recent days are anything but talk.
- The Captain - Thursday, Oct 5, 17 @ 10:01 am:
Says the guy who wants Bruce Rauner’s endorsement, the rookie governor who ran statewide with no previous experience. Also …
He has no position on what’s currently the most controversial issue dividing the Republican party? Somebody better get this guy some media training or no one will take his boasts seriously, specifically the one where he boasts that he can defeat the most popular statewide elected official.
- SuburbanRepublican - Thursday, Oct 5, 17 @ 10:03 am:
I met a guy earlier this year at the Lake County GOP Federation dinner that was considering a run for Treasurer. Based on his credentials, I thought then he would have made a solid outsider challenge to Frerichs.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Oct 5, 17 @ 10:08 am:
Wouldn’t it be dee-lish if Bruce, like he did with Tillman when he was “suggesting” replacements for legislators to the actual *cough-cough* deciders who was acceptable to Tillman… wouldn’t it be “the most” if Helland had to be interviewed by the most important Raunerite if them all… Diana Rauner?
I mean, honestly, Diana Rauner is the most important Raunerite, whose policy and messaging matters most, why not have Helland sit across from Diana and with Diana holding the RaunerS checkbook, quizzing Helland, as Helland himself wants and claims Bruce support?
That would be fun.
- Annonin' - Thursday, Oct 5, 17 @ 10:11 am:
Seems like the breathe of fresh air that will boost GovJunk and the rest of the ticket — if there is a rest of the ticket — pronto tonto
Good job GovJunk.
- Winnin' - Thursday, Oct 5, 17 @ 10:12 am:
Yes, I was interviewed by the Raunerite Party and I am prepared to run as a Raunerite.
- annonin' - Thursday, Oct 5, 17 @ 10:15 am:
Speakin’ of the ticket how about the big boost Top Rauner Victory Architect Nick Ayers gave GOPies the other night. Nick, who also played a big role connin’ Blair Hull to spend on Gonzo, declared non Trumpeters should be purged.
Since GovJunk can barely utter the word we are guessin’ Ayers will be sendin’ his Rauner checks back pronto
- Chris P. Bacon - Thursday, Oct 5, 17 @ 10:15 am:
Rauner seal of approval in race against biggest statewide vote getter (if I’m not mistaken) in Illinois history.
Sounds like a hoot.
- Curl of the Burl - Thursday, Oct 5, 17 @ 10:16 am:
No one for Treasurer is a head-scratcher. No offense to Mr. Frerichs but out of the three Democrat-held and -incumbent constitutional offices that is the one that should be the “easiest” get.
I would not even bother with SOS or Comptroller. Jesse White is a treasure and unbeatable, and Susana Mendoza is a star. Take the lumps when/where you can.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Oct 5, 17 @ 10:17 am:
“You have to kiss the ring”. And not the one on his finger.
- Been there, done that - Thursday, Oct 5, 17 @ 10:19 am:
He had better learn really quick how campaigning up north and campaigning in the rest of the state are two different beasts. Just like the rest of the Rauner flunkies, he will learn who to make that kind of statement to and who not to.
He just lost at least 8 votes out of my die-hard Republican family before he even got started.
- Swift - Thursday, Oct 5, 17 @ 10:27 am:
Meh, pretty bland candidate, but maybe he can win the primary, but no way does he stand a chance in the general.
As an aside, whatever happened to the Urlacher brother? The Harold for AG campaign at least has some name recognition, why not try the same for the SOS race?
- MadManMad - Thursday, Oct 5, 17 @ 10:28 am:
Just wait until the Dems start doing research on the “top-notch” job he’s doing in Grundy. He has a lot to learn about being a local elected official let alone state-wide.
- Team America - Thursday, Oct 5, 17 @ 10:47 am:
=== I met a guy earlier this year at the Lake County GOP Federation dinner that was considering a run for Treasurer.===
That was James Melchin. The word is he wasn’t feeling the love from the state GOP so he decided not to pursue it.
===As an aside, whatever happened to the Urlacher brother?===
Casey Urlacher lost the senate primary to Dan McConchie. Casey won his re-election for Mayor of Mettawa, but it’s not a great place to build your political base, given it has a population of 500 and no one can pronounce it (although we do have a Costco).
- Curl of the Burl - Thursday, Oct 5, 17 @ 11:06 am:
Team A - that could be a good campaign slogan.
“WE HAVE A COSTCO!”
- 360 Degree TurnAround - Thursday, Oct 5, 17 @ 11:10 am:
Someone really needs to press him on the abortion issue. If there is one thing that the office of secretary of state handles on a daily basis, it is abortion. When I go renew my registration, I always think, I wonder what Jesse White has done on abortions lately.
- Ghost - Thursday, Oct 5, 17 @ 11:16 am:
Looking at Jessies unfavorable this is a good decision.
- We'll See - Thursday, Oct 5, 17 @ 11:25 am:
Apparently some folks in Grundy County are not fans.
http://familiesagainsthelland.com/
- austinman - Thursday, Oct 5, 17 @ 11:26 am:
Jason he treats black people like garbage down in Grundy county I have seen it myself
- Commonsense in Illinois - Thursday, Oct 5, 17 @ 11:58 am:
He’s pretty much assured of Governor Rauner’s endorsement?
I’m not sure that’s the positive he thinks it is…
- Yo - Thursday, Oct 5, 17 @ 12:24 pm:
LOL…..Next?
- Reformed Public Servant - Thursday, Oct 5, 17 @ 1:52 pm:
Helland is a solid State’s Attorney, and should have made a run at AG; however, his strong DUI convictions experience is a dovetail fit for Secy of State
- We'll See - Thursday, Oct 5, 17 @ 2:43 pm:
“… his strong DUI convictions experience is a dovetail fit for Secy of State”
If that’s the gold standard to run for SOS then we have 101 other State’s Atty who are “fit” for the job.
- Mr. Morris - Thursday, Oct 5, 17 @ 3:21 pm:
===Apparently some folks in Grundy County are not fans.===
That’s normal for a States Attorney to have some enemies. The website is par for the course for Grundy County the Democrats in that county through everything at the wall and twists the truth to see what sticks.
- We'll See - Thursday, Oct 5, 17 @ 4:13 pm:
Yes, ban them. For those arguing a ban won’t help, auto air bags don’t prevent all deaths but the sure do reduce the numbers.
- We'll See - Thursday, Oct 5, 17 @ 4:14 pm:
Wrong post.
- South of I-80 - Thursday, Oct 5, 17 @ 4:43 pm:
I just heard of Mr Helland’s bid for SOS. I can’t wait for him to repaint his old squad car to “Vote for Helland, Illinois Secretary of State”. Congrats Jessie on your next term in office
- Anon E. Moose - Thursday, Oct 5, 17 @ 7:15 pm:
What are his ideas for the office? Supervising a prosecutor’s office with 3 attorneys does not make you qualified to run a huge state-wide office.