Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Establishes the creation of a United States Space Force special license plate. Provides that the design, color, and format of the plates shall be wholly within the discretion of the Secretary of State
* The Question: Your design suggestions for the proposed United States Space Force special license plate?
* As is often the case, the Sangamon County GOP didn’t go along with the program. Instead of appointing someone favored by the Senate Republicans who would use the time in office to set up a run against Democratic Sen. Doris Turner this year, they chose Sandy Hamilton…
When asked why she applied, Sandy Hamilton, the newly sworn-in representative for the Illinois 99th District, turned the question around.
“A friend called me and asked me about it and after a couple of days of talking it through with my husband, Bob, the real answer was why not? Why not do this?” said Hamilton, a real estate broker at RE/MAX Professionals and former volleyball coach at Sacred Heart-Griffin High School.
Hamilton emerged from a group of 20 candidates to claim the vacancy created by the resignation of Rep. Mike Murphy, a Republican from Springfield. […]
Hamilton said she would be open to running for reelection. Barghouti Hardwick previously said “it would be good” if the candidate was interested in running for that office again or interested in seeking another office.
Hamilton, who lives on the west side of Springfield, would be in the 95th district if she ran in 2022.
Rep. Tim Butler, R-Springfield, who also attended the swearing-in, said he planned to run for reelection, but hadn’t made a formal announcement.
Um.
* Press release…
Today the Villegas for Congress campaign released a preliminary estimate of the total funds raised in the 4th Quarter of 2021, the first fundraising quarter since Alderman Gilbert Villegas entered the race for the newly created Third Congressional District of Illinois. Villegas announced his candidacy on the Marine Corps birthday, November 10th, 2021.
The campaign expects to file more than $382,000 raised once all final contributions are received and tallied. The campaign also expects to report approximately $360,000 cash on hand once accounting for expenses.
Campaign manager Magdalena Fudalewicz released the following statement:
“Alderman Gilbert Villegas’s service as as a Marine, working class background driving trucks for the Teamsters, and public service is clearly resonating with supporters across the district. We’re thrilled that in just seven weeks and with several major holiday breaks, we’ve seen such a tremendous response to this campaign,” said Magdalena Fudalewicz.
* Press release…
Today, Nikki Budzinski announced that her campaign raised over $475,000 in the fourth quarter of 2021. Budzinski raised an additional $455,000 in the first five weeks of her campaign in the third quarter. Since announcing her campaign 133 days ago, Budzinski has raised over $930,000. Budzinski’s fundraising numbers are fueled by grassroots supporters from across Central and Southern Illinois and put her in a strong position to run an issues-based campaign and win in November.
Budzinski made the following statement: “I am honored and humbled by the support I’ve received since announcing my campaign in August. I am committed to being a champion for working families in Central and Southern Illinois, who for too long haven’t had a voice in Congress. The support I have received allows me to be laser focused on running the kind of issues-based campaign it will take to reach voters and win this district back for working families this November.”
* This is Courtney Parella’s first day on the job as the NRCC’s regional press secretary…
Hi there –
The Chicago Teachers Union is threatening to prevent students from returning to the classroom.
The union’s 25,000+ members are voting today to only work virtually, despite the devastating negative effects school closures have on students and families.
Will Sean Casten and Marie Newman stand by their teachers union donors and allow schools to be shut down?
NRCC Comment: “Sean Casten and Marie Newman refuse to stand up to their teachers union donors, despite the well-documented challenges for children and families that come with school closures. When will Democrats end their war on children?” – NRCC Spokeswoman Courtney Parella
— FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: Former Democratic Congressman Jerry Costello is endorsing Alexi Giannoulias for secretary of state in the Democratic primary. Costello served 12 terms before retiring from Congress in 2013, and before that he served eight years as St. Clair County Board chairman.
— State Rep. Maurice West announced his re-election campaign to the 67th District in the Illinois House. “Since 2019 I have focused my efforts in bringing opportunities and progress to the west, south and southeast sides of Rockford.” West, a Democrat, said in a statement.
— State Rep. Tom Bennett announced his re-election campaign to the 106th District in the Illinois House. “I’m proud to work on issues important to this region, including improving roads and infrastructure, increased funding for K-12 schools, economic development, and supporting public safety,” Bennett, a Republican, said in a statement.
