* Tribune…
“I’ll be living at the governor’s mansion in Springfield. Of course, my children are going to school here in Chicago and so I’ll be doing a lot of commuting, my wife will also be doing a lot of commuting — even my children will be doing a little commuting,” [JB Pritzker] said in a brief interview with the Tribune.
“I thought it was unfair to take them out of their schools,” he said, referring to his daughter, Teddi, 16, and son, Donny, 14. “One is in high school, one is going into high school — we’re excited about living in Springfield and spending time in central and southern Illinois.”
It’s a politically savvy move. Governors from the big city like to have a rebuttal to the Chicago governor vs. Downstate governor debate, which can be defined by where the state’s chief executive calls home. Back in the 1990s, a spokesman for two-term Republican Gov. Jim Edgar, who hails from Springfield and occupied the mansion full time, used to famously respond to reporters’ questions in that vein, saying Edgar was the governor of “all of Illinois.”
I said this often during the Blagojevich days, but if I was the governor of Illinois and I had kids there is no way in heck I would make them go to school in Springfield.
The whole thing is a non-issue to me anyway. There’s no mandate that the governor live in Springfield and the mansion is not the White House. Also, maybe I can start going to Blue Monday at the Alamo again because I haven’t wanted to run into the governor while I was trying to have fun.
* Finke says it best, though…
In case you didn’t see it elsewhere, Pritzker has addressed the most overrated issue facing state government.
He said he does plan to spend most of his time in the Governor’s Mansion, even if his wife and two kids will continue to spend most of their time in Chicago.
As before, if you think having the governor live in Springfield is a really important issue, answer this question: Do you honestly think Rod Blagojevich would have been a good governor if he’d simply lived in the mansion?
Not even a good governor, a better governor. The answer to both is “No.”
- A guy - Tuesday, Nov 13, 18 @ 1:16 pm:
Hey, anyplace with working toilets is a good place to bunk.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Nov 13, 18 @ 1:18 pm:
The Jim Thompson model of how to handle the question and then working the “issue”, that’s was probably the best answer to the question.
Mirror Thompson’s way here.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Nov 13, 18 @ 1:21 pm:
How’s the water pressure in the mansion? Could Rod have taken his usual 90-minute showers that were part of his daily avoidance of working?
- Griffin - Tuesday, Nov 13, 18 @ 1:23 pm:
First move to butter up the GA: return of the State planes.
- BothSidesOfHisMouth - Tuesday, Nov 13, 18 @ 1:23 pm:
I wouldn’t make my kids switch schools either, but Springfield Public Schools offer much better educational opportunities than people give them credit for. Many families in Springfield who have the choice (meaning, can afford private) still choose and thrive in Springfield Public Schools.
- Real - Tuesday, Nov 13, 18 @ 1:26 pm:
I think it’s weird that he bought a $12 million dollar mansion in Florida at the same time he is elected. He won’t even get much time to spend there in the next 4 or 8 years.
- Just a guy - Tuesday, Nov 13, 18 @ 1:28 pm:
Rauner apparently lived in Springfield the bulk of his time as governor. Enough said.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Nov 13, 18 @ 1:29 pm:
===Springfield Public Schools offer much better educational opportunities than people give them credit===
I don’t doubt that at all. However, I wasn’t referring to the quality of the schools.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Nov 13, 18 @ 1:33 pm:
===$12 million dollar mansion in Florida at the same time he is elected.===
The man spent $171+ million to win, and you’re questioning a $12 million house purchase? Perspective… it’s not much.
===He won’t even get much time to spend there in the next 4 or 8 years.===
You have multiple homes, seriously, how much time do you spend at them?
Holidays, off-session time, week here and there.
I’m sure Pritzker can manage, lol
- Skeptic - Tuesday, Nov 13, 18 @ 1:37 pm:
My beef with Blago living in Chicago was his use of the state plane to commute. The plane was based in Springfield, so it had to make 2 round trips to get him from Chicago to Springfield and back. Meanwhile the rest of us jamokes had to drive the 3-1/2 hours (or 8 hours on the train…but I digress…) both ways and weren’t even able to get a hotel room for the night.
