* Some folks had been awful sure he’d make this run…

The person who many considered to be @chicagosmayor’s toughest potential challenger next year says he will not run https://t.co/7FAZNqJuPl

— Paris Schutz (@paschutz) March 1, 2022

…Adding… Lightfoot…

Statement from Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot

“Arne Duncan has dedicated himself to public service, and over the arc of his career contributed to our city’s well being in important ways. The work he’s doing now to build community-based solutions to violence is important, and I look forward to continuing to collaborate with Chicago CRED and the other street outreach and intervention organizations and initiatives across our city. We all agree that the priority is to make sure every resident, regardless of zip code, experiences safe and peaceful neighborhoods, and I will work with all people of good will focused on that objective. We must all work together to combat gang and gun violence, and to continue our work of investing in historically neglected neighborhoods.”

* Teresi press release…

Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza is calling for an end to penalties for late payments of the state’s bills.

Following media reports questioning the wisdom of the initiative, Comptroller Candidate Shannon Teresi asks Susana Mendoza the following questions on why this act should be repealed:

1. Why should the state be exempt from paying late fees, but every Illinoisan still has to pay interest on their bills?
2. If the state pays its bills on time, this is not an issue. Why are you changing the rules and reducing accountability for timely state payments?
3. Why would Illinois remove its prompt payment legislation when almost every other state in the country has similar laws to hold government accountable to vendors?
4. As the state’s Chief Fiscal Officer, why are you working to avoid accountability for late payments? What message does that send to taxpayers, vendors and credit agencies?
5. Why would small businesses continue to provide goods and services in good faith to the state when the Comptroller is working to avoid accountability for late payments?

* Press release…

Just ahead of an election season, with new maps and adjusted timelines, the Democrats for the Illinois House are continuing to ramp up their team by adding former WVON News Anchor TaQuoya McConnico as their new Chief Communications Officer.

“We are pleased to welcome TaQuoya to the team,” said Illinois House Speaker Emanuel ‘Chris’ Welch. “We have a long history of doing great work in communities together. I know our party members will appreciate her energy, her expertise, and her passion for creating connections and great results.”

TaQuoya Michelle McConnico (former name Kennedy) is an award-winning communications and marketing professional and a proud United States Air Force Veteran. She has spent the last 15 years connecting brands to consumers and helping organizations achieve their goals through communications and digital marketing. TaQuoya is a former WVON News Director. She also served as a Vice President at Teneo Strategy, a global CEO consulting and advisory firm founded in part by the Clinton Administration’s own Doug Band. They counsel some of the world’s top organizations, including Coca-Cola, McDonald’s, FIFA, and Petsmart. TaQuoya has received numerous awards for her work, including Verizon Wireless HQ Communications Improvement Recognition, President Obama’s Call to Service Award, and The Village of Maywood Helping Hand Award. She was also named one of Chicago’s Top Professionals Under the Age of 40 to watch by the Chicago Defender.

The addition of McConnico is just the latest of supports added to help the party build strong in their fight for a better Illinois as they work through COVID restrictions and later timelines to gather petitions and get support to get on the ballot. Other new supports for the party include a full-time staff of regional political directors to develop cutting-edge campaigns and an in-house fundraising expert to work one-on-one with candidates on financing plans.

McConnico is married to Tyler McConnico, an Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. member. They have three sons, Tyson (5), Taylor (4), and Troy (2). McConnico is a graduate of Columbia College Chicago and a member of The National Association of Black Journalists. #

* Politico…

— Alexi Giannoulias has won the endorsement of Our Revolution in his bid for secretary of state. The national political group aligned with Sen. Bernie Sanders announced its support last night during a national program that also included Jessica Cisneros, who’s hoping to unseat Texas Rep. Henry Cuellar (their primary is today), and Melanie D’Arrigo, who’s running for New York’s 3rd Congressional District as Rep. Tom Suozzi runs for governor. Our Revolution says it has more than 300,000 members in Illinois. Giannoulias also has the support of Illinois progressive Reps. Chuy Garcia and Jan Schakowsky. […]

— North Aurora trustee enters race for Foster’s 11th Congressional District seat: “Mark Carroll’s entry into the contest brings the GOP field to seven candidates,” reports Daily Herald’s Russell Lissau.

