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Doyle wants in, McCarter is out

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* Add former state agriculture director Becky Doyle to the list of wannabe appointees in the 13th Congressional District…

Doyle, 58, spent eight years as state agriculture director during Gov. Jim Edgar’s administration. She now is a consultant with The Context Network, which is based in Iowa. She and her husband, Ken, also are pork producers near Gillespie.

Doyle did fundraising and government relations for the United Nations World Food Program from 2001-2005. She was based in Rome.

* I’m also hearing that Chairman Parrott is very enthused about former Miss America Erika Harold as a candidate…

McLean County Republican Chairman John Parrott, one of the 14 chairmen in counties in the new 13th who will pick Johnson’s successor on the ballot, said he met Harold at a Republican event in Champaign last week.

“I think she’s an incredible candidate, extremely articulate,” Parrott said. He said she has a “great resume.”

“I think she’s an extremely viable candidate,” Parrott said, adding that he’s not yet casting a ballot. “One of the things that I think the Republican Party needs is a minority, conservative lady to be a part of the congressional delegation.” Harold is black.

* And state Sen. Kyle McCarter is out of the running…

But another Republican who had considered seeking the nomination, state Sen. Kyle McCarter of Lebanon, decided against it and said Monday he would run for reelection to his Senate seat.

McCarter had asserted last week that Johnson’s retirement was manipulated to help his former chief of staff, Jerry Clarke of Urbana, become the GOP choice.

“You know what’s really insulting about this? It didn’t just happen,” McCarter charged. “There was talk of this happening a year ago, and it’s a real insult to the people. Like I said, their vote was taken away from them.”

* Could there also be an independent candidate? Maybe…

John Hartman of Edwardsville, the chief financial officer of a St. Louis medical technology firm, is collecting signatures to run as an independent candidate in the 13th Congressional District that stretches from Champaign-Urbana on the northeast to Madison County on the southwest. […]

Hartman, 56, will need the signatures of at least 5,000 registered voters in the district by June 25 in order to get on the November general election ballot.

“I think I can do it. I’ve been working pretty hard,” he said. “I ask stores where there is foot traffic if they will let me courteously ask their customers for a signature. And I stand on the public sidewalks in front of post offices.”

He said he has been all over the district, including in Champaign County, in search of signatures. “I spent a good day in Champaign about 10 days ago,” he said.

* Related…

* ADDING: House freshmen: Bring back earmarks

* 11th Congressional District cash race neck-and-neck: Biggert has raised nearly $1.3 million and has $1.22 million cash on hand. Foster has raised $1.23 million and has just under $1 million cash on hand.

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Apr 24, 12 @ 11:22 am

Comments

Didn’t someone in DC catch a lot of flak for calling Obama ‘articulate?’ And then he has to call her a lady besides. That is one of the more clueless things I’ve read lately.

Comment by Cheryl44 Tuesday, Apr 24, 12 @ 11:32 am
I have put together a web/blog site at www.illinois13.com that offers key articles, my commentary, and some inside analysis on this race. McCarter was my number one choice. Now it is Senator McCann, but I think he will also pass. I’d like to see Retired Senator Duane Noland put his name forward. I will have commentary on Harold and Doyle at the end of the night.

Comment by Jon Zahm Tuesday, Apr 24, 12 @ 12:18 pm
McCarter is attacking his own party for being crooks? Wow! This guy is out of control.

Comment by BuckStar Tuesday, Apr 24, 12 @ 12:27 pm
Wow - Kyle McCarter flew off the handle with a conspiracy theory that later turned out to be bogus. Gee, what were the odds of that happening!

Comment by Chicago Cynic Tuesday, Apr 24, 12 @ 12:30 pm
–Didn’t someone in DC catch a lot of flak for calling Obama ‘articulate?–

“…articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy.”

If being selected as the vice-presidential nominee is catching flak, then yes, Smilin’ Joe Biden caught some flak.

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Apr 24, 12 @ 12:30 pm
Kyle McCarter is more of a result of TEA Party anger and Adam A.’s late entry into politics than substance and hard work. He’s not a pleasant person, either. It’s a real shame John O. didn’t round up enough valid signatures and get a good shot at taking McCarter out in the primary. If McCarter was that concerned about the possibility of Tim Johnson quitting on purpose, he should’ve run for Congress instead of reelection to the State Senate.

Becky Doyle is an odd choice, although she’s a small business owner who obviously understands one of the major industries of the new 13th CD. I still think Erika Harold is an interesting candidate and perhaps the best choice given that she is a total 180 from the other announced candidates.

Comment by Team Sleep Tuesday, Apr 24, 12 @ 12:44 pm
You nailed it Sleep!

Comment by Chicago Cynic Tuesday, Apr 24, 12 @ 12:51 pm
Biden’s quote:
“I mean, you got the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy,” Biden said. “I mean, that’s a storybook, man.”

So no, it has no relationship to the Parrott quote. articulate and bright didn’t create the ruckus. What created it was when he said “first”, (think what JJ thought) and when he said “clean”

But nice attempt wordslinger.

Comment by 13th Voter Tuesday, Apr 24, 12 @ 2:24 pm
If McCarter is concerned about the Johnson situation, did he speak up when Emil Jones committed his egregious act?

As for Doyle and Harold, I’m leery of those have already been entrenched in the system. Harold’s credentials sound excellent to me.

Comment by BMAN Tuesday, Apr 24, 12 @ 3:16 pm
McCarter is speaking truth to power here just as he did with the inside dealing Jacobs family on the Com Ed legislation. The clock is running out on this ill-advised Clarke campaign. He needs to go back to the 14th District and try to earn the absurd $14,000 a month he is charging the taxpayers for his services as “Chief of Staff”

Comment by Jon Zahm Tuesday, Apr 24, 12 @ 10:25 pm