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* Will County Auditor Duffy Blackburn is kicking off his campaign for comptroller. The Democrat eventually hopes to challenge incumbent Judy Baar Topinka…
Blackburn, who is in his second term as Will County Auditor, plans to jump in with the help of U.S. Rep. Bill Foster, who is to serve as a co-chair on his campaign.
Blackburn, 35, of Joliet plans to officially announce on Thursday.
“I’m running for State Comptroller because I saw the need for a professional accounting watchdog to lead the state’s accounting office instead of a career politician,” Blackburn said in a statement released to the Sun-Times. “Illinois needs an accountant to manage its checkbook, clean up operations, and advocate fresh ideas for solving our state’s continuous financial problems—not pass the blame on to others. I look forward to traveling the state to discuss with voters how we can solve our financial crisis and move Illinois forward.”
For her part, Topinka is definitely in for another run.
* Blackburn’s campaign was eager last night to let y’all have the first look at his announcement video. I forgot about it earlier this morning. Oops. But here it is…
Rate it.
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 11:28 am
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VOTE FOR DUFFY! Impressive guy, horrible but easy to remember name.
Comment by Rahm's Parking Meter Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 11:36 am
Duffy Blackburn! Now that’s a name to remember. It has to be right out of the “Preppy Handbook.” Does anyone remember who ran against Lisa Madigan a few years ago? Naaaa. No one will remember Duffy Blackburn either - except that name is so darn cute.
Comment by in absentia Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 11:42 am
It seems to be a pretty professional video. He comes across as a likeable guy. A bit green, but likeable enough.
Comment by Raising Kane Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 11:44 am
He’s been making the rounds and talking/meeting with Dems far afield from Will Co. Keep an eye on him. Smart guy.
Comment by A. Nonymous Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 11:51 am
He is a wanna be with no $$$. He won’t be the candidate
Comment by blogman Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 11:57 am
Topinka isn’t the Lisa Madigan of the Republican Party– far from it. This is a great ad. He’s definitely not a politician–which given what’s going on in Springfield isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
Comment by 47thWarder Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 11:59 am
JBT is a terrific Comptroller, and having some GOP presence in a deep blue state is healthy for partisan checks and balances. Duffy will have a hard time convincing folks there is a need for change.
Comment by Anon Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 12:07 pm
The glasses make it.
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 12:14 pm
Let’s do the math - He reported $33k and has not reported any large contributions since then. JBT reported $685k with almost $30k in contributions since then. In order to label someone who has been around as long as Judy Baar Topinka, he’s either going to have to cut into her downstate or blast her off the face of the planet on network TV. Neither is going to happen
Comment by Crazy Like A Fox Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 12:15 pm
Duffy Blackburn, CPA ?
Comment by siriusly Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 12:21 pm
JBT is unbeatable. Seems like a nice fellow and somebody’s gotta do this dirty job. You could reverse the dollars and have JBT with $33K and the other guy $685K and it is still JBT.
Comment by MrGrassroots Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 12:22 pm
He is 35 and has been elected county wide for 5 years, pretty sure that makes him a politician. JBT may be no Lisa Madigan but who ran against Jesse White last time? Actually, how many people even know who ran against JBT or even Rutherford last time, very few.
I don’t doubt that he is a smart guy but . . .the opportunity isn’t there.
Comment by Why? Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 12:25 pm
David Miller ran against JBT last time and I wouldn’t expect you to known that. Robin Kelly ran against Rutherford, but obviously learned a lot from that campaign. Might be good experience for the young man to try this.
Comment by MrGrassroots Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 12:36 pm
=== He is a wanna be with no $$$. He won’t be the candidate ===
I don’t think its going to be a vicious primary. I don’t think entrenched Dem incumbents are going to be giving up their seats to run against JBT.
Comment by Just Observing Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 12:47 pm
It is refreshing to see someone besides an entrenched politican running for statewide office. As a swing voter I see his collar county appeal and why he has won countywide office twice in Will County.
The collar counties and suburban Cook county are where general elections are won and Mr. Blackburn has the appeal to win those areas.
I for one find him refreshing and very appealing with the mess the state is currently in right now.
