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* Sheila Simon has put together a video for the Democratic state central committee as they ponder whom to pick for lt. governor. Have a look…
Simon has not yet submitted her former application to the state party, or the party hasn’t yet posted it. Rep. Art Turner told me yesterday that he’ll file his application today.
* They’re really coming out of the woodwork, man…
A criminal defense attorney who represented former Cicero Town President Betty Loren-Maltese has joined the growing list of Democrats who want to succeed Scott Lee Cohen as the party’s lieutenant governor candidate.
Another 25 political newcomers submitted their names to the state Democratic Party, bringing the total to 69. Two potential candidates who submitted their names already have dropped out of consideration.
Among the names posted today at ildems.com is Leonard Goodman, who represented Loren-Maltese during the appeals process following her conviction on racketeering, conspiracy and fraud charges.
Another would-be running mate for Quinn is a 25-year-old from Chicago who says one of his strengths is that he “did not vote for Rod Blagojevich in 2006.”
The list of amateurs is like shooting fish in a barrel for the media…
Given their lack of political experience, applicants were creative in describing what strengths they would add to the Democratic ticket. One suburban Chicago man listed his ” Jamaican wife and three kids” among his strengths, while a self-professed independent listed his “ability to create an organization of farmers, hunters and wizards that will zoom with innovative solutions.”
Wizards?
Papers are also looking for local angles…
As of Wednesday, two Springfield-area residents were among the more than 70 people who applied online to become the Democratic nominee for Illinois lieutenant governor.
They are:
Daniel Hoffman Sr., 70, of Springfield. Hoffman said in his online application that he is a Native American who used to work for the Sangamon County sheriff.
“I think I would make a good candidate for lieutenant governor because I have never been a person to kiss butt and have always put the American people first,” he wrote.
– Shannon Kelly, 38, of Williamsville. Kelly is a correctional officer at Logan Correctional Center and has been active in his union there. On his application, he wrote that good promotion of the state’s history will continue to spur tourism, and he called President Obama, who announced for the office in Springfield, the state’s greatest public relations asset.
* While they’re at it, maybe the central committee can convince Quinn to listen to his bodyguards…
Sneed hears State Police are suffering from a case of the jitters over Gov. Quinn’s driving habits.
• Explanation: Contrary to his predecessors, Quinn either drives himself or insists on being driven by his trusty aide/sidekick, Lou Bertuca.
• Translation: “The troopers are worried” said a police source. “They are in a tail car, but not in the front seat.”
• Upshot: The governor insists on a certain amount of independence . . . and feels he gets a lot of work done traveling with Bertuca, who is also entrusted with Quinn’s ancient briefcase, “Betsy.”
* And GOP LG nominee Jason Plummer envisions a huge quasi-legislative role for himself…
Plummer said the office of lieutenant governor is underused, and he would seek to take on greater responsibilities in the role.
“I’m going to elevate the office,” Plummer said. “It’s an underutilized asset.”
Plummer said he would also seek to reform the state’s worker’s compensation and tort situations in an effort to craft business-friendly policy.
Plummer was on WBBM’s At Issue program last weekend. Listen here.
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Mar 4, 10 @ 11:16 am
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Brady is going to use the surplus to pay down the deficit, Plummer is going to make the WC laws more business friendly.
Where do I get a Whitney bumper sticker!
Comment by Irish Thursday, Mar 4, 10 @ 11:25 am
OK Re: Wizardry. Something tells me there is a thick smell of weed and Bob Marley playing in the background as he applied. Which, by the way, shouldn’t disqualify him, considering Illinois government.
Comment by You Go Boy Thursday, Mar 4, 10 @ 11:26 am
=== “It’s an underutilized asset.” ====
translation, there is no need for the office or its expense, so i am going to try and make up work to justify the salary and budgte if i get the job.
brady could campaign on that: “Working to keep millions of dollars in play supporting an uneeded office.”
Comment by Ghost Thursday, Mar 4, 10 @ 11:26 am
Frank Annunzio has applied.
Comment by Don't Worry, Be Happy Thursday, Mar 4, 10 @ 11:28 am
It’s good that Plummer used actual words in his quote from WBBM. In his interview last week on Chicago TV, his speach was relegated to a series of squeaks, clicks, and grunts like a the cavemen of yore. The 30 seconds of empty air while his face contorts in search of the words he was seeking is a stand-alone campaign commercial. Just think of a narrator saying: “So, Jason, how would you balance the budget without a tax increase?”, then just cut to his speachless face…
Comment by unspun Thursday, Mar 4, 10 @ 11:30 am
===Plummer said he would also seek to reform the state’s worker’s compensation and tort situations in an effort to craft business-friendly policy.===
And I was accused of creating strawmen last week by suggesting the implication of the phrase “business friendly environment” would be bad for workers and consumers.
