The Irvin for Illinois campaign is setting the record straight on Pritzker’s cowardice in having his Democratic allies launch illegitimate attack ads to hijack the Republican gubernatorial primary.
The new 30-second tv spot “Best Chance” clears the air that the Democratic Governors Association is doing Pritzker’s dirty work to smear Richard’s strong record as a decorated combat veteran, tough on crime prosecutor and successful mayor of Illinois’ second largest city.
“Instead of manning up, J.B. Pritzker is letting the Democratic Governors Association do his dirty work in maligning the strongest candidate to take him out this November,” Irvin for Illinois campaign spokesperson Eleni Demertzis said. “J.B. Pritzker needs to take the silver spoon out of his mouth and fight his own battles.”
“Instead of being a man and putting his name on these false attacks, Governor Pritzker chooses to hide behind political insider groups by forcing them to meddle into the GOP primary on his behalf,” Durkin said.
…Adding… Christina Amestoy at the DGA…
“Republicans can whine all they want but they can’t point to anything false in this ad. This ad reveals Richard Irvin’s real record on crime and even he knows it - that’s why he still won’t talk about the 15 years of his career profiting off of defending these types of criminals. Turns out the only thing Richard Irvin won’t defend is his own record.”
* Another Irvin press release from this morning…
Today the Irvin for Illinois campaign is announcing a new list of legislative co-chairs who support Richard Irvin and Avery Bourne to take back Illinois from skyrocketing crime, high taxes, and never-ending corruption.
Topping the list of endorsers is State Senator and Deputy Minority Leader Sue Rezin (R-Morris), who believes we need new leadership in Springfield for a better Illinois.
“Our state has been critically mismanaged under JB Pritzker’s leadership,” said Rezin. “Illinois faces out-of-control crime, ongoing corruption within the statehouse, and diminished care for veterans at state-run facilities without real solutions to address these challenges. We have an opportunity for real leadership in Illinois with Richard Irvin and Avery Bourne, and I’m proud to support them.”
State Representative Ryan Spain (R-Peoria) has worked alongside Avery Bourne in the statehouse, and has seen her success in the General Assembly firsthand.
“Illinois under JB Pritzker has been one disaster after another—from his failure to take accountability for the state’s significant challenges or his inability to manage problems at state agencies,” said Spain. “Now we have an opportunity to elect proven leaders who have prioritized Illinois families and have pledged to root out crime and corruption, and provide the relief residents so badly need, which is why I am putting my full support behind Richard Irvin and Avery Bourne.”
Aurora Mayor and gubernatorial candidate Richard Irvin and his running mate, State Representative Avery Bourne (R-Morrisonvile) released the following statement regarding the endorsements:
“We are pleased to have this resounding support from legislative leaders who understand that JB Pritzker has not met the needs of families and businesses across Illinois. There are countless challenges our state faces–from crime and corruption to our state’s fiscal stability. Together, we are committed to taking our state back and working to reduce crime, cut taxes, and fight corruption.”
The legislative endorsements include the following lawmakers:
Tim Ozinga, Illinois State Representative (HD 37)
Seth Lewis, Illinois State Representative (HD 45)
Dan Ugaste, Illinois State Representative (HD 65)
Jeff Keicher, Illinois State Representative (HD 70)
Ryan Spain, Illinois State Representative (HD 73)
David Welter, Illinois State Representative (HD 75)
Jackie Haas, Illinois State Representative (HD 79)
Jim Durkin, Illinois State Representative (HD 82)
Tim Butler, Illinois State Representative (HD 87)
Mark Batinick, Illinois State Representative (HD 97)
Amy Elik, Illinois State Representative (HD 111)
Donald DeWitte, Illinois State Senator (SD 33)
Sue Rezin, Illinois State Senator (SD 38)
John Curran, Illinois State Senator (SD 41)
Jesse Sullivan tried hard to convince Sen. Rezin to be his running mate. Didn’t work. Rep. Spain is one of the most likeable members of the HGOP caucus.
Announcing: The Bitcoin & Freedom panel at #TGFB2022:@jimmysong will be joined by AZ Senate candidate @bgmasters, IL governor candidate @JesseSullivanIL, & former NFL player/philanthropist @TimTebow to talk about Bitcoin as a tool for freedom.
