* I posted some video of Attorney General Lisa Madigan yesterday, but we left part of it out.
AG Madigan starts out joking about the fact that she has no GOP opponent as of yet. But then she notices my intern Mike videotaping the interview and begins talking to him. She kinda/sorta praised his performance on the blog during my vacation, but then teases him about something he wrote here…
* My old and dear friend Brian Monahan was in town this week and volunteered to help with the video duties yesterday. He got stuck taping all the speeches. Neither Mike nor Brian are in town today, and Mike accidentally took both of my video cameras back to Champaign last night, so, unfortunately, we won’t have much in the way of videos from Republican Day. I do have my iPhone, though, so I may do something.
* Sen. Matt Murphy has unveiled a new TV ad during the State Fair which whacks a fellow GOP gubernatorial candidate, Sen. Kirk Dillard. From a press release…
The ad contrasts Murphy’s record as a fiscal conservative with one primary opponent, Senator Kirk Dillard (R-Hinsdale), whose votes have contributed to the state’s financial woes. In 2008, Dillard voted to raise the sales tax in Cook County as well as the collar counties and in 2003 he voted to give then Governor Rod Blagojevich $10 billion in bond borrowing. The ad also calls the Hinsdale Senator a “long-time insider” highlighting his 30 years in state government, a point Dillard himself is making on the campaign trail.
Except, the ad never actually mentions Dillard by name…
According to the Tribune, the ad is currently running in the Springfield/Champaign cable market. It’s more of a symbolic act, but it does indicate that Murphy will not allow Dillard to emerge unscathed.
***UPDATE : 4:30 pm- Dillard Responds***
[posted by Mike Murray]
***End of Update***
* Meanwhile, the Democrats are planning to take a swipe this morning at GOP US Senate candidate Mark Kirk before the Republican Day festivities kick off at noon. From a press release…
Before the start of the Illinois Republican Party’s rally today at the State Fair grounds, local Democratic and community leaders will join together to ask Republican Senate candidate Mark Kirk why time and again he has supported corporate special interests and President George Bush’s failed policies over what is best for Illinois’ economy and working families.
DATE: August 20, 2009
LOCATION: West Side of the Goat Barn, State Fair Grounds
TIME: 11:45 AM
PARTICIPANTS: Margaret Blackshere, former President of the IL AFL-CIO
Jim Moody, Sangamon County Chair
Special Guests
It’s probably a safe bet that the goat barn was chosen for a reason.
Hinsdale real estate developer Patrick Hughes announced Wednesday that he is entering the Republican primary for U.S. Senate, challenging U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk for the party’s banner.
Hughes, 40, says he was part of a grass-roots push to lobby against Gov. Pat Quinn’s proposed income tax hike. The attorney has never run for public office before.
HUGHES: [President Obama’s] popularity has faded significantly. I think that the policies that people are looking for are policies of limited government, of fiscal responsibility, and the Obama administration, particularly with their stimulus plan, and with the cap and trade energy tax legislation and with the health care legislation has shown to the American people that they’re not committed to limited and to effective government and fiscal responsibility and to low taxes.
At least five other Republicans are vying for the Senate nomination. The biggest name among them is Congressman Mark Kirk. But Hughes says Kirk is out of the mainstream of Republican thinking.
* Related…
* Senate Hopeful Mark Kirk facing Upward Battle for Immigrant Votes
* Illinois Rep. Kirk Gets Another Senate GOP Primary Opponent: At least six other Republicans have filed paperwork with the Federal Election Commission to run for the seat of retiring Democrat Roland W. Burris. They are John Arrington, a former alderman from Harvey; Tom Kuna; Don Lowery, a former state circuit judge; political activist and frequent candidate Andy Martin; Eric Wallace, who was decisively defeated in a 2006 bid for the Illinois state Senate; and Robert Zadek, a businessman.
* U. S. Senate candidate Andy Martin wins court settlement in lawsuit with Republican Party
* Gubernatorial candidate Bob Schillerstrom. 2pm-ish.