It’s nice to be vindicated.
Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, Mar 4, 10 @ 11:36 am
I like the Shelia video. would have like it better if she did a closing statement….needed to see more of her….but the very down home quality of the people who know her is just what we need in an era of slick nonsense. Not certain that she is the right pick, but virtually all of those mentioned so far would not be as good as Sheila. I want my party to remember that there is a part of Illinois outside of the chicago media market.
Comment by Amalia Thursday, Mar 4, 10 @ 11:42 am
This is starting to feel like the same process that the Republicans used to slate Alan Keyes for US Senate. One word. Circus.
Comment by Finger Pointing Thursday, Mar 4, 10 @ 11:43 am
I didn’t watch the Sheila Simon video because I don’t care what she thinks. If you lose your local mayoral election - IMHO it disqualifies you from being slated statewide. Win an election first people - then ask to be LG. Win. An election. Election. Win. Win.
(think Amy Poehler as you read it)
I did just watch yesterday’s videos of Sullivan, Ikenberry and $enator $andoval.
Note to Rich: your interns who asked the questions in those videos did a great job. Are they aspiring journalists? Did you train them?
Really - keep up the good work guys.
Comment by siriusly Thursday, Mar 4, 10 @ 11:44 am
=== Win an election first people - then ask to be LG.===
She did win election to the city council. I mean, it ain’t mayor, but it’s “an” election.
Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Mar 4, 10 @ 11:45 am
Sheila’s video was DULL DULL DULL. Very sad.
Comment by Paul Simon Fan Thursday, Mar 4, 10 @ 11:46 am
The application process is a joke. There’s a very…ILGOP-ish quality to it. It almost makes one feel like the office should be eliminated altogether…hey…
Comment by JonShibleyFan Thursday, Mar 4, 10 @ 11:49 am
Well, that changes everything. Book me a seat on the bandwagon!
But to everyone else - seriously. I’m not against outsiders in principle, but if you’re trying to get a party appointment - at least show you have SOME electoral and political value.
Comment by siriusly Thursday, Mar 4, 10 @ 11:54 am
Does he store his Super 8 card in Betsy?
Inquiring minds want to know.
Comment by Jake from Elwood Thursday, Mar 4, 10 @ 11:59 am
What is the point?
We’re in such a bad situation that the only thing Governor Quinn can do is some kind of “American Idol” Lt. Governor contest?
Look at Plummer. See him? He is the Poster Child, (who is actually a child), as to why we don’t need the Lt. Governor’s office.
“Underutilized?” - try never used.
Comment by VanillaMan Thursday, Mar 4, 10 @ 12:00 pm
Any mention by Plummer of the lawsuit against his company for the reataliatory firing of en employee for filing a worker’s comp claim after being injured on the job?
http://tinyurl.com/yfcd33a
This guy is the gift that keeps on giving.
Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Thursday, Mar 4, 10 @ 12:01 pm
Plummer is too stupid to know that he can’t carve out any responsibilities himself. The Governor can give a Lt Gov as much or as little responsibility as the Gov wants. If his plans for tort reform are even slightly different from the Governor’s, no one will listen to him and the Gov will stop dealing with the loose cannon. Plummer is way too green, and that doesn’t mean environmental concern.
Comment by Montecore Thursday, Mar 4, 10 @ 12:02 pm
For all of the caffeine sitting in front of Sheila’s friends, they all seem downright sleepy….
Comment by Mountain Man Thursday, Mar 4, 10 @ 12:03 pm
finger pointer, i agree with you on the circus feel to the il dems and their search for a lt gov. art turner balances a ball on his nose. clown cars speeding around in circles with all the rest of dem lt gov hopefulls being the clowns inside the cars. mike madigan in a ringmaster costume. quinn in a men’s leotard walking the highwire trying to maintain his balance and not stumble (anymore). the elephants are the 38 members of the dem central comittee (sorry guys, no donkeys in a circus).
Comment by Will County Woman Thursday, Mar 4, 10 @ 12:18 pm
The judgment alone that that video was a good idea should disqualify Simon from consideration.