Sullivan said “hand on the Bible” he will not do the bidding of his big crypto currency donors or any others.
“I want to go to Heaven more than being Governor,” said Sullivan. “I owe no man anything when I step into office. So all my top donors, that I have gotten to know, have done this work with me around the world…trying to back companies and create jobs…didn’t even really know my politics. For me, the one area that I believe in that they also believe in is in the future of the internet.”
As governor, Jesse Sullivan will transform Chicago into a hub for cryptocurrency and blockchain technologies.
Sullivan’s top campaign contributor said the candidate will “put Chicago in the rightful position as a top-five global financial center by embracing fintech and crypto. He’s a bridgebuilder to a more unified future.”
*** UPDATE *** Also from the Thank God for Bitcoin conference organizer J.M. Bush’s Twitter feed…
A bill that allows teachers and other school and university employees or contractors who are fully vaccinated to take paid administrative leave if they have to miss work due to coronavirus-related issues cleared the Illinois Senate Thursday and will soon be sent to Gov. JB Pritzker.
House Bill 1167, by Rep. Janet Yang Rohr, D-Naperville, and Senate President Don Harmon, D-Oak Park, would guarantee full pay for any day that a fully-vaccinated school employee misses if they are required to stay home because they have a confirmed or probable case of COVID-19. […]
Senate Minority Leader Dan McConchie, R-Hawthorn Woods, pointed to a hypothetical example of two teachers, one vaccinated and one not, who have to stay home to take care of a sick child. He said one of those would receive paid leave to do so but the other would not. […]
Harmon, however, said the bill does not mandate that any school employee be vaccinated, and he compared the extra benefit vaccinated employees would receive to the extra pay some teachers receive if they pursue an advanced degree.
“This is not a vaccine mandate,” Harmon said. “There is no requirement that one needs to be vaccinated to work in public schools. It is, however, an incentive.”
There are also provisions in the measure giving retroactive time to vaccinated staff who previously took time off because of COVID-19 issues and guarantees pay for workers like bus drivers if schools have to shut down because of a COVID-19 outbreak.
The measure found bipartisan opposition, but secured enough votes to pass both chambers and could now be sent to the governor.
Senate Democrats not voting were Belt, Collins, Crowe, Loughran Cappel, Muñoz and D. Turner.
No Republicans voted for the bill.
…Adding… IEA President Kathi Griffin…
“Our state is in the middle of a growing teacher and education employee shortage. We have thousands of open public education positions right now. We need to be doing everything we can to attract young people to the profession and to also show those who’ve chosen education as their life’s work that they are respected. Providing COVID administrative days and paycheck protection for hourly employees is one way we can do that. We know some of our support staff and teachers have exhausted their sick and personal time because of the COVID-19 pandemic. We have educators who saved their sick time to take after the birth of a child, who have since run out of days and are now forced with a very difficult decision - to take unpaid time off or to cut precious bonding time with their newborn short and return to work early. We have support staff who’ve used all their sick and personal days, and are being forced to take unpaid time off to quarantine or for another COVID related reason. House Bill 1167 would provide much needed relief to our teachers and support staff who’ve worked diligently to not only provide a quality education for students but also work to keep their students, schools and their communities safe over the past two years.”
The Tazewell County Republican Party in cooperation with the Peoria County Republican Party and the Woodford County Republican Party will host the Central Illinois Republican Governor Candidate Forum at Five Points Washington, 360 N. Wilmor Rd., Washington, IL from 7pm – 9pm, Monday, April 25th, 2022.
The candidates who will be attending this forum are Senator Darren Bailey, Gary Rabine, Paul Schimpf, Jesse Sullivan, and Max Solomon.
Seems like a certain Aurora somebody is missing. Hmm.
* Speaking of the governor’s race…
…Adding… Eliza Glezer at JB for Governor…
Any reasonable person, but especially a candidate for the highest office in the state, should not be raffling off guns while voting against common-sense gun legislation like background checks to protect Illinois families from senseless gun violence. This is just another example of how out of touch and extreme Darren Bailey’s conservative views are, which will not bode well for his chances at winning this election.
* Dan Brady campaign…
Illinois Secretary of State candidate Dan Brady, a Bloomington Republican, has pledged to take specific actions as Secretary of State to stop the rash of gasoline thefts that are currently plaguing Illinois car dealerships.