— Former state Rep. Mary Edly Allen announced her run for the newly drawn 31st District seat in the state Senate. State Rep. Sam Yingling, a fellow Democrat, is also running for that seat.
— Grayslake Trustee Laura Dias is running for the IL-62 seat being vacated by state Rep. Sam Yingling.
— Justice Liam C. Brennan of Wheaton has announced his bid for the 3rd District Appellate Court vacancy created by the retirement of Justice Vicki Wright. Brennan was unanimously appointed by the Illinois Supreme Court to the 2nd District Appellate Court in March 2020. He is now running for the 3rd District Appellate seat as a result of recent remapping of the appellate districts. The new 3rd District Appellate Court encompasses DuPage, Will, Kankakee, Iroquois, Grundy, LaSalle, and Bureau County.
…Adding… Subscribers know more about Dordek…
Facing one of the most important election cycles in its 33-year history, Personal PAC has named a new chairperson.
Natalie Federle replaces Eileen Dordek, who resigned the post after announcing her candidacy for Illinois’ 13th state House District this week. Federle’s appointment comes as Personal PAC welcomes an unprecedented influx of young volunteers, further evidence of a national trend of Millenial and Gen Z voters galvanizing over restricted access to reproductive rights.
Federle, 38, is a Chicago attorney with a background in employment law. Currently the General Counsel of Sermo, she has practiced law in Chicago since 2011, beginning her career at DLA Piper.
In addition to her legal practice, Natalie has served on the Board of the Women’s Bar Association of Illinois, and has volunteered for many years as a voter protection attorney on election days.
Natalie has two daughters, a rescue dog, and is married to Julian Federle, the Director of Government Affairs at United Airlines.
She has been involved with Personal PAC since 2014, joining the board in 2017 before becoming vice chair in 2019.
“My time spent working on behalf of Personal PAC has been some of the most rewarding work of my life and I’m honored and excited to step into a leadership role,” Federle said. “The 2022 elections across the state and down the ballot are crucial in fighting back against the Federal attack on abortion rights. We must ensure Illinois elects a pro-choice Supreme Court, Governor, and General Assembly in November.”
On the eve of the one-year anniversary of Mary Miller’s infamous quotation of Adolf Hitler and her vote not to certify electoral college votes - one of the main drivers of the January 6 insurrection – President Kristina Zahorik of the Illinois Democratic County Chairs Association released the following statement:
“A year ago Mary Miller quoted Adolf Hitler to make a political point, and later could not even unequivocally apologize after being repudiated by both Republicans and Democrats for it. A day later, she acquiesced to the demands of the insurrectionists who attacked police and the U.S. Capital, and voted against certifying electoral college votes lawfully electing President Joe Biden.”
“While the news cycles may be shorter, our memories must remain long – Mary Miller is unfit to serve in Congress.”
* So, I asked the governor’s office for Illinois deaths per 100K since May 1. They sent along some other regional states as well for comparison…
Man, Indiana and Ohio. Whew. But they’re still not as bad as Florida and Texas. Get your shots so the trend stays more favorable.
* Also something I looked into during the break…
Some relatively good news: At one point in April of 2020, about a quarter of all covid cases were in long term care facilities. That's bad because the old and infirm are particularly vulnerable. This month, it's been less than 1%. Vaccines + experience https://t.co/emqqFL9Jhd
The government is encouraged by statistics showing that the recent jump in coronavirus-related hospital admissions hasn’t led to a similar increase in the number of patients needed mechanical ventilation, Blain said.
“We know that admissions and occupancy are increasing significantly at the moment, we’re not seeing that same jump in beds requiring ventilation, which is pleasing, and almost certainly a function of both the nature of omicron and our successful booster program,'’ he said.
While number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 in England has more than doubled over the past two weeks, the number of patients in mechanical ventilation beds has remained relatively stable, according to the latest government statistics.
That is not happening in Illinois, where ventilator use has almost doubled in the past couple of weeks. The English, however, are ahead of us in the omicron timeline. So, fingers crossed and get your shots.
