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*** UPDATED x1 *** Open thread

Wednesday, Dec 4, 2019 - Posted by Rich Miller

* I have to take a family member to the airport, so I’ll be gone for a while. Keep your conversation Illinois-centric and please be nice to each other. Also, you might use some of this time to donate to Lutheran Social Services of Illinois. Just sayin…

*** UPDATE *** Ever heard that old saying about how adventures don’t begin until something goes wrong? Yeah, that’s been my entire afternoon. Talk with you tomorrow.

  18 Comments      


*** UPDATED x2 *** Tillman files appeal on bond case

Wednesday, Dec 4, 2019 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Background is here if you need it. Public finance/muni bonds reporter for Debtwire Municipals…



*** UPDATE 1 *** Press release…

“Illinois taxpayers are so tired of Illinois Policy Institute CEO John Tillman and his named or unnamed partners who seek to profit from trying to tank Illinois’ finances,” said Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza. “This appeal should be laughed out of court the same way the original case was. Remember, that 2017 refinancing I championed saved taxpayers $4-$6 billion and helped businesses across Illinois. It hurt the profit margins of Tillman’s partners.”

*** UPDATE 2 *** The appeal is here.

  14 Comments      


*** UPDATED x1 *** Three different ways of looking at the same situation

Wednesday, Dec 4, 2019 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Letter to the editor from Alaina Hampton’s former spokesperson Lorna Brett

Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan could stand in the middle of Michigan Avenue and shoot someone, and the Democrats of Illinois would still support him. Like President Donald Trump, his vengefulness against anyone who dares cross him is legendary. I am most disappointed in the female leadership of the party. With the entire country’s support for the #MeToo movement behind them, they still cross their legs. Profiles in courage, they are not. When Alaina Hampton needed an advocate, “they” had to bring in someone from out of state — me — to help her because of fear of retribution. Hats off to Chicago Tribune for continuing to cover this story and stand up for women and clean government.

* Letter to the editor from Sen. Iris Martinez (D-Chicago)

In its Nov. 22 editorial, the Tribune called on lawmakers to challenge House Speaker Michael Madigan for his response to the #MeToo scandal in the statehouse. It’s true that most politicians won’t call out the speaker for publicly promising to end sexual harassment in politics while his friends apparently arranged a payout of $30,000 for the harasser he formerly employed.

Madigan’s spokesman says the speaker knew nothing about the payoffs. This denial strains credulity. The Tribune shouldn’t scold legislators for failing to ask the speaker what he knew and when he knew it. Questions are challenges, and politicians who challenge the speaker face retribution. Political contributions might dry up, worthy legislation might not advance, and challengers might be put up to run for your seat.

The #MeToo movement has given a voice to women who may be justifiably afraid to speak up. Our legislators and leaders need encouragement, support and, most important, protection from Mike Madigan.

* And this is something I already posted from Rep. Deb Conroy (D-Elmurst)

This is just unbelievable coming from McQueary. She criticizes the women’s caucus every chance she gets when in reality we have spent our time doing the difficult work to change a culture and not chasing headlines.

Thoughts?

*** UPDATE *** From Rep. Conroy…

Rich, I have lived through my own issue, faced it head on and tried to move forward in private. Unfortunately, I was not allowed to do so. I have been trusted by many victims who have also wanted to keep their stories confidential. I have honored their wishes by working behind the scenes to find a resolution to their satisfaction. My respect for any victim of bullying or sexual abuse of any kind will always be my guide. Each victim deserves all of our respect in how they chose to handle their story, either in public or in private. So many people, including myself, have not only had to face the fear of our own story but on top of that have been shamed and bullied by others who believe that they have the right to judge us. We must support and respect each other. Every individual’s story public or private has moved us to where we are today. Changing a culture is hard although there is more work to be done we are making progress.

