* Many thanks to everyone who attended my City Club speech yesterday and to those who asked questions. You can click here if you missed it. Good crowd. Laughed at all my jokes.

Also, thanks to the folks who bought tickets through our charity auction benefiting Lutheran Social Services of Illinois and to those who donated online. And thanks to those who brought toys to and/or donated at the event. I didn’t get a count on the number of toys, but there were tons of them.

The online auction combined with yesterday’s direct giving raised more than $6,000 for LSSI’s programs. Amazing. Click here to learn more about that invaluable organization.

Peace.

…Adding… I just noticed that Dave Dahl did a story about the speech…

Rich Miller of Capitol Fax says outgoing Gov. Bruce Rauner will not be missed.

“There will be no Rauner nostalgia in Illinois,” Miller said, “and Rauner is reinforcing this ever since the election with some of the bizarre things that he has said and done.” Then, referring to former State Sen. Karen McConnaughey as “Gov. Karen McConnaughay,” said, “You might have seen her in the news in recent days.” […]

“It’s hard to explain this, but [JB Pritzker] can just talk like a normal person. I’ve never seen a normal person elected governor in my life. It’s very odd.”

Miller praised Pritzker for surrounding himself with women and minorities in his campaign, transition team, and – presumably – his administration.

Miller predicts Pritzker and House Speaker Mike Madigan (D-Chicago) will get along well — at least until it’s time to redraw the political maps after the 2020 Census. Pritzker has favored a “fair map” concept, while, Miller says, Madigan traditionally wants one which is fair to Democrats.