Abes Trading Post
2704 Peoria Rd.
* Sen. Dan Rutherford, candidate for Treasurer. 2:00 -3:30 PM (Following the GOP Luncheon)
Cold Refreshments on Republican Day
Franny’s Tavern
Corner of 8th & Sangamon Avenue
Outside State Fair Gate 11
* Sen. Kirk Dillard for Governor. 2:30-4:30 pm.
Reception @ the Miller Tent
Illinois State Fairgrounds
Live Music and Refreshments
* Frank Edwards for Governor. 2-4 pm.
Free Pizza & Beverages
Fulgenzi’s
Corner of 9th & Sangamon
* Adam Andrzejewski for governor. 2-5 pm.
Vic’s Pizza
Beer/wine and wings.
* Senator Bill Brady Republican Candidate for Governor 2010. 2:30 – 4:30 p.m.
Free Illinois State Fair Republican Day Reception
Sangamon County Republican Party Headquarters
1132 E. Sangamon Avenue, Springfield
(just east of the Fairgrounds’ Main Gate)
* Sen. Matt Murphy for Governor. 2-4pm
Stadium Sports Bar
2300 N Peoria Rd
Springfield
Beer and pizza
[McKenna] said he was leaving in advance of the end of his term next year to give Republicans a chance to pick a new leader before the Feb. 2 primary election.
The move, he said, also will give him “the freedom to be involved in primaries”—something he said he has avoided as state Republican chairman. McKenna also will run a newly formed “victory fund” for state and federal candidates under the auspices of the state GOP.
***UPDATE***
[posted by Mike Murray]
* 2 pm - Here is some video Rich shot at the fair…
* There was some actual news yesterday during the annual State Fair festivities, but it was mostly ignored…
The [Democratic] party’s county chairmen’s association voted to endorse Alexi Giannoulias in next February’s primary for U.S. Senate. […]
Some downstate county chairmen wondered why the other Senate candidate, Chicago Urban League President Cheryle Jackson, did not politic at this year’s state fair.
“She hasn’t called, hasn’t said nothing, hasn’t been around, hasn’t introduced herself,” said Rocky Raikes, Lasalle County chairman.
Just months after insisting that a new state ethics law prohibits the Illinois Democratic Party from endorsing or giving financial support to candidates in a primary, Gov. Quinn plans to attend a closed-door meeting of Cook County Democratic officials today to seek their support in next year’s election. […]
Asked about the Cook County slatemaking Wednesday at the Illinois State Fair, Quinn told reporters: “I’m going to go up there to talk to them. I believe in talking to everybody. What they do is up to them.”
Seeking clarification, I called Quinn’s campaign finance chairman, Don McNeil, who said the governor plans to ask for the Democratic committeemen’s support “as individuals,” not a party endorsement.
McNeil said Quinn continues to favor an open primary and to oppose spending party resources on any candidate in a primary contest.
But he specifically won’t join Dan Hynes in asking that the county party avoid slating statewide candidates.
And what’s his campaign finance chairman doing answering reporters’ questions?
* The news that Speaker Madigan won’t convene the state party until after the February election was picked up by Bernie Schoenberg…
Madigan also chairs the state Democratic Party, but said Wednesday that the central committee plans no endorsements and doesn’t plan to meet before the Feb. 2 primary.
* Instead, the media coverage was mostly about slight digs thrown at each other by Pat Quinn and Dan Hynes and the “spectre” of Rod Blagojevich…
Though he’s been gone almost seven months, the shadow of disgraced former Gov. Rod Blagojevich hovered over the Democrats’ annual rally at the State Fair on Wednesday as early tensions surfaced in the primary race for governor.
As the memory of Blagojevich forced party leaders to walk on political eggshells, Gov. Quinn and his top primary rival for governor — Comptroller Dan Hynes — traded barbs.