* In other news, this presser is about the new Cook County requirement that people show proof of vaccination to get into bars, restaurants, etc., which is similar to the City of Chicago’s requirement…
MEDIA ADVISORY: House Republicans Stand Against Recent Cook County Mandate
WHO: State Representative Tom Morrison (R-Palatine), State Representative Chris Bos (R-Lake Zurich), and State Representative Martin McLaughlin (R-Barrington Hills).
WHAT: House Republicans to discuss the burden left on Cook County residents, local governments and businesses amid the new mandate effective this week.
WHEN: 11:00 A.M. on Tuesday, January 4th, 2022.
The only people I feel sorry for are the workers who have to deal with irate, unvaxed fools.
They’re not requiring vaccinations. That is not a vaccine mandate. What they are requiring is that if you go into a certain kind of establishment, they have a category of them, that you have to show that you’ve been vaccinated. … I think that the city and the county are doing the right thing for the people of the city and the county. I encourage local leaders to do what’s right in their communities. Every community is a bit different, as you know, some counties have very few restaurants, they’re, you know, quite far apart from one another. They don’t have huge crowds in those restaurants. And so it’s hard for them to have exactly the same kind of mitigation that the City of Chicago might have. And so it’s been my view that we need leaders locally to step up and do the right thing for their communities. But again, anybody who’s willing to step up and make the tough calls, and we’ve been making tough calls at the state level as well, at the city level at the county level, I applaud.
Arguments continue in cases brought by teachers challenging the governor’s vaccine mandates in schools and parents challenging mask and exclusion mandates on students.
Earlier Monday in Springfield, Sangamon County Judge Raylene Grischow heard arguments from defendants to have a different judge oversee the teacher’s case. That case has dozens of teachers and school staffing suing 22 districts. The judge said the issue has been delayed long enough.
“We’ll run out of judges before it’s heard and that causes a prejudicial effect to the plaintiffs,” Grischow said. “We’ve been dealing with this COVID issue, it needs to be decided and I’m going to deny the motion.”
Attorney Thomas DeVore argues on behalf of parents and teachers in separate cases the issue is about individual due process rights to challenge quarantine orders.
* No link because this is yet another salacious hit job…
While Gov. J.B. Pritzker was urging Illinois residents to cancel their New Year’s Eve plans, his daughter Theodora “Teddi” Pritzker rang in 2022 with style New Year’s Eve in a nightclub environment without a mask in the Bahamas.
The eldest child of billionaire Gov. J.B. Pritzker posted photos of herself in a bar-hopping dress, holding arms alongside her friends flaunting her luxurious lifestyle in a New Year’s Eve celebration untouched by the Covid-19 protocols imposed by her father.
Except all the photos Prairie State Wire ran are of her outside. There is no requirement to wear a mask outside in this state. The governor asked people to use caution on NYE and be aware who they were with. There is zero news value to the piece.
Basically, this is just another excuse to whack the governor while catering to the creepy urges of incels living in their mom’s basements. Great target audience, dudes.
* I went over this race with subscribers this morning, so here’s the press release…
John Milhiser today announced that he is running for the Republican nomination to replace retiring Jesse White as Illinois Secretary of State. Milhiser has dedicated his life to public service as Sangamon County State’s Attorney and United States Attorney for the Central District of Illinois, where he received unanimous bipartisan confirmation from the United States Senate, including support from Senators Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth.
“It is a privilege to run for this office and continue to fight to make our state a better place to live. I am running because we can do better in Illinois. We can have good government. We can have safe communities, and we can rebuild trust in our leaders,” says Milhiser. “As the next Secretary of State, I will continue to work to end the culture of corruption that has been fostered for decades in this state. Together we can forge a new future for Illinois unencumbered by the last half century of back room deals that have led our state down the wrong path. We must move forward, not backward, and away from the corruption that has plagued our state for so many years.”
Milhiser is not a politician. He is a public servant, who has dedicated his life to improving his community by leading a state prosecutor’s office, a federal prosecutor’s office, and most recently, a classroom. As Secretary of State, Milhiser’s goal will remain the same, to work each day to make a difference and have a positive impact on the citizens of Illinois.
As United States Attorney, Milhiser successfully prosecuted murderers, violent criminals, child predators, drug dealers, embezzlers, and human traffickers. Most recently, he gained bipartisan praise for leading the prosecution of an elected official on charges of fraud, money laundering, and tax evasion related to his alleged misuse of campaign money for personal expenses. Milhiser has a long history of investigating and prosecuting cases of corruption and other crimes against the public.
