* The 2025 Golden Horseshoe Award for Best Statewide Officer goes to Illinois Supreme Court Justice Mary Jane Theis…
Justice Mary Jane Theis wrapped up her term as chief justice this year. I have my criticisms of her, but on balance she has played an important role in dragging Illinois’s recalcitrant good-ol’-boy judiciary into at least the 20th century.
She oversaw the Court during the successful implementation of the pretrial fairness provisions of the SAFE-T Act and this year’s passage of the FAIR Act creating the office of the statewide public defender. Far more work remains to be done, especially in providing resources to community-based groups to help people successfully complete their pretrial obligations, but a great deal of progress was made under Chief Justice Theis’ watch towards a system that prioritizes safety and justice over access to cash and a well-connected lawyer.
MJT only received one nomination, but it was a refreshing choice, so it caught my eye. I don’t think we’ve had a Supreme Court winner before. Plus, you gotta love the candor.
* The 2025 Golden Horseshoe Award for Best US Representative goes to Jan Schakowsky…
As for best US Representative, my vote goes to retiring Congressperson Jan Schakowsky for her long and meritorious service to the residents of the 9th Congressional District. Although I am not a resident of that district, it’s where I grew up. I believe her predecessors, like Sidney Yates, would be proud of her service.
I’ve known Jan since long before she was elected to the Illinois House. You don’t have to agree with her to know that Sid would, indeed, be proud of her. She’s served her district and her country well.
This story has always stayed with me…
In the spring of 2004, Jan Schakowsky, a Democratic congresswoman from Evanston, Illinois, told me a funny story about startling President Bush during a visit to the White House. She was wearing a big, blue “OBAMA” button. This was in the early days of Barack Obama’s campaign for the U.S. Senate. Bush “jumped back, almost literally,” Schakowsky said. “And I knew what he was thinking. So I reassured him it was Obama, with a ‘b.’ And I explained who he was. The President said, ‘Well, I don’t know him.’ So I just said, ‘You will.’”
Congratulations!
* Our final category...
The Wordslinger Golden Horseshoe Award for Best CapitolFax.com Commenter
Stephanie Kollmann won last year so she’s not eligible.
Make sure to explain your nomination or it won’t count. Thanks.
- JoanP - Friday, Dec 19, 25 @ 9:51 am:
I nominate JS Mill. Particularly when it comes to education issues, I find Mill’s posts, even if I’m not in agreement, thoughtful, enlightening, and they make me aware of concerns that I might not have known about otherwise.
- 21st State - Friday, Dec 19, 25 @ 10:01 am:
I’m nominating Rep. Kelly Cassidy for her:
i) willingness to post under her name;
ii) interest in posting to either clarify or otherwise educate; and
iii) tireless advocacy for the causes she believes in…
that’s representing your constituents, and I submit a good benchmark for her colleagues across all levels of government to measure themselves against — kudos to the blog for providing such an important forum //
- JS Mill - Friday, Dec 19, 25 @ 10:09 am:
I have been waiting for this all week. There are a number of must read posters here on CAp Fax for me. But none more so than Norseman.
The best compliment I can pay Norseman is that he reminds me so much of Wordslinger. Smart, on point, informative, and maybe most of all he has that sharp wit that I loved loved so much from Word. Never overboard, ALWAYS spot on.
- JS Mill - Friday, Dec 19, 25 @ 10:10 am:
Opps, I need to add-
I nominate Norseman.
- Dance Band on the Titanic - Friday, Dec 19, 25 @ 10:10 am:
I nominate walker.
He usually pops up at just the right time with just the right inside perspective.
- Dance Band on the Titanic - Friday, Dec 19, 25 @ 10:12 am:
Adding…may be the last chance for walker since he’s retiring.
- 47th Ward - Friday, Dec 19, 25 @ 10:14 am:
Walker is retiring from making comments on Capitol Fax? I’m pretty sure he’ll stick around in the future. Lol.
But +1 anyway.
- lake county democrat - Friday, Dec 19, 25 @ 10:22 am:
Dittos on Norseman!
- Norseman - Friday, Dec 19, 25 @ 10:26 am:
I have to add my voice to nominating JS Mill. His knowledge of school issues and government in general are extremely important contributions. He also blends in real world experiences in an area of the state where residents often feel shorted by the urban power centers. This is not a payback nomination. Before I saw his gracious nomination, JS was my choice.
- Lurker - Friday, Dec 19, 25 @ 10:54 am:
I love reading the posts on this site. So much intelligence. And when I look at a commenters name, I know something intelligent is going to be said, and there are many you can nominate for that reason. But to me, there are some commenters that also post things that are clever or just downright funny and my favorite for intelligent + clever this year is Candy Dogood. If not for any other reason than the great clever names they come up with for our POTUS (and as Candy would say, the TU can be left out)
- Southside Markie - Friday, Dec 19, 25 @ 10:55 am:
I nominate Oswego Willy. Not because I expect him to win. But because I hope that it will motivate him to return. Say it with me now. Wil-ly! Wil-ly! Wil-ly! Wil-ly!
- BobIsMyUncle - Friday, Dec 19, 25 @ 11:11 am:
I nominate Excitable Boy.
