* Dick Uihlein has contributed $5 million more to Dan Proft’s People Who Play By The Rules PAC. That brings Uihlein’s total to $12 million.
* The Republicans have 18 out of 59 Senate seats. They don’t generally demand special sessions to pass actual bills…
* From a reader: “The local gas station here in Springfield on Toronto Road has something a little bigger than a sticker about the gas tax. This 11×17 sign is on top of all of the pumps”…
Heh.
* Establishment-backed candidate concedes defeat…
By a margin of just 69 votes, Connie Cain is on track to be the Republican nominee for the 66th House District in Illinois after her opponent, Arin Thrower, conceded the race Wednesday evening.
Cain, a longtime accountant living in Gilberts, declared victory in a Facebook post Wednesday evening as the unofficial results across Kane and McHenry counties showed Cain with 3,439 votes, or 51% of the vote, and Thrower with 3,370 votes, or 49%.
Yep. This does say it all…
Cain will face Rep. Suzanne Ness (D-Crystal Lake) in the fall.
* New state Senator appointed and sworn in…
Kris Tharp, a captain and jail administrator for the Madison County Sheriff’s Office with nearly 25 years of law enforcement experience and a life-long volunteer in the Metro East, was sworn in to represent Illinois’ 56th Senate District Friday.
“I’m truly honored and humbled by this entire experience,” said Tharp (D-Bethalto). “We have a lot of important issues to explore this year, and I’m eager to serve the residents of the 56th District in this new role.”
Tharp has worked through the ranks of the Madison County Sheriff’s Office and dedicated his life to improving public safety for communities throughout the Metro East. In addition to his roles as a captain and jail administrator, Tharp serves as a Deputy Commander for the Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis.
In 2018, Tharp founded Madison County Triad, a partnership between the Madison County’s Sheriff’s Office, area service providers and older residents to improve the safety and quality of life of seniors in the community. He serves as president for the organization.
He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy. To highlight his law enforcement credentials, Tharp is an active member of the FBI National Academy Associates, Police Benevolent and Protective Association 118, Illinois Sheriff’s Association, Illinois Correctional Association, International Association of Chiefs of Police and the International Homicide Investigator’s Association.
He is a life-long resident of the 56th District. He lives in Bethalto with his wife, Jaime. The couple has two adult sons.
Tharp, who is familiar with government work in Springfield from his time working on the Illinois Elder Abuse Task Force, is excited to return to the Capitol this fall in a new capacity and advocate for the needs of working families.
The 56th Senate District includes all or parts of Alton, Bethalto, Caseyville, Collinsville, East Alton, Edwardsville, Elsah, Fairview Heights, Glen Carbon, Godfrey, Granite City, Hartford, Maryville, O’Fallon, Roxana, South Roxana and Wood River.
He replaces former Sen. Rachelle Aud Crowe, who resigned after she was confirmed as the region’s new US Attorney.
His Republican opponent Erica Harriss responds…
This appointment has no real bearing on the upcoming election. Chicago Democrat Elites, like Senate President Don Harmon, hand-picked Senator Crowe’s replacement months ago. Ultimately there will be an election to decide who will be the next state senator from the Metro East.
“Voters are going to have the final say in November and there is a very stark contrast between what I stand for and what the Chicago Elite have planned. My message resonates with families who are frustrated with the cost of everything, who are anxious about their children’s future, and who are hungry for leadership,” Erica Harriss, Candidate for State Senate, stated.
“The Democrat Elites have chosen a candidate who will support them and their policies which keep our taxes high, send our high-paying energy jobs to other states and overseas, and release dangerous criminals onto the street.” Erica continued: “That’s not a platform I would want to run on, and this election will be a referendum on the failed leadership of the Democratic Party.”
“Voters need to hear that there is hope for the future of our state and that with good policy we can make great strides together. I have a proven record of voting to safeguard our future by lowering taxes, funding law enforcement, and standing up for local control,” said Harriss.
* New state Supreme Court Justice appointed and sworn in…
A week after Ketanji Brown Jackson was sworn in as the first Black woman on the U.S. Supreme Court, a comparable trail was blazed Thursday into Illinois’ top court.
Lisa Holder White took the oath in Springfield to become the first Black woman to serve as a justice on the Illinois Supreme Court in the institution’s 203-year history.