“With gasoline at $4.50 a gallon and unattended cars sitting in dealership lots, the temptation to make a quick, illegal profit has proven to be too hard to resist for many criminals,” Brady said. “I plan to use the resources of the Secretary of State’s office to help keep fuel in the cars and put thieves behind bars.”
Once elected, Brady will convene a special task force consisting of Secretary of State Police, local law enforcement officials and car dealer trade association representatives to come up with ways to help prevent these brazen parking lot thefts, which often result in expensive damage to the targeted vehicles. Since Secretary of State Police officers are frequently at car dealerships as part of their routine duties, Brady will also direct those officers to work with individual dealers to heighten security and to recommend additional anti-theft measures they may take.
“I realize this problem is occurring now and can’t wait until after the election for a solution,” Brady said. “So I encourage current Secretary of State Jesse White to take these ideas and run with them. Gasoline thieves don’t care about your political party affiliation.”
The Illinois Secretary of State Police Division helps to regulate the automotive industry in Illinois by tracking auto thieves, conducting surveillance on suspected “chop shops,” infiltrating auto theft rings, investigating fraudulent state identification documents and conducting “sting” operations.
The objection adjudication process began Tuesday, bringing forth multiple challenges against Central Illinois political candidates’ petitions. […]
Political newcomer Travis Weaver is also being challenged. Weaver tells WMBD it’s a “tactic being used by his opponent.”
“I’ve had multiple legal professionals tell me this is one of the most frivolous challenges they’ve ever seen. It’s a clear tactic by my opponent to distract from the fact that he has an anti-business, anti-farmer voting record and is incredibly conflicted as he is a State Rep while also being mayor.”
“The challenge alleges that I don’t live at the address I claim because it is listed as a wedding venue. There is a barn on the property that is becoming a wedding venue, but anybody can drive down War Memorial towards Kickapoo and see there is clearly a home. And if they drive by late at night or early in the morning they’ll see my car parked in the driveway.”
“The challenge also alleges I lived in Chicago until recently because that is where Caterpillar listed my office address. This is a shot in the dark. Everybody in Peoria knows that Cat was fully remote during the pandemic. I did hold a temporary residence there at one time, but my priories were always in Central Illinois and I fully transitioned home once remote work began over two years ago.”
Effective April 1, 2022, tours, rallies and events will be permitted inside the Capitol Building. Masks are recommended, but not required to be worn by the public.
* So, now groups like this won’t have to go across the street like they had to yesterday…
Rep. Camille Lilly and other IL State Legislators will join restaurant owner and worker advocates gathering for a press conference at the Lincoln Steps to rally support for the One Fair Wage Act (HB 5139), which would end the subminimum wage in Illinois.
The legislation was introduced in response to a wage shortage crisis across Illinois. One Fair Wage has issued multiple reports demonstrating that raising wages for restaurant workers who work for subminimum wages is critical to helping the industry recover. One Fair Wage has also tracked over 200 restaurant owners in Illinois who have voluntarily raised wages for tipped workers in order to recruit staff during the state’s worst-ever staffing crisis; this bill would create a level playing field for these responsible restaurant owners and help them fully reopen by sending a signal to millions of workers that wage increases will be permanent.
WHERE: Across the street from the IL State Capitol Building at the Illinois State Library in the Atrium
WHEN: Wednesday, March 30, 3:00pm CT
WHO: Restaurant Owners, Restaurant Workers, Representatives from the Illinois Full and Fair Wage Coalition Including Speakers from One Fair Wage, Women Employed & Shriver Center on Poverty Law
* Meanwhile, some members of this group, which tried to hijack a recent Chicago event, gathered on the 3rd floor of the Statehouse yesterday. It didn’t appear to be an organized rally, however…
A rally to draw attention to the deaths of two Black transgender Chicago women turned into a chaotic shouting match when another small group of anti-violence advocates crashed the event at Federal Plaza on Monday evening.
As transgender activist Zahara Bassett was pleading for justice for the two women, several members of Ex-Cons for Community and Social Change, including founder Tyrone Muhammad, interrupted the event with bullhorns.
“Our community is dying every day in these streets,” Muhammad said into the bullhorn.