  28 Comments      


*** UPDATED x1 *** Plummer says he was offered ethics commission slot in exchange for his silence

Wednesday, Dec 4, 2019 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Background is here if you need it. Mark Maxwell followed up with Sen. Jason Plummer (R-Edwardsville)…


* Transcript

Plummer: Certain legislators are making a lot of money from industries where they have a tremendous amount of influence. And I think that the more the average voter in Illinois paid attention, the more shocked they’d be about what’s going on in Springfield. […]

This bill eliminates the opportunity for elected officials and employees of the General Assembly to be owners of privately held gaming enterprises or receive consulting… payments from those entities. […]

A lot of people were surprised by the news that broke at the end of May [about Senate GOP Leader Bill Brady receiving commissions from a video gaming company]. And everyone that I have talked to has been extremely supportive of the general concept. […]

Bill’s inclination was to work more closely with the other leaders to maybe take a slower approach and maybe go after, I think in your article you said ‘low hanging fruit,’ and I would say that, I believe those were the exact terms he used. […]

I agree that the words ‘video gaming’ never came up [in conversations with Brady], that’s not really how things work in Springfield. What was crystal clear was his intention. And his intention was this legislation couldn’t be filed. And his intention was that I couldn’t speak publicly about this legislation. And those conditions and those terms weren’t placed on the other people who were being appointed to the commission. Those terms and conditions weren’t placed on other ethics-related legislation. It was just my ethics-related legislation.

Maxwell: You’re saying he basically offered you a position in exchange for your silence.

Plummer: Yes. […]

Maxwell: Do you still want to serve on the commission?

I very much want to serve on the commission. There’s a significant difference between resigning from the commission [as Brady has claimed he did] and declining an appointment that was very inappropriate. I’d love to serve on the commission.

Other Republican Senators have confirmed to me that Brady originally supported the Democrats’ idea to create a new legislative ethics commission, but had to bow to the will of caucus members who were furious that a “low hanging fruit” ethics bill was the only thing they’d get out of the veto session. Brady and Plummer reportedly got into a heated argument in caucus about this.

Plummer is not the lying type. He may be interpreting things in a different way, but he seems genuine in his belief that he was effectively being silenced in exchange for a little campaign sweetener, when he actually wanted to make some real changes in the way the Statehouse functions. That’s not an unusual thing for a legislative leader to do, by the way. Co-opting members is part of the game.

Brady also does have some issues with his caucus, and while there’s nothing illegal with him profiting from video gaming, some of his members tell me they were most concerned with the fact that he never actually reported he was making money off the industry

The senator lists Brady Ventures but not [Midwest Electronics Gaming] on his legislative statements of economic interests, which are filed with the Illinois secretary of state under the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act. That’s because payments to Brady from Midwest go through Brady Ventures and are not made to him directly.

And with the recent revelations that the Illinois Gaming Board has given licenses to people with connections to organized crime, the entire industry is now under a cloud.

*** UPDATE *** From Leader Brady’s spokesperson…

· The leader originally supported the ethics commission task force because it was evenly split and not partisan.

· If you’ll recall during Senate Executive Committee, it was changed to become a partisan commission and the leader strongly voiced his concerns.

· The leader then shared those concerns and his opposition to the changes with caucus and that is when they all decided to oppose it.

  23 Comments      


*** LIVE COVERAGE ***

Wednesday, Dec 4, 2019 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Follow along with ScribbleLive


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Four House Republicans call on Madigan to resign

Tuesday, Dec 3, 2019 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Press release…

Reform-minded legislators Mark Batinick (R-Plainfield), Randy Frese (R-Paloma), Margo McDermed (R-Mokena), and Tom Morrison (R-Palatine) today demanded Speaker Madigan resign amid FBI investigations and harassment cases that have tainted his caucus for decades.

Representative Batinick believes Illinois has a culture of corruption, but it’s leadership that sets this culture. “House Speaker Mike Madigan is the longest-serving House Speaker in history, and under his reign we’ve seen a decades-long pattern of unethical behavior and corruption in Illinois government,” said Rep. Batinick. “People all around him are being investigated, searched, recorded, arrested and indicted. To restore trust and accountability in state government, Speaker Madigan must resign.”

According to Batinick, the resignations must extend beyond the Speaker and also include the state’s top financial watchdog, Illinois Auditor General Frank Mautino. “Auditor General Mautino has been under fire since his appointment in 2016 when it was alleged he used campaign money for personal purposes for over a decade while serving as a lawmaker,” said Batinick. “He has yet to answer those charges, and efforts to remove him from the position of Auditor General have been squashed by Speaker Madigan and his Democratic Majority. At a bare minimum, Mautino must resign.”