— Kirk J. Ortiz, a Cook County sheriff deputy, is jumping into the race for sheriff, challenging his boss, Tom Dart.

* Coming a bit late to this…

Gov. JB Pritzker used his appearance Sunday at the Kane County Democrats’ annual Truman Dinner fundraiser as a way to energize those in attendance ahead of the upcoming primary and general elections.

“Honestly, you all are protecting and securing our Democratic values by making sure that Kane County is a blue county now and forever,” said Pritzker during his remarks at the fundraiser, held at Two Brothers Roundhouse in Aurora. “We’re a diverse and powerful coalition, moving this state in a bold new direction.”

Pritzker, the state’s top Democrat, has already announced he is running for a second term. He ticked off a few of the accomplishments of the Democrats during his administration.

“It was the Democrats that raised the minimum wage to a living wage,” he said. “We lifted hundreds of thousands of working people out of poverty…Democrats expanded child care, we increased funding for education, we raised teachers’ salaries and we made college more affordable. When COVID-19 hit Illinois, Democrats expanded health care coverage. We provided free COVID-19 testing and treatment and vaccinations. And we funded critical access hospitals and safety net hospitals.”

* Ken Griffin sat down for yet another softball interview and wasn’t even asked about dumping a $20 million down payment into the Illinois governor’s race…

What do you do for relaxation and exercise?

One thing that surprises people? I love to play “Call of Duty” and I’ll play it while I’m on the elliptical trainer. Takes a bit of work on balance to do both at the same time; maybe a bit of multitasking. But I’m always trying to find ways to stay in shape and to stay engaged.

Insightful.

* Not Illinois, but Illinois-related…

A $5 billion Rivian Automotive Inc. electric-vehicle plant planned for central Georgia is now a pawn in the state’s bitter Republican gubernatorial primary.

Former U.S. Senator David Perdue, who is challenging incumbent Governor Brian Kemp with the backing of Donald Trump, is holding a Tuesday rally in Rutledge to protest the plant and investor George Soros, who is one of its backers. The attack puts Kemp’s biggest economic development coup squarely in the middle of the U.S. culture wars. […]

“Brian Kemp is selling us out to George Soros,” Perdue said in a release announcing the event. “He’s pledged our tax dollars to lure a California company funded by George Soros to Georgia and is calling it ‘economic development,” Perdue’s statement said. “Kemp thought he could get away with this under the guise of ‘economic development,’ but all he is doing here is selling us out and lining George Soros’s pockets.”

Hilarious. But it kinda makes me wonder if the GOP candidates here have a position on helping Rivian. I’m almost afraid to check.

…Adding… DGA…

The Chicago Sun-Times editorial board slammed billionaire Ken Griffin yesterday for pouring millions into Richard Irvin’s “tough on crime” campaign for governor while his company invests millions in gun manufacturers.

Griffin has branded himself and Irvin as advocates for public safety. But weapons manufactured by companies within Citadel’s portfolio account for nearly one of every four guns recovered by police and used in Chicago homicides since 2017.

“Given this concern, you’d think Griffin would be outraged to learn Citadel and Citadel Securities have $86 million in investments and holdings in gun and ammunition makers,” the editorial board reported.

“You absolutely cannot be a voice about crime and murder or shootings on our streets when your company is a major investor in gun manufacturers,” said the Rev. Michael Pfleger, pastor of Faith Community of St. Sabina Church.

This isn’t the first time Griffin and Irvin have been called out for their bogus public safety platform. Last week, the Chicago Tribune exposed Irvin for helping clients accused of the same violent crimes he slams in campaign ads.