Aside from the awesome name that reminds me of Warren Zevon songs, Excitable Boy’s comments, while sometimes sharp, are forthright and articulate their viewpoint well. Many times I want to say something only to find EB has already said it (and said it better than I would have).
EB deserves their place among CapFax’s pantheon of posters.
(Hat Tip: Norseman, JSMill, MisterJayEm, Candy Doogood, Suburban Mom, and everyone who posts here. Thank you for sharing your time, knowledge, and amusing snark.)
(Double Hat Tip: Rich and Isabelle This blog is an oasis of information in a storm of subterfuge. Thank you for keeping this blog alive.)
- Candy Dogood - Friday, Dec 19, 25 @ 11:14 am:
JS Mill — Usually insightful even when I don’t agree with them.
- Soccermom - Friday, Dec 19, 25 @ 11:22 am:
Man. I was just thinking about Wordslinger this week. He lived less than a mile from me, and we kept threatening to get together for a drink. We never managed to get it on the calendar in ink, and then he was gone.
I wish I had learned my lesson from that, but I still fail to reach out to people who are on my mind and then, in shock, read their obituaries. So my kind-of-early New Year’s resolution is to see people face-to-face, spend time with them, and renew my kinship with those I care about.
Not on point, I know, but I can’t see Wordslinger’s name without a pang. (And FB just showed me Steve Schnorf’s memorial plaque. Lots of thoughts of absent friends today.)
- Rich Miller - Friday, Dec 19, 25 @ 11:30 am:
===Dittos===
Please, don’t do that.
- Carpe GM - Friday, Dec 19, 25 @ 11:46 am:
Excitable Boy zaps life into this blog with direct, well-argued, and relevant comments, without making personal attacks or lazy talking points.
When a comment thread starts to drift, EB often re-centers the discussion with a concise, substantive take that moves the conversation forward. Even when I disagree, I come away better informed — which is exactly what made Wordslinger special.
Sharp, articulate, not afraid to be jarring. Often funny. That’s Golden Horseshoe material.
- The Opinions Bureau - Friday, Dec 19, 25 @ 11:51 am:
Walker. Because two weeks later this comment still has me chuckling. https://capitolfax.com/2025/12/02/rate-brendan-reillys-tv-ad/#comment-13811729
- Excitable Boy - Friday, Dec 19, 25 @ 11:56 am:
I’m going to have to go with walker. I think Rich once said his readers want one spit take a day, walker is often the source of this for me.
- Kurt Angle’s Milk - Friday, Dec 19, 25 @ 12:14 pm:
Another vote for Walker. I literally laughed out loud at their comment on Reilly’s tv ad a couple weeks ago. Norseman is a close second, though. I always appreciate their thoughtful insight.
- Pot calling kettle - Friday, Dec 19, 25 @ 12:25 pm:
My vote is for JS Mills. I am deeply involved in the education arena, and their take on ed-related issues are both well informed and, important to this blog, put into a form that is clear to those who are not as deeply involved. That is what makes a top, award-level commenter; it is also what makes this blog so helpful - knowledgeable commenters sharing their expertise and helping others develop a deeper understanding.
- Honeybear - Friday, Dec 19, 25 @ 12:42 pm:
Although I haven’t participated much this year I’d like to nominate JS Mill. Always quite insightful. But I’d also like to say how much I appreciate everyone participating on Capfax. It’s just so frightfully important now. I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday.
- Dotnonymous x - Friday, Dec 19, 25 @ 12:49 pm:
I nominate Candy Dogood because her comments are insightful,informative,heartfelt, and often hilarious.
- Leap Day William - Friday, Dec 19, 25 @ 1:16 pm:
Lots of quality commenters here, an august group which I am definitely not part of. However, I’ll add one more for JS Mill. I find their insights very even-keeled and informative and brings a perspective from not-Chicagoland that I have found to be quite helpful, especially when it comes to anything education-related.
- Subrosa - Friday, Dec 19, 25 @ 1:18 pm:
I like when Invisible Man delurks. His comments are pretty region-specific but are thoughtful and seem on-point as I can determine from Googling the issues from my location.
- ArchPundit - Friday, Dec 19, 25 @ 1:21 pm:
I’m going to nominate JS Mill this year as his understanding on education and generally understanding the stakes of the current moment. Norseman would be excellent too, but this year JS Mill.
- Stephanie Kollmann - Friday, Dec 19, 25 @ 1:40 pm:
It feels ungrateful not to weigh in after my surprise win last year, but as a real-name poster, it feels especially awkward to pick favorites in most categories. Already a lot of good choices among the nominated and nominators.
So much appreciation to everyone for all of their insightful and amusing contributions this year, warmest wishes for improvement on their boring or annoying posts, and sincerest thanks to Rich and Isabel for all of their work to inform and corral everyone. I find way more oranges than coal in the CapFax stocking every time I open it. <3
- Demoralized - Friday, Dec 19, 25 @ 1:49 pm:
==I find way more oranges==
Ah. Memories of better times.
My vote is for Excitable Boy. They don’t let people get away with nonsensical comments. Their commentary is biting and witty and always spot on.