Rep. McDermed said the typical response to scandals by Madigan and his loyalists, which includes denouncing behaviors and floating the illusion of reform while rejecting anything substantive, must end. “Amidst a #MeToo scandal atop the political and legislative sides of Madigan’s operation, the Speaker has again and again promised reforms while simultaneously protecting his allies,” McDermed said. “Their response to sexual harassment and bullying has been to lie and intimidate the accusers while rewarding the harassers. On behalf of the 200 people who signed a letter alleging harassment in Springfield and others too afraid to speak up for fear of retaliation, I am demanding Speaker Madigan’s resignation.”

McDermed pointed to Madigan’s refusal to advance more than a dozen ethics reform bills filed by House Republicans, only to bring forward extremely watered down measures during the 11th hour of the fall veto session. “Legislation that would have brought forth meaningful change were blocked while Democrats approved ethics reform bills that have no hope of improving ethics in Springfield,” McDermed added.

“Speaker Madigan has the power to advance or kill legislation, and he controls the committee process through his House rules,” said Rep. Morrison. “Those who play his game are rewarded with key committee chairmanships and later many receive lucrative lobbying contracts and jobs, while those who stand up to these practices are punished. This culture of corruption denigrates our entire system of government and impacts families on a personal level through the ‘corruption tax’ we pay.”

Rep. Morrison also reiterated the need for Auditor General Frank Mautino to resign. “The condition of state and local government finances are one of the most critical issues facing the state of Illinois and its thousands of local units of government,” said Morrison. “That’s why the Illinois Constitution provides for the position of Auditor General, who oversees state agency spending, grants, and helps ensure compliance with state and federal laws. Illinois residents deserve a genuine and competent watchdog over state finances, an individual beyond reproach. Sadly, this is Illinois, and our current Auditor General, Frank Mautino, remains under a cloud of scandal. Speaker Madigan’s refusal to demand answers from Mr. Mautino or call the bill to remove the Auditor is an example of ‘turning a blind eye.’ For this reason and more we are reiterating our call for Auditor General Mautino to resign.”

Batinick and Morrison are facing serious reelection challenges. McDermed is retiring.

…Adding… This post originally had an older version of the press release, which is still here. It’s been updated with a new version.

  76 Comments      


*** UPDATED x2 *** Our sorry state

Tuesday, Dec 3, 2019 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Tribune

Aging out of the state’s public special education system, Nick [22, who has been diagnosed with autism] now stays at home, where his mother worries he is becoming more and more isolated and losing what he has learned. She wants to get him into adult programs funded by the state that would continue his training and maybe even set him up in a group home. […]

Nick is among nearly 20,000 disabled adults in Illinois who are on a waiting list to get into adult programs. Many of them come from families who don’t have a way to pay for home care, job coaches or other services.

Most wait an average of seven years before they are selected, despite a court order in 2011 that Illinois shrink the list and do other things to improve how it serves developmentally disabled adults.

One family told the Tribune they signed up their child when he was just 5 and he still did not get a spot when he turned 22 this year.

20,000?

* IARF President & CEO Josh Evans…

Earlier today the Chicago Tribune published an article that serves as a painful and frustrating reminder to all Illinoisans – particularly those with disabilities and their families - that as a state we have failed to provide for the multi-generational needs of thousands of adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities that are on the state’s waiting list for community-based services and supports in a timely manner. With this publication on International Day of Persons with Disabilities, the Association and its members have a renewed focus in working to address the funding and structural issues that continue to serve as barriers to growing access to services and supports.

While we share the frustrations and concerns of so many individuals and families, recent efforts by the Illinois General Assembly and Governor Pritzker’s administration give the Association confidence that as a state we are now in a better place to begin to chip away at the inadequate funding plaguing our service array, as well as the statutory and regulatory barriers that have limited growth and flexibility in community-based services and supports.

We join organizations and individuals across Illinois in our collective efforts to advance the Fair Tax Constitutional Amendment, as this will not only lower taxes for the significant majority of Illinoisans, but will provide the resources that are necessary to address rate inadequacies, ensure a living wage for frontline staff, and expand the community-based service array and reduce the number of individuals on the waiting list for services.

IARF looks forward to working with Governor Pritzker and his leadership team, the General Assembly, the Arc of Illinois, and stakeholder partners towards eliminating barriers to individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities accessing community-based services and supports.

*** UPDATE 1 *** From IDHS…

IDHS exists to support individuals with developmental disabilities and their families who are striving for independence, integration and inclusion in our society.

We have made strides in the last year, but far too many individuals with disabilities who “age out” of the school system are waiting for appropriate services because these services were neglected and hollowed out for years. Too many parents are still struggling to help support their adult children with complex needs.