Comment by David Ormsby Thursday, Mar 4, 10 @ 12:20 pm
Can I be the first to ask BobthBuilder and his pet rock what the elavated LG Office will do?
Specifics
BTW WC/UC is handled through the Agreed Bill Process which is supported by BIZ and LAbor does the boy wonder plan to abolish Is IMA on board?
Hate when We have to ask the questions the media fails to ask or report
Comment by CircularFiringSquad Thursday, Mar 4, 10 @ 12:34 pm
Sheila Simon…….Paul’s daughter. Meh, whatever, she would be as good as any.
Comment by Moving to Oklahoma Thursday, Mar 4, 10 @ 12:53 pm
Not to be unkind about Shelia Simon, I am sure she is a nice person but she lost the Mayor’s race to a guy (Brad cole) who got trounced by that goofball Jason Plummer. When you connect the dots, it doesnt seem that appealing.
Comment by raising kane Thursday, Mar 4, 10 @ 1:11 pm
How about Alan Keyes for democrat LT Gov. Somehow in Illinois 2010 political year it doesn’t sound all that bizarre.
Comment by downstate hack Thursday, Mar 4, 10 @ 1:22 pm
If she does another video perhaps they should be drinking espresso or at least not drinking decaf. Also I would add some explosions but that is just me.
Seriously if she was someone who had done one term in the city counsel who was not a ‘name’ this would be a bit of a joke.
Comment by OneMan Thursday, Mar 4, 10 @ 1:25 pm
create an organization of farmers, hunters and wizards that will zoom with innovative solutions
Accio miraculum!
We sure need one…..
Comment by Pat Collins Thursday, Mar 4, 10 @ 1:38 pm
So Sheila’s dad was a fondly regard politiican, so we are supposed to fall all over ourselves? Sheesh.
Comment by yety Thursday, Mar 4, 10 @ 1:50 pm
Sheila is a great person, but she’s not a great politician. The fact that she couldn’t win a mayoral race in Carbondale, a college town with a significant percentage democrat vote, with her name recognition, speaks volumes.
Comment by Anon Thursday, Mar 4, 10 @ 2:23 pm
There are lots of great people in this state, doesn’t mean they should be Lt. Governor.
Comment by OneMan Thursday, Mar 4, 10 @ 2:30 pm
My husband is looking for work… maybe I should encourage him to apply for LG, even though he hasn’t been registered to vote for years (doesn’t think it’s worth the bother since “they’re all crooks”) and if he did vote, he probably wouldn’t vote Democrat. But heck, that makes him the perfect “outsider,” doesn’t it?
Comment by Secret Square Thursday, Mar 4, 10 @ 2:33 pm
I wish the “eliminate the Lt Gov.” crowd would address a very important issue and that is, what are the ramifications when the Gov and the AG are from different parties and the ouster of the Gov can benefit members of a different party. Moreover, should a person have subpoena power and investigatory power over the person who stands in his or her way to the highest office in the land.
Would the Illinois General Assembly have removed Blago if the Attorney Gen was a Republican, say Jim Ryan or Joe Birkett? Hate to sound cynical, but noooooooooooooo way would he have been removed and so much power transfered to a different party. And, what would have been the effect if the Republican Senate, in considering the removal of Bill Clinton, would have had the Republican Speaker of the House, Newt Gingrich instead of VP Al Gore, if the President was removed? Same outcome? Do you think a vote to remove a Dem Pres. to replace him with a GOP Speaker would not have touched off an extremely bitter fight in America?
The office is not irrelevant, it is a constitutional vehicle to avoid very real problems created by the very alternative Madigan now seeks.
Finally, what would happen in Illinois if Speaker Madigan initiated empeachment proceedings against Gov Brady, that if successful, would lead to his daughter becoming Gov.? Think about it.
Comment by Cousin Ralph Thursday, Mar 4, 10 @ 2:44 pm
Circular Firing Squad, your code is becoming almost indecipherable. Dude, you don’t have to try so hard to be weird!
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Mar 4, 10 @ 4:39 pm
I agree with Ormsby, the thought process that led to creation of that video suggests she is unsuited for the position. Next…
Comment by politicalady Thursday, Mar 4, 10 @ 7:48 pm
Quinn drives himself around? Without a current Lite Gov, whom is currently next in line? What does it continue to say about Quinns judgment that he would travel without the troopers in todays world. Maybe the Lite Gov is a job with upward mobility.
Comment by anonyMiss Thursday, Mar 4, 10 @ 8:06 pm