Prior to serving as United States Attorney, Milhiser was a prosecutor in the Sangamon County State’s Attorney’s Office for 16 years where he was known as a champion for victims. He prosecuted serious felony cases, including First Degree Murder, Aggravated Criminal Sexual Assault, Aggravated DUI, and the Attempted Murder of Police Officers.
John Milhiser’s commitment to justice and public service will help to restore faith in state government and our leaders. With a Governor and statewide officials who continue Speaker Madigan’s culture of corruption, Illinois needs someone of utmost integrity. John Milhiser will operate the office with zero tolerance for corruption and demand efficient and effective service to taxpayers.
The Secretary of State employs more than 4,000 employees, with a portfolio ranging from drivers’ services and the Illinois State Archives and Library to motor vehicle theft investigations and the Capitol Police Department.
For over 25 years, Milhiser has called Illinois home and has served our community. He has served on the board of the Sangamon County Child Advocacy Center, Helping Hands Homeless Shelter, Memorial Behavioral Health Mental Health Centers, Sangamon County Juvenile Justice Council, and the Springfield Public Schools Foundation. Milhiser is a past President of the Illinois State’s Attorneys Association and a former adjunct professor at Springfield College in Illinois/Benedictine University.
Currently, Milhiser is teaching high school government, history, and English at Lawrence Education Center in Springfield. Milhiser met his wife, Gail, at the University of Illinois College of Law. They have been married for 24 years and have two daughters.
Learn more about John Milhiser and his campaign for Secretary of State at johnmilhiser.com.
This is apparently the first candidate in the rollout of the unified “business” ticket. Rep. Dan Brady (R-Bloomington) didn’t make the cut. There’s still apparently an open House seat available not far from his home. We’ll see what he does, but he won’t be able to outraise Milhiser.
Also, this Milhiser guy is squeaky clean. No oppo issues. The Democrats should probably keep that in mind.
*** UPDATE 1 *** Dan Brady campaign…
Dan Brady today announced the endorsements of numerous state representatives, state senators, and members of Illinois’ Congressional delegation, including Congressmen Rodney Davis, Darin LaHood, and Mike Bost, for his Secretary of State campaign. These endorsements represent deep statewide support for Brady.
“I am thankful to have the support of so many of my colleagues from the General Assembly,” said Brady.” It has been an honor to serve the people of Illinois and I appreciate the guidance that my colleagues will be able to share with me about how Secretary of State services can be improved in their parts of the state. I am looking forward to campaigning across the state with my House and Senate colleagues to share my vision for a more efficient and effective Secretary of State office.”
“Having Republican lawmakers’ support and guidance behind me is significant,” Brady said. “Their support will allow us to build an effective campaign infrastructure from Cairo to Waukegan as I prepare to share my message with voters in the months ahead.”
Illinois lawmakers who endorse Rep. Brady in his Secretary of State campaign include:
Representatives:
House Republican Leader Jim Durkin
State Rep. Michael Marron
State Rep. Amy Grant
State Rep. Norine Hammond
State Rep. Brad Halbrook
State Rep. Patrick Windhorst
State Rep. Brad Stephens
State Rep. Paul Jacobs
State Rep. C.D. Davidsmeyer
State Rep. Randy Frese
State Rep. Charles Meier
State Rep. Seth Lewis
State Rep. Chris Bos
State Rep. Steve Reick
State Rep. Chris Miller
State Rep. Tim Butler
State Rep. Dan Swanson
State Rep. Tom Bennett
State Rep. Dan Ugaste
State Rep. Tom Weber
State Rep. Dave Severin
State Rep. Tony McCombie
State Rep. David Friess
State Rep. David Welter
State Rep. Deanne Mazzochi
State Rep. Jackie Haas
State Rep. Jeff Keicher
State Rep. Amy Elik
State Rep. Joe Sosnowski
State Rep. Keith Sommer
State Rep. Mark Luft
State Rep. Martin McLaughlin
Senators:
State Senator: Brian Stewart
State Senator Chapin Rose
State Senator Don DeWitte State Senator Dave Syverson
State Senator Jason Barickman
State Senator Jil Tracy
State Senator Neal Anderson
State Senator Sally Turner
State Senator Steve McClure
State Senator Sue Rezin
State Senator Terri Bryant
U.S. Congress:
Representative Darin LaHood
Representative Mike Bost
Representative Rodney Davis
*** UPDATE 2 *** DPI…
Democratic Party of Illinois Executive Director Abby Witt released the following statement regarding the announcement that Republican John Milhiser will run for Secretary of State:
“John Milhiser is the first pawn in the latest political game from Bruce Rauner and Ken Griffin. Rauner and Griffin are most famous for waging a disastrous four-year war on good government in Illinois, decimating our social safety net and nearly plunging our state into junk status. Rauner and Griffin are now back, choosing their own slate of handpicked puppets instead of letting voters to have their say.