“I respect Pat Quinn, and I find him to be a decent man. But this nomination must be earned, not bequeathed or signed or transferred. It must be earned,” Hynes said.
Quinn paid tribute to the legislative handiwork of three of the four Democratic statewide officeholders — Secretary of State Jesse White, Lisa Madigan and Treasurer and U.S. Senate candidate Alexi Giannoulias — but snubbed Hynes. […]
“Those are people who want to work together. If you don’t want to work with our office, go your own way,” Quinn said, when asked if his snub of Hynes was deliberate.
* Quote of the day goes to potential gubernatorial candidate Rep. Jack Franks…
“I’m not a Chicago politician. I’m a farm boy from Marengo and I rely on common sense. And I think we need a change,” said Franks.
Farm boy? Really? Actually, he’s the son of and partner with a very successful trial lawyer. Here’s his official General Assembly bio…
Attorney; law firm of Franks, Gerkin & McKenna; Bachelors of Arts Degree in Political Science from the University of Wisconsin/Madison; law degree from the American University Washington College of Law; a member of several Chambers of Commerce in McHenry County
Nothing about being a “farm boy.” And he doesn’t sit on the Ag Committee, either.
Elementary students posted modest gains on the 2009 exams, continuing an upward trend. But high school scores tumbled, according to data released Wednesday.
Last year’s junior class posted the lowest pass rate — 51.6 percent — ever recorded on the math portion of the Prairie State Achievement Exam, given this past spring. Barely half of the students got over the bar in science, a slight drop from the previous year.
More than 30 percent of single-family homes in the Chicago metropolitan area had mortgages that were greater than the value of the home at the end of June, according to a report from First American CoreLogic. That’s 550,572 Chicago area homes with negative equity.
Statewide, 29.4 percent — 650,720 properties — had negative equity, also known as having an “underwater” or “upside down” mortgage.
The state and metropolitan area fared slightly better than the nation, which had 32.2 percent of properties with negative equity, the report said.
Union officials here are projecting a $7 million loss of taxable income to the Logan County economy if pending cuts of more than 100 state Department of Corrections employees take place at two local prisons.
That’s prompted the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees to launch a public campaign against the cuts announced recently by Gov. Pat Quinn. The campaign included a town hall meeting at the Knights of Columbus hall Wednesday night.
According to a press release on Wednesday afternoon, the mayor met Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano to ask for increased efforts at the federal level to crack down on gang-bangers and drug dealers.
An Illinois tollway board member had been pitching his company to do land consulting work on other tollway systems and for construction companies, which a top ethics group says is an apparent conflict of interest.
David Andalcio, who was appointed to the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority board by then-Gov. Rod Blagojevich in 2003, has a company called Wynndalco Enterprises that was offering services on its Web site as a consultant for tollway and other transportation projects.
Allan Ackerman, a onetime mob attorney whose specialty of late has been crafting appellate arguments, said Wednesday he will formally join the ranks of the former governor’s legal team.
Ackerman referred to himself Wednesday as a “maven,” an expert who will organize the evidence, including more than 3 million documents in the case, and have it ready for the June trial.
Attorneys for former Gov. Rod Blagojevich say they’ll need three more weeks to listen to secret recordings that’ll feature prominently at his corruption trial.
Federal prosecutors and defense lawyers attended a 10-minute status hearing Wednesday where Judge James Zagel asked how preparations for a trial were going. Blagojevich didn’t attend.[…]
The next status hearing is set for Sept. 22. A trial isn’t expected to start until next year.
Burr Oak Cemetery’s remaining eight workers have been laid off since Friday, when the cemetery’s receiver learned in court he couldn’t make payroll, the SouthtownStar has learned.
Roman Szabelski, the appointed receiver charged with running the beleaguered historic cemetery in Alsip, said none of the money he’s requested from a Cook County judge to operate the cemetery has been released. The cemetery’s assets all have been frozen in the wake of a grave-reselling scandal in which four employees are charged with multiple felonies, including dismembering human remains.