Our administration is working every day, in good faith with individuals, families and stakeholders, to dramatically improve the current system of services and supports. One example is our commitment to revising the rate methodology for developmental disabilities (DD) rates and services to ensure that our rates adequately support our community providers. (Kathy Carmody of the Institute for Public Policy for People with Disabilities and Ronnie Cohn, the court monitor in the Ligas case, were members of the IDHS Rates Oversight Committee that developed recommendations on DD system rate changes.)

The leadership team at IDHS is committed to proving to parents that we honor their devotion to their children and that we will be strong partners with them. Some of our actions to date include:

    * Committing by 2025 to ensuring that no individual remains on the PUNS list 5 years after their 18th birthday.

    * Moving more than 600 individuals off the PUNS list this year.

    * Revising the PUNS list to distinguish individuals planning for services from those actively seeking services. (While there are close to 20,000 individuals on the PUNS, roughly 7,000 are actively seeking services.)

    * Establishing a dedicated email account for inquiries about PUNS status and expected selection dates: DHS.DDD.PUNS@illinois.gov.

    * Forging a deeper partnership between the Divisions of Developmental Disabilities and the Rehabilitation Services so individuals leaving high school can immediately access vocational and employment supports.

    * Submitting a federal Medicaid waiver amendment to increase wages for front-line workers to account for Illinois’ increased minimum wage, so community-based DD providers can recruit and retain strong teams.

    * Investing unprecedented levels of state support for the community-based system of services serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Getting this right – eliminating prolonged delays for disability services – requires we marshal and manage significant resources that can support individuals with disabilities to live self-determined lives in their communities.

*** UPDATE 2 *** Kathy Carmody, CEO Institute on Public Policy for People with Disabilities…

Glad you ran the Tribune item from earlier today. As I stated in the article, our current situation is the result of decades-long neglect and under-funding in the I/DD community service delivery system. We are encouraged by the current administration’s commitment to community services and the inclusion of community providers and their representatives in efforts to improve and enhance the community system. The Institute looks forward to continuing to work with the leadership teams at DHS and HFS to find creative and cost-effective solutions to the challenges facing people with disabilities and their families.

  16 Comments      


*** UPDATED x4 *** #GivingTuesday in memory of Wordslinger

Tuesday, Dec 3, 2019 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Today is GivingTuesday

GivingTuesday is a global generosity movement unleashing the power of people and organizations to transform their communities and the world on December 3, 2019 and every day.

It was created in 2012 as a simple idea: a day that encourages people to do good. Over the past seven years, this idea has grown into a global movement that inspires hundreds of millions of people to give, collaborate, and celebrate generosity.

So, with that in mind, I encourage you to donate today to Lutheran Social Services of Illinois. We all know how important the foster care program is, and LSSI is on the front lines

LSSI provides placement and casework services for children who have been removed from their families because of abuse and/or neglect. The goal of LSSI’s foster care services is to return the child back to his or her family. Services include training and licensing for foster families. Foster parents, working with LSSI, support the child’s connection to his or her family by providing transportation to or hosting sibling visits, and visiting with parents when the child welfare team mutually agrees upon this.

Children who cannot be safely reunited with their families may become available for adoption.

LSSI is the largest statewide provider of foster care services in Illinois. Approximately 10 percent of Illinois children under the guardianship of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) are served by LSSI.

Those services cost money. Yes, LSSI does receive government funding, but they also rely on donations. So, please, click here and donate to LSSI today. I will match the first $1,000.

And, remember, we’re doing this fundraiser in Wordslinger’s memory. I’m hoping to arrange a meet and greet reception with Wordslinger’s family during the upcoming spring session. That’ll give you a chance to tell them how you donated to LSSI because you respected him so much. Please, click here.

*** UPDATE 1 *** A generous anonymous donor just contributed $1,000. Wow! I contributed my pledged matching amount, so we’re now up to $3,170 of our $5,000 goal. Thanks to everyone! Now, let’s hit that target! Click here.

*** UPDATE 2 *** Wordslinger’s brother just texted to say that it would’ve been Word’s 56th birthday today. Wow. What a great coincidence! Please click here to donate.

*** UPDATE 3 *** Holy moly, we reached our interim $5,000 goal. That was fast. I’ve increased it to $6,000. Click here and let’s keep this going! Thanks!!!