“Of course, Rauner and Griffin’s first failed adventure in state government ended when they were overwhelmingly rejected by voters, but we know that won’t stop them from picking a slate of candidates to do their bidding — like Milhiser and their rumored gubernatorial candidate Richard Irvin. Unfortunately for Milhiser, Irvin, and any others, Illinois voters are smart enough recognize a Rauner-Griffin reboot when they see it.”
* Back in 2016, while newspaper editorial boards and conservative groups throughout the land were clamoring for the elimination of townships, the Daily Southtown took a look at a township in its own coverage area…
Everywhere Frank Zuccarelli goes in Thornton Township, people approach him for a handshake or a hug and kiss on the cheek.
At the senior center in Calumet City, where the township hosts lunches and events, including line dancing classes. Outside a township food pantry in Harvey, which Zuccarelli boasts is one of the state’s biggest. In Dolton, while one of Zuccarelli’s youth work crews mow a resident’s lawn. Zuccarelli greets everyone warmly.
“I really do love the people,” says Zuccarelli, Thornton Township’s supervisor since 1993. “I don’t have to fake it.”
Zuccarelli heads the largest township in Cook County. Thornton Township includes parts of at least 17 communities in Chicago’s south suburbs, including some of the state’s poorest towns. He’s also a powerful political player in Cook County and Democratic circles.
Frank Zuccarelli, a south suburban power broker who ran one of the state’s most influential political organizations, died Monday. He was 70.
Zuccarelli was Thornton Township supervisor since 1993, where he ran public assistance programs that helped some of the state’s neediest people. He also headed a powerful political machine that inspired countless visits from political hopefuls looking to get a boost at the ballot box and drew criticism for waste and patronage. […]
He also was chairman of South Suburban College’s board of trustees since 1987 and was active in the Cook County Democratic Party, where he controlled the most votes within the party. […]
In an interview this week, party chair Toni Preckwinkle praised Zuccarelli as “a real heavyweight in the south suburbs” and noted he retained his electoral popularity even as the region changed demographically.
“He was a white person who was responsible for an overwhelmingly African American constituency in Thornton Township and was beloved by everybody. If he’d run for committeeperson again, (he’d have won),” Preckwinkle said. “That says something about the way in which he served the people he was responsible for and their regard to him.”
Calumet City Mayor and State Rep. Thaddeus Jones (D-Calumet City) was among those paying tribute to Zuccarelli on Monday.
“He was my mentor, my friend, my brother,” Jones said. “The south suburbs lost a warrior. … He left a trail of service to others.”
Jones said one of his earliest political memories was of walking around his neighborhood as a 13-year-old, knocking on doors in support of Zuccarelli.
“Even though we had our battles, we understood each other,” Jones said. “We fought, but we came together not only for each other but for the people of Thornton Township.”
* Well said…
Frank Zuccarelli was a friend, and not just to me. He delighted in being a friend to many. His legacy reflects his life as he lived it: in service and friendship to the South Suburbs community and the students, families, and seniors who shape it.
According to Matt Dietrich, public information officer for the Illinois State Board of Elections, the township has 60 days to call a meeting and make an appointment. The board can appoint any qualified candidate that does not have a felony. They do not have to call a special election.
However the statute also states “if a vacancy exists in any township office and the vacancy is not filled within 60 days, the electors at a special township meeting may select a qualified person to fill the vacancy and to serve until the expiration of that term.”