Holder White was selected by retiring Justice Rita Garman as her replacement in the central Illinois district, with the six other jurists on the court approving the appointment of the Decatur Republican this spring.
AG Raoul…
- Anon221 - Friday, Jul 8, 22 @ 1:27 pm:
So… Harriss sends out a “Mad Libs” fill in the blank statement to counter the press release of Tharp??? Seems to me that he has a pretty impressive LOCAL resume for a “Chicago Elite” pick.
- Complex State Employee - Friday, Jul 8, 22 @ 1:31 pm:
==From a reader: “The local gas station here in Springfield on Toronto Road has something a little bigger than a sticker about the gas tax. This 11×17 sign is on top of all of the pumps”…==
I propose a third gas pump sign: “This gas tax hike suspension means less money that will go to essential road construction and maintenance projects statewide. Putting motorists, their vehicles, bicyclists, and even pedestrians all at risk. If you destroy your vehicle on a state highway that failed to get adequately maintained during this gas tax suspension, please feel free to ask the State to pay for the full cost of your brand new vehicle.”
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Jul 8, 22 @ 1:36 pm:
It’s a real windfall… for Proft. Grifting always pays well, especially if you are complicit in the implosion of the ILGOP… which also aids in the grifting… a real cash cow cycle designed never to govern but create a permanent political minority that welcomes the worst elements of racist thinkers, conspiracy theorists… and still littered with insurrection sympathizers.
But, for Proft, the checks keep cashing.
- Thomas Paine - Friday, Jul 8, 22 @ 1:38 pm:
Gas prices have fallen 24 cents in the last month, they are expected to keep falling, they will not impact elections, and this map explains why:
https://gasprices.aaa.com/?state=IL
- Complex State Employee - Friday, Jul 8, 22 @ 1:40 pm:
==This gas tax hike suspension means less money that will go to essential road construction and maintenance projects statewide.==
“That also means the inability to replace the crummy asphalt Bill Cellini and friends made us use in the day with high-quality pavement and concrete that will last for decades.”
- Tony T - Friday, Jul 8, 22 @ 1:46 pm:
Yeah, I’d say the Dem plan to require gas stations to post notice about the suspension of the tax has backfired a bit. A bold move by the gas station owners. I wouldn’t want to be their lobbyist in Springfield.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Jul 8, 22 @ 1:48 pm:
If one were to… “take back”… the GOP from the R_N_s…
Isn’t that shrinking a party for a purity-type cult that is more focused on who doesn’t belong than all who can be welcomed in an inclusion type tent?
It’s literally shrinking a party and shrinking the opportunities to be welcoming to voters.
And the silly of it all… Proft knows this, but the checks are so delicious, might as well grift all the cash possible from this silly way to “win”… there’s nary a worry to the governing
- Skokie Man - Friday, Jul 8, 22 @ 1:55 pm:
I disagree with the description of this as Proft’s PAC or the idea that he has any control over it at all. This is Dick Uhlein’s PAC, Dan Proft is his bought-and-paid-for shill, and Dan Proft wouldn’t wipe his own nose after sneezing if Uihlein wanted him to leave the snot there. Every single action by this PAC is to advance Uhlein’s business and personal interests.
- Lost in Shawnee - Friday, Jul 8, 22 @ 2:00 pm:
Nothing more I enjoy than reading a good hissy fit while pumping gas.
- Amalia - Friday, Jul 8, 22 @ 2:04 pm:
Uihlein. such a waste of money.
- Dotnonymous - Friday, Jul 8, 22 @ 2:04 pm:
Saying what we must do is easy …how, however, is harder…Bailey never says how.
- James Anderson - Friday, Jul 8, 22 @ 2:05 pm:
Proft has quite a grift going in Illinois for someone who lives in Florida.
Also, == Chicago Democrat Elites, like Senate President Don Harmon==
As we all know, Harmon lives in Oak Park, which is definitely not Chicago.
- Lester Holt’s Mustache - Friday, Jul 8, 22 @ 2:21 pm:
== Nothing more I enjoy than reading a good hissy fit while pumping gas.==
..says the random internet commenter posting his own version of a hissy fit on Capfax about a sign that is 100% accurate.