- d.p.gumby - Tuesday, Nov 13, 18 @ 1:39 pm:
Talk about yesterday’s issues. While it may matter while the GA is in session, otherwise, location is non-issue w/ more and more companies using work-from-home protocols.
- Real - Tuesday, Nov 13, 18 @ 1:42 pm:
OW the point was not the cost of the mansion. The point was buying it while you’re elected governor. As a private citizen you could spend time where you want freely. As an elected official you would be criticized for spending time at a Florida property. So I think it’s kind of weird to buy it now when you won’t be able to even enjoy or see it much for the next 4 or 8 years.
- Cheryl44 - Tuesday, Nov 13, 18 @ 1:45 pm:
I don’t know where the Pritzker kids go, but I’m doubting they’re at CPS schools. If they are, I think I would re-think that as a parent.
I used to have this argument with CPS teachers when Rahm was first elected and chose to send his kids to the lab school. I you think about it, no, you don’t want the mayor (or governor’s) kid in your classroom in a public school. Let places like Francis Parker or the Lab School or Latin deal with it. They’re used to dealing with kids who need extra security.
- Arsenal - Tuesday, Nov 13, 18 @ 1:46 pm:
Not only do I not care about the Governor living in the mansion, I don’t even think we should give the Governor a mansion. Especially not a Governor Pritzker. Homeboy can afford his own pad in Springfield. I’ll help him with the Zillow search.
- Montrose - Tuesday, Nov 13, 18 @ 1:47 pm:
Real - You are thinking about the house purchase the way you or I would think about purchasing a second home - how often will I get to use it, what will it cost to keep up, etc. JB isn’t thinking about its use. Its an investment. If he gets down there on occasion, that’s swell.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Nov 13, 18 @ 1:48 pm:
===The point was buying it while you’re elected governor. As a private citizen you could spend time where you want freely. As an elected official you would be criticized for spending time at a Florida property. So I think it’s kind of weird to buy it now when you won’t be able to even enjoy or see it much for the next 4 or 8 years.===
(Sigh)
First, how someone spends their money, is also questioning their time.
What percentage of $3.2 billion is… $12 million?
Heck, $12 million… that is 7% of his personal spending for his run for governor.
Your concern for Pritzker’s off-time is… compelling, lol
- Real - Tuesday, Nov 13, 18 @ 1:53 pm:
Montrose
Buying a 6.44-acre already creates a heavy daily expense to keep up. As I said before it’s weird. There are better ways to make investments where you dont have to pay daily expenses to keep up… And who is to say the house will sell for more than purchase price and combined daily keep up expenses when its time to sell? That’s debatable.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Nov 13, 18 @ 1:57 pm:
===As I said before it’s weird. There are better ways to make investments where you dont have to pay daily expenses to keep up… And who is to say the house will sell for more than purchase price and combined daily keep up expenses when its time to sell? That’s debatable.===
LOL
Pritzker is ranked No. 5 in Illinois, and No. 219 nationally in his wealth… and you’re worried about upkeep of one house being purchased and the long term investment?
That’s weird.
- Ron Burgundy - Tuesday, Nov 13, 18 @ 2:06 pm:
Spend enough time there during session and when his schedule demands it, and I’m fine with it. I would not expect him to uproot his kids, especially with them at the ages they are at.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Nov 13, 18 @ 2:13 pm:
===I think it’s weird that he bought a $12 million dollar mansion in Florida ===
It’s a horse farm. There is no house.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Nov 13, 18 @ 2:13 pm:
===The fact is it’s weird.===
Your concerned trolling of a man who could lose all $12 million on a farm, never spend a single day there, and still be the 5th most wealthy Illinoisan… that’s concerned trolling that mocking still can’t do the justice it deserves.
What’s next, you’re concerned Pritzker can’t handle the association fees?
Seems to me, you’re making a point to this $12 million and his wealth, and passively calling it frivolous and out of touch, with such concerned trolling “but the investment”, “but he’ll never visit”…
The Pritzkers’ will be fine. I’m sure if the house lost every dollar, cost him a $20 million loss… they’ll be fine.