*** UPDATE 4 *** Well, we reached our second goal, so I’ve bumped it up again. Please click here and donate if you haven’t done so already. Thanks!!!

  11 Comments      


*** UPDATED x1 *** Brady accuses Plummer of making “false accusations”

Tuesday, Dec 3, 2019 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Mark Maxwell

Senator Bill Brady’s tenure as Minority Leader faces new uncertainty after Senator Jason Plummer, Brady’s former 2010 gubernatorial running mate, accused Brady of offering him an appointment to sit on the Joint Commission on Ethics and Lobbying Reform in exchange for muting his criticism of Brady’s side gig working to promote video gaming terminals in bars.

“It was said multiple times that he would not appoint me if I followed through on filing that legislation that I had worked on, or if I spoke publicly about it,” Plummer told WCIA on Monday night. “I was kind of surprised that he was as forward as he was. I said to him, I said, ‘Geez, Bill.’”

“I recall the conversation with great detail because it wasn’t just one conversation,” Plummer added.

Several Senate Republicans, who asked to speak anonymously, said Plummer’s explosive allegations could make it incredibly difficult for Brady to keep enough votes in his camp to win re-election to keep his post in 2021. […]

Plummer, an Edwardsville Republican, claims Brady’s aides quizzed him about legislation he has drafted that would outlaw elected officials from earning income to operate or promote video gaming terminals. Plummer says he has drafted, but not yet filed, Senate Bill 2318, which would prohibit any member from the General Assembly from receiving any income from a gaming related interest. The idea has been discussed by a number of Senate Republicans, who say they would support it, even though it would outlaw Brady from keeping one of his side jobs. […]

“I very much wanted to serve on the commission,” Plummer said, citing his interest in passing tougher ethics laws. According to several sources familiar with the private Senate Republican caucus meetings, Plummer openly pressured Brady to pursue more stringent ethical reforms, but the Minority Leader instead opted to embrace the “low hanging fruit” Democrats offered and moved to establish a Commission to study the issue of fighting corruption, as opposed to enacting laws to ban lawmakers from serving as lobbyists, or to broaden the powers of the Legislative Inspector General.

Wait a second. The Senate Republicans, including Plummer, voted unanimously against establishing that ethics commission. From a press release

“With the cloud of scandal hanging over the Dome, we need to be taking up serious ethics reforms not punting to another partisan task force,” the caucus said in a statement issued before the vote.

* I checked in with Senate GOP Leader Bill Brady this morning and he said Plummer has “never” spoken to him about that video gaming bill. “He’s never brought it up.”

Brady said he had discussed with Plummer the need to represent “the interests of the caucus” at the joint commission, not his own private views. He also characterized Plummer’s comments as “false accusations.”

* There’s also a passage in the story about Sen. Dan McConchie, whom Brady appointed to the commission after Plummer took his name off the list

However, Brady did not harbor the same concerns or require the same conditions from Senator McConchie, even though he had made several public statements and filed legislation in support of tougher ethical laws.

All of those bills were filed and the statements were made before the commission resolution passed, Brady said today. He’s right about that.

* Whoever is telling the truth here kinda matters less than the news value of watching two Senate Republicans, who ran as a team in the 2010 gubernatorial election, duking it out in public. Stay tuned.

*** UPDATE *** Partial walkback?…


* Related…

* Plummer letter to Brady

* Brady’s response to Plummer

  28 Comments      


Filing deadline passes

Tuesday, Dec 3, 2019 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Lots of info in this Daily Herald piece by Jake Griffin, so go read it all

Former state Rep. Randy Ramey, stepson of former Republican state Senate President Pate Philip, added his name to what could be a three-way race for the Republican nomination in the 45th District [against freshman Democrat Diane Pappas]. […]

Elsewhere in the suburbs, 63rd District incumbent Republican state Rep. Steven Reick of Woodstock filed for reelection Monday. Democrat Peter Janko, a small business owner from Marengo, also filed Monday to seek his party’s nomination for Reick’s seat. He is slated to face Woodstock Mayor Brian Sager in the March 17 primary.

Naperville Republican incumbent state Rep. Grant Wehrli picked up two Democratic challengers Monday for his 41st District seat. Denika McMillen, a social worker from Naperville, and Janet Yang Rohr, a Naperville Unit District 203 board member, both filed their paperwork Monday.

