* From Paul Fichtner…

Rich, never wrote you before. I am an incumbent candidate for DuPage County Board. Imagine my surprise when driving through my district all my 4×4 signs were down. All of my signs and the dem’s signs too. Both parties, but since the Dems had so very few signs up to begin with (1 out of 5 I would say) we were clearly hurt more. The message was clear. We must be doing well. Winger, me, Cronin.

I got a tip they were all at the IDOT HQ in Oak Brook. I drove out there, gate was open saw what you see in the picture I took, took my signs back and put them up again.

IDOT crew was confronted as they were taking some signs in Addison township. Signs that were clearly on private property. In fact ALL signs of our candidates had permission from property owners. Didn’t matter. They said they had orders from Cook County (IDOT HQ I presume). 2 more days!

The signs…

I’ve reached out to IDOT for comment. I’ll let you know what they say.

*** UPDATE *** From IDOT…

The signs were removed following complaints that they were interfering with motorist visibility. They were found to be in the public way and in violation of IDOT motorist safety policies. They were moved to the local IDOT yard where they will be available for pickup for 30 days.

[ *** End Of Update *** ]

* From a reader…

Greetings,

We received a Robocall from Fred Crespo (D-Hoffman Estates) last night claiming that a mailer that made offensive racist assertions (and supposedly from the Crespo campaign) had been sent to his constituents by an “unknown party.”

The call didn’t mention his opponent’s name and stated that the state AG and election board would look into it.

We hadn’t noticed any such mailer (but that stuff hits the bin on sight, from both parties). Have you heard of this? Is there such a mailer out there?

We’re satisfied with Crespo’s representation, but would like to know if this is a dirty trick, or damage control.

Thanks!

[Name redacted]
Hoffman Estates

The House Democrats say the mailer, which is here, was obviously made to look like a Crespo piece, but most definitely wasn’t theirs. They’ve traced the bulk permit to a Glendale Heights printer/mail house.

* From a reader…

Interesting piece of mail today. Doesn’t say who paid for it, had my wrong polling place, and says I can change my voter registration at my polling place on Election Day, which I don’t think is accurate?

He’s correct, that’s not accurate. But I talked to someone else today whose wife received the same mailer. Her polling place was accurate.

It’s one of those “voter shaming” mailers we’ve talked about. But the shamers need to get a better polling place list and learn Illinois law…

* From a Republican reader…

Rich, in the Yingling-Drobinski race, it looks like the Realtors (of which Sam is one) are falsely sending out mailers identifying Yingling as a Republican. I have to believe this is on purpose and it’s consistent with many stories of Sam self-identifying as a Republican at people’s doorsteps when he feels it is advantageous, not only this cycle but the last one too. I am trying to get the other side of the mailer for you but I wanted to give you the heads up.

We expect the candidates to lie but a group like the Realtors is a little different.

It’s either a shenanigan or a big goof…

[If you’re having trouble seeing that mailer, click here.]

* And a Democratic reader sent this mailer along…

His note…

Dude the Rauner people need to get the targeting right.

1. Pat Quinn is happy because I voted…for him. Voted the first day of early vote.

2. I am an elected Democratic PC, scrub your lists man.

3. HRO and DPI both stopped mailing after I early voted. Apparently Rauner didn’t pull the record.

…Adding… Tribune…

Earlier, Quinn announced the state would spend $2 million to help build a new homeless shelter in Humboldt Park and another $2 million for a health center in Garfield Park.

Quinn doled out money following a weeklong blitz of jobs announcements, including those from several businesses that received state tax breaks or incentives to grow or relocate in Illinois. The good news tour sparked criticism from Rauner, who said the governor was using his government office to help boost his political campaign, attacks Quinn shrugged off.

* Other stuff…

* Bernard Schoenburg: Bell accuses Scherer of ‘illegally’ taking tax break while he got same exemption

* Little Pavel Gets a Letter - Join us, as our young campaign volunteer learns about voter intimidation

* Former Bustos staffer caught making racist remarks blames others

* Carol Marin: Campaign hits, runs and errors