The $171 million plus on a campaign makes your concerned trolling almost “Onion-like”
The post is about living in Springfield or “Home away from Springfield.”
The costs of *any* home, investment or not is weird to that discussion.
- lakeside - Tuesday, Nov 13, 18 @ 2:14 pm:
That the mansion, newly-renovated by one billionaire governor, will be a housing downgrade for the next billionaire governor really says everything about our politics.
That aside, I think it’s important the governor spend enough time in SPI to know how the town works, where to go, and what issues matter to the people who are doing a lot of the day-to-day work of state government. But JB living in Springfield isn’t going to make him less of a Chicagoan, which is fine.
- Annonin' - Tuesday, Nov 13, 18 @ 2:23 pm:
Clearly stayin’ in Springfield was not enough to get GovJunk another 4 years Same for not flyin’
- Downstate Dem - Tuesday, Nov 13, 18 @ 4:01 pm:
Mr. Pritzker didn’t spend $171 million to move into the governor’s mansion in January 2019. Governors split their time independent of where Home base is. He spent $171 million to move into the White House in January 2021. The governorship provides Mr. Pritzker with nationwide legitimacy when he runs for president in a year.
- VanillaMan - Tuesday, Nov 13, 18 @ 4:02 pm:
It will be so nice not seeing Rauner around anymore.
He ruined my day too often. He was so charmingly oblivious - geez.
- Arthur Andersen - Tuesday, Nov 13, 18 @ 4:06 pm:
I said the other day JB should follow the “Thompson Model” (Thanks OW) and live where it’s best for his kids. Just be straight about it
Let’s also stop the nonsense and bring back the State Plane, without snarky comments about JB paying for it.
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Nov 13, 18 @ 5:05 pm:
–Let’s also stop the nonsense and bring back the State Plane, without snarky comments about JB paying for it.–
Agreed. It’s a big state, and the governor should get around, a lot, and in a hurry, when need be.
The fact that Blago was a obnoxious slob who used state planes like a limo services doesn’t change that.
- Union thug - Tuesday, Nov 13, 18 @ 5:30 pm:
It’s a non issue used to support another non issue that downstate Republicans love to bring up. The Chicago against down state. You already have Republicans beating that drum again.
- Saluki - Tuesday, Nov 13, 18 @ 5:36 pm:
It matters to people that live South of Springfield. It’s symbolic. Most that live “downstate” already feel as if the entire power structure is Chicago centered. The least they can do is live in the Mansion.
- RNUG - Tuesday, Nov 13, 18 @ 5:47 pm:
From memory, the last Governor to have any kid’s go to Springfield schools was Olgivie, and his daughter went to Sacred Heart Acadamy (SHG these days).
- RNUG - Tuesday, Nov 13, 18 @ 5:49 pm:
I don’t care where JB decides to live but I do care he is in Springfield for the legislative sessions and the run-up to them. That is when / where the work of politics gets done.
- Taxedoutwest - Tuesday, Nov 13, 18 @ 6:25 pm:
Thank you, Mr. Pritzker, if one person thinks opposite of you leaving your kids in school where they are now and being with them is not the correct thing to do, then that person should be the first person to leave the state,,,,and I will buy them their UHaul rental agreement. Family first, job second. Period. Being a good dad is the best job ever.
- justacitizen - Tuesday, Nov 13, 18 @ 7:11 pm:
Maybe JB should stay at the state fairgrounds house like the Rauner’s did. Then the mansion could be rented for proms, weddings, small concerts, etc.
- DuPage Dave - Tuesday, Nov 13, 18 @ 7:38 pm:
I’m sure the new and improved mansion is in tip-top shape thanks to Rauner. But I can testify that the Mansion View Inn across the street always had great water pressure. Plus back in the day it was the first Springfield hotel where you could catch Sox games on cable.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Nov 13, 18 @ 8:01 pm:
He should be here when necessary but shouldn’t have to up-root his family. I’ve never understood why people get so bent out of shape about this issue.