During his most recent swearing in ceremony which took place in May, Zuccarelli said he respected the people he served and that it was important to always work for the community. At that time, he said he was not looking to retire anytime soon and had more work to do to help the Thornton Township community.
And the same is true in Peoria, Joliet and all over Illinois.
Our government should act that way too.
But for years in Illinois, they left bills unpaid, ruined our credit, and racked up over a billion dollars in interest penalties.
As Governor, I was determined to help fix the financial mess.
Now, Illinois is keeping its promises by passing real balanced budgets.
We’re cutting costs, paying bills on time and paying down our debt––saving taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars.
And our credit rating has been upgraded for the first time in twenty years.
We’re on the right track, and I’ll work every single day to keep it that way.
Because you deserve nothing less than a state that works as hard as you do.
*** UPDATE *** ILGOP…
As crime and COVID-19 surge across Illinois, Governor JB Pritzker’s focus is on politics, launching a new political ad that laughably tries to convince Illinois families “we’re on the right track.”
The new ad conveniently ignores three years of Pritzker/Madigan corruption and policies that are driving people out of Illinois in droves including:
• Claiming credit for paying bills while ignoring the massive federal bailout that rescued the state from years of Democratic mismanagement.
• Signing a disastrous crime bill that puts criminals onto the streets while tying the hands of law enforcement.
• Attempting to pass the largest tax hike in Illinois history, while committing to do it again.
• Breaking promises and partnering with Mike Madigan to keep insiders in control of Springfield.
“Not even a week into 2022, and JB Pritzker is already attempting to rewrite history hoping voters forget he signed a disastrous crime bill that lets criminals onto our streets, pushed for the largest tax hike in Illinois history and partnered with Mike Madigan to keep Springfield insiders in power,” said ILGOP Spokesperson Joe Hackler.
Illinois senior United States Senator Dick Durbin announced today his endorsement for Anna Valencia in the 2022 race for Illinois Secretary of State.
“Anna Valencia is ready to make history as the first woman to be elected as Illinois Secretary of State,” said Senator Durbin. “She is part of the newest generation of Democrats who are critical to our future in this state. In 2014, she worked tirelessly to ensure my re-election by uniting our party faithful with Democrats who were new to the party and just emerging. Anna is an exceptional candidate, and I trust her to effectively lead an office which touches all of our lives.”
“I am proud to have the support of Senator Dick Durbin in my campaign for Illinois Secretary of State,” said Anna Valencia. “Senator Durbin has worked hard to invest in the next generation of Democratic leaders and has always gone to bat for working families like my own. I was honored when he trusted me to run his re- election campaign back in 2014, and I am thrilled that he has once again put his faith and trust in me by endorsing me in this race.”
With Senator Durbin’s endorsement, Valencia now has the support of both U.S. Senators in her bid for Illinois Secretary of State.
In addition to the endorsements of Senator Durbin and Senator Tammy Duckworth, Valencia has built a strong statewide coalition of support, including Congresswoman Lauren Underwood, Associated Fire Fighters of Illinois (AFFI), Illinois Nurses Association - The Nurses Union (INA), Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers (BAC) Administrative District Council 1, International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT) Local 14 and Local 58, Illinois Association of Heat and Frost and Allied Workers Local 1, Unite Here Local 1, and other legislative, local elected, and community leaders from across the state.
More news on this open slot in a bit.
* Video…
🚨 ENDORSEMENT NEWS 🚨
I’m honored to have the resounding endorsement of Senator @DickDurbin in the race for IL Secretary of State!@SenatorDurbin has worked hard to invest in the next generation of Democratic leaders & has always gone to bat for working families like my own. pic.twitter.com/FKReQKfUpR
Durbin said in a campaign video he made, to be released Tuesday, that there are four “fine” Democrats running, but Valencia was “exceptional.”
Valencia managed Durbin’s reelection campaign in 2014, with Durbin entrusting his political future to a then-28-year-old.
Durbin said she worked “tirelessly” to ensure his win “by uniting our party faithful with Democrats who were new to the party and just emerging. Anna is an exceptional candidate, and I trust her to effectively lead an office which touches all of our lives.”
Duckworth already held two fundraisers for Valencia — August in Springfield and another in October in Chicago — and has called labor leaders on her behalf, Valencia’s spokesperson said.
Durbin will also be doing fundraising for Valencia.