UPDATE FROM RICH: Some things to look for in the videos below…
Speaker Madigan said he has no plans to endorse any gubernatorial candidates in the short term. He did endorse Rep Art Turner for LG, though.
Gov Quinn evaded questions about whether the Cook Co. Dems should slate statewide candidates. Dan Hynes has asked that the party not slate. Unusual for Quinn, who has opposed slating in the past.
Tornado siren at the fairgrounds so that’s it for now.
* 2:05 pm - We have some pre-speech video for you from the state fair: Speaker Madigan, Sen Link, Gov. Quinn, and AG Madigan all spoke with the media prior to the Gov’s day rally. I should have video up shortly…
* 2:13 pm - Here is Speaker Madigan answering a variety of questions. Most notably, he discusses his personal decision to endorse Rep Turner for Lt. Gov. Again the endorsement was not made in the Speaker’s capacity as State Dem. Party Chair. Of course, Madigan is his usual coy self with the media…
* 2:18 pm -Sen. Link responds to Speaker Madigan’s endorsement of Rep. Turner and notes that he expects Sen. President Cullerton to endorse him for Lt. Gov in the near future…
* 2:25 pm - Gov Quinn also spoke with the media. Initially, the conversation focused on the U of I trustees situation, but eventually Quinn addresses his view of Hynes as a primary challenger…
In late July, after almost four months, trustees at a Town Board meeting considered his request but denied the permit, citing safety concerns, though Montes had reduced the expected number of protesters to 80. Trustees, however, recommended an alternative location for the protest: a parking lot in an isolated part of town across from the recently demolished Sportsman’s Park near 3300 S. Laramie Ave., a mile from [state Sen. Martin Sandoval’s] office.
“They are stonewalling me,” said Montes, who declined the offer of the alternative site. “The town is violating my civil liberties.”
Cicero police and town trustees told Montes at a Town Board meeting that the sidewalk in front of Sandoval’s office, 5807 W. 35th St., is too small to accommodate 80 protesters. Town Collector and Trustee Fran Reitz also told Montes that it would be “terribly disruptive to our residents in the community.”
“There are always a lot of senior [citizens] walking up and down 35th Street,” she said, adding the parking lot “would be much more conducive for what is being requested.”
* The Question: Should municipal permits be required for protests? Explain.
* As with yesterday, if you have an event that’s not listed, add it to comments. Here’s today’s list…
* Illinois State Senator and Candidate for Governor Kirk Dillard Pre-Republican Day Reception. 6:00-9:00 P.M.
D H Brown’s
231 East Monroe
Refreshments provided
RSVP: 630-571-0390
or rsvp@dillardforgovernor.com
* Reception and pizza party for State Rep. Mike Boland. 5 - 7 pm.
Joe Gallina’s Pizza
432 East Monroe
Donation: $20.00
For more information call 630.251.1538
* Thursday…
* Gubernatorial candidate Bob Schillerstrom. 2pm-ish.
Abes Trading Post
2704 Peoria Rd.
* Sen. Dan Rutherford, candidate for Treasurer. 2:00 -3:30 PM (Following the GOP Luncheon)
Cold Refreshments on Republican Day
Franny’s Tavern
Corner of 8th & Sangamon Avenue
Outside State Fair Gate 11
* Sen. Kirk Dillard for Governor. 2:30-4:30 pm.
Reception @ the Miller Tent
Illinois State Fairgrounds
Live Music and Refreshments
* Frank Edwards for Governor. 2-4 pm.
Free Pizza & Beverages
Fulgenzi’s
Corner of 9th & Sangamon
* Adam Andrzejewski for governor. 2-5 pm.
Vic’s Pizza
Beer/wine and wings.
* Senator Bill Brady Republican Candidate for Governor 2010. 2:30 – 4:30 p.m.