- Pundent - Friday, Jul 8, 22 @ 2:22 pm:
Money flowing from Uihlein isn’t a surprise. He did after all fund Roy Moore among others. The real question is with Griffin now gone is there anyone else willing to invest in the current GOP brand? The GOP in Pennsylvania knows they have a problem on their hands with Mastriano. But with Bailey receiving 57% of the vote and Don Tracy being well, Don Tracy, it’s doubtful that the GOP will be distancing themselves from Bailey, Devore or any other candidate. But as others have noted, none of that really matters to Proft as long as the checks keep coming.
- Complex State Employee - Friday, Jul 8, 22 @ 2:23 pm:
==I propose a third gas pump sign: “This gas tax hike suspension means less money that will go to essential road construction and maintenance projects statewide. Putting motorists, their vehicles, bicyclists, and even pedestrians all at risk. If you destroy your vehicle on a state highway that failed to get adequately maintained during this gas tax suspension, please feel free to ask the State to pay for the full cost of your brand new vehicle.”==
Hopefully someone at Local 150 catches this idea and comes up with something similar.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Jul 8, 22 @ 2:33 pm:
- Skokie Man -
The checks cash the same for Proft.
Proft, as much as he thinks he’s an ideologue, he’s a Capitalist grifter who found a mark that seemingly believes things Proft can make money promoting, with radio and phony papers to shill the phony.
The checks… they cash all the same.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Jul 8, 22 @ 2:44 pm:
- Lost in Shawnee -
(Sigh)
Take a breath. Take two.
- Justin - Friday, Jul 8, 22 @ 3:08 pm:
You’re in la-la land if you think Kris Tharp is soft on criminals, Erica Conway Harriss. He worked for the Madison County Sheriff’s office.
BTW, I was at the event where Tharp was announced today, and I hope he’ll be a good successor to Rachelle Aud Crowe.
- DuPage Saint - Friday, Jul 8, 22 @ 3:10 pm:
She may be the first Black justice on the Illinois Supreme Court but I believe she is the first Republican woman in the court too. Sorta gives me a glimmer of hope that these people running now implode and we can climb our way back to normality
- Rich Miller - Friday, Jul 8, 22 @ 3:12 pm:
=== I believe she is the first Republican woman in the court too.===
She replaced a Republican woman.
- Huh? - Friday, Jul 8, 22 @ 3:13 pm:
“Harmon lives in Oak Park, which is definitely not Chicago”
Oak Park is just plain goofy. A bifurcated town of lower middle class and uber wealthy, a mixed bag of ethnicities, god awful architecture, and arrogance.
After 37 years, still a recovering former Oak Park resident and alum of OPRFHS, class of ‘75.
- VerySmallRocks - Friday, Jul 8, 22 @ 3:26 pm:
Rather than whining about the taxes necessary to maintain roads and highways (unless their billionaire overlords want to foot the bill, maybe with naming rights), the gas station industry and petroleum industry in general better figure out what they will do as electric vehicles mainstream. EV’s just passed the 1% of fleet, but incentives, the OPEC inspired oil price surge, increased climate change concern, and a bunch of really cool vehicles coming out, will cause an acceleration of drivers going oil-free, whether they like it or not. PS, we EV drivers pay a surcharge thru our registration, a sign of things to come.
- Publius - Friday, Jul 8, 22 @ 3:38 pm:
Maybe Local 150 can borrow the big rat and put it in front of that gas station.
- Soccermom - Friday, Jul 8, 22 @ 3:41 pm:
Huh? —
the thing I love about living in Oak Park is knowing that I am never the most self-righteous person in the room. It’s soothing.
- Tony T - Friday, Jul 8, 22 @ 4:01 pm:
== god awful architecture ==
I’ve heard (and agreed with) a lot of criticisms of Oak Park, but that is definitely not one of them.
- Highland IL - Friday, Jul 8, 22 @ 4:07 pm:
=== …and who are hungry for leadership,” Erica Harriss, Candidate for State Senate, stated.===
As a Madison County resident I don’t recall her being a leader on the County Board. The GOP in MadCo is in a brawl amongst themselves.
- Big Dipper - Friday, Jul 8, 22 @ 4:22 pm:
If Oak Park has poor architecture, I’d love to know what suburbs have excellent architecture lol.
- Really - Monday, Jul 11, 22 @ 9:08 am:
Love that gas station sign. $90 to fill up or tanks and $.35 to $.45 discount. It really isn’t giving us any money back it’s just temporarily postponing us paying more. The people that thought that was a good idea ought to be ashamed of themselves. Maybe we can help our fellow citizens out and remove the signs when we visit the pumps.