After a scuffle between members of the two sides, the transgender advocates said they’d reschedule their action.
Sheesh.
* ECCSC has some very sharp-looking automobiles with the group’s logo and its activists have been down here this session looking for more state funding…
Maria Pike found her calling after her son Ricky was shot and killed in Chicago’s Logan Square neighborhood in August 2012.
She became an advocate for a better support system for grieving families, which is why she and hundreds of other relatives of victims of violence came to the Illinois capital on Wednesday to push legislators to invest in community-based efforts to combat street violence that would serve as alternatives to traditional law-and-order methods.
“I want them to see us,” said Maria Pike in a ballroom at a downtown Springfield hotel, where activists were joined by several state legislators. “Those survivors are in pain. They want answers and solved cases, right? But they also have other needs.”
Those needs include better housing and employment options, as well as mental health support for families coping with the loss of loved ones.
Tuesday’s event was hosted by the group Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice. Family members held up photos of relatives lost to violence and signs that included one saying, “Freedom from violence is a human right.”
…Adding… This Richard Irvin press release was sent out before the new TV ad was available, but the Irvin campaign did appear to know last night the general topic of the new spot…
JB Pritzker is running scared.
After releasing child killers from prison and signing the worst crime bill in America that puts criminals into our communities, he’s now hiding behind the Democratic Governors Association to meddle in the Illinois Republican Party Primary for Governor — airing a smear campaign against Richard Irvin and his strong record as a combat veteran, former prosecutor, and successful crime-fighting mayor of Illinois’ second largest city.
“For months, I’ve told voters that Pritzker was desperate and would do anything to win,” Irvin said. “Now, Pritzker is trying to hijack the Republican primary because he can’t run from the facts: crime is out of control, tax hikes continue, and corruption lives on in state government under Pritzker’s reign.”
Pritzker and his allies know he’s weak after he proudly and publicly turned his back on law enforcement and crime victims during his tenure as governor. He signed one of the most dangerous anti-police laws in our state’s history - a law that prioritizes criminals over communities throughout Illinois. His own Prisoner Review Board allowed the early release of cop killers, child murderers, and other dangerous criminals.
Richard Irvin’s record as a decorated combat veteran, a tough on crime prosecutor and a proven mayor has forced Democrats to intervene in the primary because Irvin is their worst nightmare.
* Politico has Irvin’s career timeline mixed up (he became a defense attorney in private practice after, not before, he was a prosecutor), but here’s some of the piece…
The goal is to rev up Republicans to vote for Darren Bailey, or maybe any of the other GOP candidates, over Irvin.
There’s nothing Republicans hate more than a candidate who’s not tough enough on crime, or conservative enough on social issues — at least that’s what the DGA and Gov. JB Pritzker’s campaign are hoping. […]
In the meantime, isn’t it interesting that Pritzker donated $250,000 to the DGA in December? His campaign told Playbook not to read too much into that. The governor donates to Democratic caucus and candidates regularly, after all. “How the DGA uses their money is up to them,” said a spokesperson.
This isn’t the first time the DGA has meddled in an Illinois Republican primary. Four years ago, it launched ads calling former state Rep. Jeanne Ives “too conservative” for the state, which was a boost to her campaign during the primary contest against Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner.
The tactic didn’t work. Rauner edged out Ives in the primary.
Richard Irvin’s real record on crime? For 15 years, Irvin has been a defense lawyer, profiting by defending some of the most violent and heinous criminals. Domestic abusers and sexual assaults. Kidnapper who molested a child. Reckless homicide. Even accused child pornographers. Irvin has been getting rich by putting violent criminals back on our streets. Tell Richard Irvin to stop pretending to be tough on crime and start supporting policies to keep people safe.
* It’s more than this, I think, but here you go…
Democratic Governors Association (DGA) just placed their first broadcast buy for 2022. So far we've seen $360k placed for #ILGov. Ads are set to begin airing tomorrow.
Richard Irvin’s real record shows he is anything but ‘tough on crime’. For 15 years, Irvin made money by getting violent criminals off the hook and back on the street. Illinoisans deserve to know who the real Richard Irvin is. Irvin needs to stop pretending to be tough on crime and actually support the policies that will keep people safe.
