* Check out this bizarre story of the Antioch police chief who allegedly tried to attack a state representative candidate after the candidate’s son and two friends were harrassed for - get this - campaigning without a permit…

Antioch Police Chief James Foerster is on paid administrative leave while officials investigate accusations he tried to attack state representative candidate Scott Pollak, village officials confirmed Tuesday. […]

Pollak, running as a Democrat in the state House District 61 race, said Foerster had to be restrained by Antioch Mayor Larry Hanson and a police officer during the July 27 meeting in the chief’s office. […]

Pollak said the meeting stemmed from a confrontation earlier that day between a police officer and Pollak’s 18-year-old son and two 16-year-old friends over whether a permit was needed to campaign door-to-door in the Hidden Creek subdivision. […]

He said the officer told the group they needed a permit, which the teens disputed. When Pollak’s son called him to explain the situation, Pollak said he could hear the officer yelling and using profanity. When he arrived at the scene, the officer had left, but his son had copied down the license plate number. [Emphasis added]

Hidden Creek subdivision is a nice place, but I checked with the village administrator and was told it is not a gated community. Why anybody in law enforcement would think that American citizens would need a permit to campaign door to door is simply beyond me. The fact that the police chief allegedly got all hostile doesn’t reflect well on the community, either…

In a written statement presented to the Village Board Monday, Pollack said, “the chief was very blunt and direct and very defensive of his officer and how he had handled the call.”

Pollak said the chief became visibly angry. “The chief suddenly rose from behind his desk and started to fiercely come at me and yelling,” Pollak’s statement read. ”At that time all three officers that were present in the room and also the mayor had to restrain him.”

Pollak said the chief stormed out of the room.

Foerster was placed on leave July 28.

* In other campaign-related news, the man who almost sank Gov. Pat Quinn’s primary hopes may be out after the election, Sneed says…

He let the prisoners out. Now it seems he will be out.

• To wit: Word is Illinois Department of Corrections Director Michael P. Randle, who spearheaded the early inmate release program that caused major headaches for Gov. Quinn, is sending out resumes.

• Quoth a source: “He’s still got his day job with IDOC, but word is he will be replaced after the coming election.”

We’ll see. I was hearing the same thing before the primary. But if he does get out after the election, it’s still too late. Way too late. And he might manage to tube Quinn in the general, so he’ll be looking for another job anyway.

* Meanwhile, the Illinois Civil Justice League doesn’t have much cash in its campaign account yet, but that isn’t stopping it from attacking Illinois Supreme Court Justice Kilbride, who is up for retention this November. From a press release…

llinois Supreme Court Justice Thomas Kilbride has a record that is hostile to Illinois law enforcement.

He voted in favor of the rights of convicted felons — and ruled against the police — in 81% of the split decision cases on which he has ruled.

That’s not just weak on crime — it’s an insult to the law enforcement professionals who risk their lives every day to protect our families.

Justice Kilbride’s father passed away last Saturday, by the way - about five days before that press release was issued.

* Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias was met with some “pro-testers” today during the president’s visit. From the NRSC…

* And here’s your Campaign 2010 roundup…

* Governing Magazine on Illinois state legislative control: The Democrats ought to be in worse shape than they are in Illinois, considering the black eye the party has gotten from the saga of ousted Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich (now on trial for corruption-related charges) as well as the failed-bank travails of the party’s U.S. Senate nominee, Alexi Giannoulias. But the GOP has longstanding corruption baggage of its own, and the electorate in the populous Chicago area is sufficiently moderate-to-liberal to keep the Democrats in the driver’s seat. It’s possible that eight years of unified Democratic control could grate on voters and push them to vote Republican this fall, but for now anyway, the Democratic margins in the legislature seem big enough to withstand the storm.

* State Rep Greg Harris will not run for Helen Shiller’s 46th ward seat, mum on endorsement: Though he will not be a candidate himself, Harris has also no plans at the moment—or if at all–to endorse any of the currently declared candidates or any candidate that may yet emerge. “One day at a time,” said Harris. “I’m focused on what I’m doing today.”

* Walker, Larson engage Stroger on red-light cameras

* Press release: Candidate Bill Brady Wasting Taxpayer Dollars for Personal Gain: Bill Brady and the Illinois Republican Party are behind the petition challenges to several legitimate candidates who have filed to run for office in Illinois. The “binder check” process has revealed countless examples of completely bogus objections to petition signatures. Election office employees threw out tens of thousands of those bogus objections from Brady and the Republicans because the signatures were obviously valid.

* Dold starts radio ad campaign in 10th Dist. race

* Halvorson slams profits from death of veterans

* Bernard Schoenburg: Rangel donations an issue in Schilling-Hare race

* Congressman Hare Visits Two Local Fire Departments

* Maher, Gorman race refining loyalties in Orland Park

* Sen. Roland Burris’ rough day in the Senate