Free Illinois State Fair Republican Day Reception
Sangamon County Republican Party Headquarters
1132 E. Sangamon Avenue, Springfield
(just east of the Fairgrounds’ Main Gate)
* Sen. Matt Murphy for Governor. 2-4pm
Stadium Sports Bar
2300 N Peoria Rd
Springfield
Beer and pizza
* It’s just amazing to me that so many people are lining up to run for lieutenant governor. I can’t ever remember this much interest in an office that means almost nothing.
Steve Rhodes has a partial candidate list today, including Sen. Rickey Hendon, Sen. Terry Link, Ald. Sandi Jackson, Rep. Kevin Joyce, Justin Oberman, Scott Lee Cohen, Thomas Castillo and Carbondale Mayor Brad Cole.
Others include Democratic Reps. Art Turner and Mike Boland, Republican Rep. Dave Winters, Bolingbrook Mayor Roger Claar, Goran Davidovac, Randy White and most likely some others that I can’t remember at the moment.
Rhodes thinks we can blame this intense interest in a nothing job on Pat Quinn…
Blame it on Pat Quinn: the job formerly known as Lieutenant Governor of Bored Out-of-My-Mindistan is suddenly drawing interest from a wide-range of pols vying for a post once seen as a booby prize.
We can only surmise that Quinn’s accidental ascendancy to the governship has given a few folks some new ideas about the least consequential position among state constitutional offices.
There’s more to it than that, of course. I mean, can they really be thinking that this office is now a springboard because a governor was impeached and removed for the first time in Illinois history? Really?
I’d love to get all these people into a room and ask them what the heck is going through their minds.
Merchandise Mart mogul and political heir Chris Kennedy told supporters Tuesday he isn’t running for the U.S. Senate seat now held by Roland Burris.
“In the end, I did not want to have to leave the state in order to serve it,” said Kennedy, the son of the late Robert F. Kennedy. “They say love conquers all, and in my case, it conquered ambition. I realize that I would rather be a good husband and a good father than a good Washington politician.”
And I probably should admit that I’d been privately goading Kennedy to run for the past few months. Why? Because I consider him smart and well-spoken, because I thought he might win (what, you think you’re reading the neutral report of the Jedi Council? Wrong). Because I feel that Illinois could use a second effective senator and not some 33-year-old gee-whiz whelp like State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias, the putative Democratic candidate, nor a sour little crab apple like Republican Mark Kirk, coupled to a suspicion that a Kennedy campaign would enliven our often tedious political process and his victory might even be good for the country.
Kennedy is rich enough not to be beholden to anybody, and a smart, independent man with new ideas would stand out in the U.S. Senate, if only for his novelty.
I told Kennedy I was disappointed.
“I think it’s the right decision,” he said, explaining that, basically, he wasn’t willing to spend time on the campaign trail that a successful Senate campaign requires.
Kennedy would’ve been a much better campaigner than I think some expected. But this party savior thing is a bit much. And it’s not confined to liberal-leaning Kennedy-loving types, either. I found the end of this column about Illinois Republicans a tiny bit disturbing…
We just need to be reminded that our state’s best days are ahead.
All that’s left is for a leader to come along with that message, the credibility to challenge us with it and the ability to grab our attention. If he or she can raise our heads, we’ll get going again.
If we’re gonna depend on politicians to “raise our heads,” we’ll be waiting around forever. Put your faith in God (if you believe, of course), not people. People will always disappoint. Hey, I love people. But we’re all humans and are therefore flawed creatures.
* Meanwhile, a Sun-Times guest columnist thinks Todd Stroger is a lock for reelection, then proceeds to declare voters stupid…
So don’t be surprised when Stroger pulls off the re-election win. Heck, it will be so bizarre that it could lead to a book deal. There’s even a working title being kicked around in certain circles — Cook County Voters are Dummies.
One wonders if this columnist will declare him/herself (there’s no name on the online version of the column) a dummie if Stroger is defeated.