Democrat Joyce Mason of Gurnee also won’t face a primary challenge for her 61st District House seat. But Republican Dan Yost, an Antioch village trustee, is expected to challenge her in the Nov. 3 general election.

* Good stuff from Barton…


* Meanwhile

Republicans will have a primary to select their candidate to succeed state Rep. Mike Unes in the Legislature, and Democrats will have a candidate in the November general election.

Sam Goddard, a Pekinite who runs his own logistics and trucking company, filed nominating petitions Monday in the race as a Republican. Moments before the filing deadline, so did Corey Campbell of Pekin, a Caterpillar Inc. employee.

Both will face [Republican] Pekin Mayor Mark Luft, who filed his petitions a week ago for the seat that takes in parts of Tazewell, Fulton and Peoria counties. Unes, R-East Peoria, announced last month that he’s retiring at the end of his term. […]

Josh Grys of Pekin filed for the seat as a Democrat on Monday afternoon, and is unopposed.The father of four boys said he plans to focus on issues including education — he’s a former teacher — as well as criminal justice reform and health care within Illinois.

* I told subscribers about Plummer last week

Democratic Reps. Lauren Underwood and Sean Casten have no primaries this time around. Seven Republicans are angling to run against Underwood in the 14th Congressional District. And Casten will watch as Republicans Jeanne Ives of Wheaton and Jay Kinzler of Glen Ellyn duke it out in a GOP primary to face him for the 6th Congressional District seat.

Shimkus’ seat: Four Democrats and four Republicans are running for the 15th District seat now held by Congressman John Shimkus, who’s retiring. The big news here is that state Sen. Jason Plummer, R-Edwardsville, didn’t file. That means the race is wide open for the GOP — as it’s seen as a Republican seat. Frontrunners are Kent Gray, who worked as state director for Donald Trump in 2016, and Mary Miller, the wife of state Rep. Chris Miller. […]

Democrats are targeting some Republican-held House seats — this could be a challenge for the state GOP as its fundraising efforts are dwarfed by Dems. A top target is Tom Morrison, a Glen View Republican who just barely won his 54th District race in 2018. Two Dems will battle to face him in November. Republican Rep. Grant Wehrli also faces Dem opposition, which will be decided after the primary.

And interestingly, Republican Brad Stephens, the Rosemont mayor who was appointed to his 20th District seat to succeed Michael McAuliffe, will face November competition. Democrats are Michelle Darbro, a Chicago firefighter, and R. Cary Capparelli, whose father held the seat from 1971 to 2004. The younger Capparelli has run for other elected seats — sometimes, even, as a Republican.

…Adding… Also filing in that Shimkus district yesterday was Kimberly Wade. I’m told Rodney Davis’ people helped her gather petitions, but she filed just barely enough so she may not stay on the ballot. Davis featured Wade at the 2016 State of the Union address. She’s a children’s cancer activist.

* Subscribers know more about this Burke thing

Also, Chicago Ald. Edward Burke drew a last-minute competitor for 14th Ward committeeperson on Monday when Alicia Elena Martinez filed paperwork to challenge the embattled longtime city official.

Just minutes before the clerk’s office was set to close, former Cook County Board President Todd Stroger arrived at the office and filed his nearly 12,000 signatures to compete for a water reclamation district position.

* Courts

In Springfield, Appellate Justice Nathaniel Howse filed his petitions on Monday to run for the vacancy created by retired state Supreme Court Justice Charles Freeman. Howse joins seven who filed last week — including Justice P. Scott Neville Jr., who was appointed to replace Freeman and is now running for a full 10-year term.

The others who filed last week for the seat on the state’s top court are appellate court justices Jesse Reyes, Margaret Stanton McBride, Cynthia Cobbs and Sheldon Harris and lawyers Daniel Epstein and Clint Krislov. […]

Not filing her nominating petitions was Judge Cara Smith, former policy chief for Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart, who was appointed to the bench earlier this year. Smith apparently opted not to seek a full term in the county’s 7th Subcircuit. She had been recommended for the vacancy by Illinois Supreme Court Justice Anne Burke, wife of embattled 14th Ward Ald. Ed Burke.

Smith’s appointment sparked controversy, with some black aldermen and pastors accusing Burke of putting politics ahead of diversity.

  17 Comments      


*** LIVE COVERAGE ***

Tuesday, Dec 3, 2019 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Follow along with ScribbleLive


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