* Jim Dey on the appointment process to replace the late Sen. Scott Bennett…
Champaign County Democratic Party Chair Mike Ingram said his desire to be appointed to a vacant Illinois Senate seat is his “dream.”
But the wife-and-husband political team of Carol and Aaron Ammons contend that he and others are trying to deny a “strong Black woman” what she’s due.
That’s the latest in the increasingly incendiary back-and-forth among the people who are seeking to fill the vacancy for the 52nd District seat created by the recent death of Democratic Sen. Scott Bennett. […]
In a statement issued Monday night, Carol Ammons said denying her the post would be an insult to “African-American women” who “are the base of the Democratic Party and are disrespected and disregarded by the Democratic Party on a regular basis.”
Meanwhile, Aaron Ammons, Champaign County’s clerk and recorder, issued a separate statement Tuesday that contends that the appointment issue is a matter of race. He said the community will “find out soon if we have real allies in our movements” or whether “we have to battle this new generation of whites for the same reasons our parents, grandparents and great-grandparents battled before us.”
Dey also mentioned that Rep. Ammons filed paperwork with the state converting her House campaign committee to a Senate committee, which I told subscribers about earlier today.
* I also told subscribers about this…
Ahead of tonight’s meeting to discuss her late husband’s successor, Stacy Bennett today weighed in on the field of 10.
While making clear she’s not endorsing a single candidate, Bennett mentioned four candidates that her late husband would have liked for the “integrity, and valuable experience and perspectives” they’d bring to the senate “while also listening to and representing the entire district.”
Rep. Carol Ammons was not on the list. Two, however, were Black women, but only one of those was an applicant: Gianina Baker.
- Early voter - Wednesday, Jan 4, 23 @ 3:21 pm:
Important to note that Mike Ingram was not on Stacy Bennett’s list either. I don’t see how he can stay in contention after the accusations from the Ammons. He should drop out and at least endorse Baker to save face.
- phocion - Wednesday, Jan 4, 23 @ 3:22 pm:
==In a statement issued Monday night, Carol Ammons said denying her the post would be an insult to “African-American women” who “are the base of the Democratic Party and are disrespected and disregarded by the Democratic Party on a regular basis.”==
I’m not sure Kamala Harris, Ketanje Brown Jackson, Lauren Underwood, Robin Kelly, Lori Lightfoot, Toni Preckwinkle, and Juliana Stratton would completely agree with that assertion.
- Osborne Smith III - Wednesday, Jan 4, 23 @ 3:32 pm:
We don’t need to go there, Rep. Ammons. Please. Don’t go there. If you want the seat, run for it in 2024. You still have things you can accomplish in the House in the meantime. Take the “L” on the appointment and look toward 2024.
- Almost the Weekend - Wednesday, Jan 4, 23 @ 3:40 pm:
Honestly shocked the Ammons had the respect to wait until 2023 for this to play out in public.
Carol is not the appointment, she’ll be too divisive.
- Because I said so... - Wednesday, Jan 4, 23 @ 3:42 pm:
This sure got ugly fast.
- thechampaignlife - Wednesday, Jan 4, 23 @ 3:47 pm:
I would love to have a “strong Black woman” fill the seat, but not Ammons. I supported her first House campaign when Sam Rosenberg was endorsed in the primary by outgoing Rep. Jakobsson and Ammons was pushed hard to drop out. She deserved that win, but her entitled attitude and shoplifting since then make her ill-suited to continue in the House, let alone the Senate. I do not know Gianina Baker, but if Sen. Bennett was a fan then I am all for it. Andy Quarnstrom has also done great work in his role as Township Supervisor and is another strong contender.
- Club J - Wednesday, Jan 4, 23 @ 4:01 pm:
I understand the situation here. What I don’t understand is why she doesn’t run for the position in the next election? Isn’t this what Bailey did in a round about way? Finish the term you were elected to do then move forward.
- thechampaignlife - Wednesday, Jan 4, 23 @ 4:11 pm:
===why she doesn’t run for the position in the next election===
Because she might lose in the primary against the incumbent appointee (or the general election without the benefit of incumbency and name recognition in the 104th), and she would have to give up her House seat to run. This way, it is no risk.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Jan 4, 23 @ 4:25 pm:
Some of y’all need to take into account that this is about a purely Democratic Party appointment process. This is not an unheard-of tactic and that party has been pushing that very same general theme for quite a while.
- Gfalkes - Wednesday, Jan 4, 23 @ 4:25 pm:
The Bennett’s know best. No ammons.
- Just in Case - Wednesday, Jan 4, 23 @ 4:27 pm:
If the term integrity is included in the qualifications; team Ammons are out.
That these are not great folks is not a secret in C/U and Vermilion County.
- Near West Side - Wednesday, Jan 4, 23 @ 4:29 pm:
I don’t see the strategy in making it about race or gender when there are other women of color applying for the appointment. Just because she says she is entitled to the appointment doesn’t make it so. But her comments are certainly on brand.
- Dr. M - Wednesday, Jan 4, 23 @ 4:37 pm:
The Ammons’ like to think they are playing the long game, but they’re not. If Bennet had anything positive to say about Carol, Stacy would have conveyed this in her assessment of the candidates. Then, trashing Mike Ingram on social media is incredibly short-sighted. He might not be the best choice for the seat (there are many strong candidates) but people in the county like and trust Mike because he’s active in so many parts of the community. He also stood up for Aaron when he was being criticized for the problems on election day with long lines and wait times while ballots were being printed. And this is how the Ammons’ repay him? That is not playing the long game, it’s obvious petty self-promotion and Scott’s legacy deserves better.
Baker will be selected.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Jan 4, 23 @ 5:03 pm:
=== That these are not great folks is not a secret in C/U===
And yet they still get re-elected.
I’m not trying to defend them here but that’s just silly.
- No Thanks Carol - Wednesday, Jan 4, 23 @ 5:15 pm:
The Ammons legacy…retail theft, drama, botched elections, drama, patronage, drama, faux threat complaint, and more drama. No Thanks Carol.
- Nuke The Whales - Wednesday, Jan 4, 23 @ 6:06 pm:
In an interview with The Pantagraph, Frank Calabrese noted how deeply blue her district was and that it stood out to him that some of that territory was not used to create another blue house district that included much of the 104th district. Simple. Carol Ammons needs an 80%+ Democratic district to be safely reelected when other Democrats need 60%.
- Amalia - Wednesday, Jan 4, 23 @ 7:26 pm:
don’t personally know these folks, but the trying to deny and disrespected assertion is a lie.
- Lincoln Lad - Wednesday, Jan 4, 23 @ 9:41 pm:
Loud and accusatory… sounds like she should run as a Republican. Skip the appointment.
- Truth… - Wednesday, Jan 4, 23 @ 11:15 pm:
I believe there’s 118 members of the house who would fully support CA going to the Senate. There’s 58 Senators who don’t want CA…
- Class of 80 - Thursday, Jan 5, 23 @ 6:14 am:
-Truth- Bingo