* The Daily Herald thinks there are two “central questions” in the upcoming election campaign…
First: Given the political turmoil in Illinois so far this decade, why would anyone vote for Democrats?
Second: What alternative will Republicans offer?
But Cullerton makes a good point in the same story…
State Senate President John Cullerton, a Chicago Democrat, said he believes the GOP won’t be able to mount an aggressive take-back of the state despite the scandals of former Gov. Rod Blagojevich and discontent over proposed tax hikes.
“We kind of benefit somewhat with the dysfunctionality (of the GOP),” Cullerton said. “They are split. They have a real conservative (wing) and moderates who are fighting each other. They don’t agree. … So, they haven’t taken advantage.”
“Our brand is bad, their brand is just as bad,” he said.
The GOP “brand” is still not good in Illinois, but if Mark Kirk’s polling numbers show us anything, it’s that the party isn’t as far into the wilderness as it’s been in recent years.
Teachers and advocates for students are taking hits at the new Chicago Public Schools budget.
CPS is holding hearings on the $5.3 billion budget. Speakers at the first hearing blasted the city’s use of Tax Increment Financing districts—saying the TIFs are costing the public schools hundreds of millions of dollars in forgone property tax revenues. Others criticized CPS’s investment decisions.
A new law in Illinois that aimed to help give homeowners facing foreclosure more time apparently led to a spike in problems during July, according to data released today by RealtyTrac.
The state ranked No. 5 nationwide for the number of foreclosure filings of 14,524 for the month, which includes default notices, scheduled auctions and bank repossessions. That overall foreclosure activity was boosted by an 86 percent surge in default notices, which bounced back from low levels in May and June, said RealtyTrac spokesman Daren Blomquist.
“The law just delayed the inevitable for some people,” said Blomquist. “And we’ve seen this pattern in other states that enacted similar laws.”
An Illinois state law enacted April 5 gave delinquent borrowers an extension of up to 90 days before the start of the foreclosure process.
The Independent Voters of Illinois-Independent Precinct Organization will file suit against the City of Chicago Wednesday alleging that the deal to lease the city’s parking meters is illegal and should be voided.
Clint Krislov, of Krislov & Associates, Ltd. and IVI-IPO’s attorney on the suit, will be available at a press conference following the filing. Copies of the suit will be available at the press conference. [10:30am today]
Citing financial mismanagement in a long-troubled office that Cook County Board President Todd Stroger now controls, state officials have cut off access to $2.35 million in federal job training grants and demanded the county return another $1.8 million.
The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity also is requiring its approval for the county to spend the rest of a $5.7 million grant for summer youth jobs as part of the federal stimulus package.
Pappas estimated the village would have the potential to add more than $800,000 to its coffers. Trustee James Dodge, who opposes expanding gambling in Illinois, said he is skeptical of the revenue numbers, especially since the state estimates 45,000 video machines will pop up in Illinois, reducing the demand.
Nonunion wage freezes, the elimination of 17 city positions, and cuts in temporary positions, training and overtime expenses highlighted a laundry list of proposals the city’s department heads introduced to the City Council on Tuesday.
* Union files unfair labor charge against Oak Lawn
* Beggars don’t need mayor’s approval in Ill. city
Panhandlers in the southwestern Illinois city of Belleville will no longer be required to get the mayor’s written permission before asking for spare change.
One of the oldest churches on Chicago’s South Side is slated for demolition. Vandalism, squatters and fires helped ruin the building. But some preservationists are blaming the Chicago Housing Authority.
Before Chicago organizers close their sale to the IOC, they need to close their sale to Chicagoans. The best way to do that is to shower Chicago in all of the financing details — and to create a rock-solid protocol for sharing future information with citizens as well. That isn’t too much to ask, given that there will be no Chicago Olympics unless the City Council obligates taxpayers to an open financial guarantee that the games will succeed. The city has already provided a $500 million guarantee; the state has committed to $250 million in the event the Games lose money.