Comment by Swing Voter Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 1:04 pm
There is a school of thought that says JBT is the Democrats preferred Comptroller so she can take the hit for the incredibly expensive fix that is coming to address the State’s inability to produce a timely CAFR. The FY 2012 CAFR was released today, 1 week before the end of FY 2013.
http://www.auditor.illinois.gov/Audit-Reports/Compliance-Agency-List/Comptroller/Comp-Int-Cont-Compliance/FY12-Comptroller-Fin-Stmt-%28CAFR%29-Fin-Digest.pdf
http://www2.illinois.gov/gov/Pages/FAS-Modernization.aspx
Comment by Anyone Remember? Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 1:12 pm
Anyone Remember, you know that the General Assembly extended lapse period 6 months, right? After Lapse period is over, the Auditor General audits and THEN the Cafr comes out. Trying to act like that is JBT’s fault just makes you look ignorant.
Comment by Raising Kane Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 1:47 pm
@swing voter How long does one have to be in office before they become “entrenched”? How much more than 5 years? As a downstate voter I can’t see his mysterious “collar county appeal”, is it his name, his glasses? what about him gives him a uniquely “collar county appeal”? What issue does he espouse that plays that Siren song to y’all?
To the post. Its a good effort by a skilled young(er) politician, who will need a TON of cash to communicate his “collar county appeal” especially over a woman who’s been “collar county appealing” for decades.
Comment by In the know Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 1:51 pm
Raising Kane is correct. AR, take off your tinfoil hat.
Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 1:52 pm
Who’s got beef with JBT? And I ask that as a dyed-in-the-wool Democrat. If every Republican was like JBT, Dems would be in big trouble. The race might provide an opportunity for Mr. Blackburn to increase his name recognition for another race in the future, but beyond that he’s going to have a rough time.
Comment by Chi Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 1:55 pm
I really like JBT, but Duffy is a good candidate. Elected in Will County with collar county appeal. Even if he isn’t able to beat her, a good showing will mean good things in the future for him. In 06, Rutherford ran against Jesse White (who is much more popular than JBT) got 34% and was able to recover and win the Treasurer’s office four years later. Duffy is no Stephen Kim.
Comment by k3 Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 2:14 pm
===Duffy is no Stephen Kim. ===
Easy to say, tougher to prove.
Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 2:16 pm
go for it. get her deep in the weeds on fiscal policy and she’s really not that with it.
Comment by Amalia Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 2:31 pm
Good for Doogie Hows…, um, Duffy Blackburn. Seems like a nice kid to me and if he does this campaign right, he could have a bright future regardless of whether he wins in 2014. Judy will be tough to beat, but strange things can happen and I’m glad to see some new blood in the party instead of the usual suspects tossing their names into the hat.
This is one way to develop your bench. We’ll see what the kid is made of, but it takes a lot of guts to step up and run statewide these days and he’s got some. That will take you pretty far in politics.
Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 2:40 pm
JBT has more friends in Labor than most Dems. Great civics lesson for Duffy. Very difficult race for him.
Comment by Rolo Tomassi II Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 3:42 pm
@ IN the Know
Not many Democrats are elected county wide in the collars counties so there must be some appeal.
I think if Duffy can get money behind him and bring labor back home Judy is in trouble. He doesn’t need to out raise her just raise enough to beat her.
Their records contrast in his favor. He cut his own office budget, while Judy collects 2 pensions on top of her salary while budgets for education and other budgets get slashed.
Seems like she is just phoning it in at this point and we need someone in that office to put in the work to get Illinois’ house in order.
But we will see what he is made of in the next year.
Comment by Swing Voter Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 3:52 pm
Swing Voter….let go of the crazy. JBT does not collect any pensions. She suspended her pension when she came back to the state. Her sole income is her state salary.
Comment by For the Record Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 4:42 pm
This guy is no slouch. I would say if there was a county that is microcosm of Illinois its Will County. This guy has come up in Wilco so he has dealt with surnames that would immediately follow Madigan and Daley on a list of influential families in Illinois. Should be interesting to say the least.
Comment by Come on man! Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 4:48 pm
The dimple in his tie is way off center and, thus, distracting. Otherwise, a decent intro video.
Comment by Raymond Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 4:54 pm
**This guy has come up in Wilco**
Wait… he was in Wilco?!?!
Comment by dave Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 6:27 pm
@ for the record
I haven’t made up my mind quite yet if I will for Jbt or the new kid Duffy.
What gives me pause about Judy Is that she collected a $141,000 pension from 2006-2010 at least. This is from the conservative blog red state which I am an avid reader.
Is that crazy by the record? That is a fact. Can you even prove judy is still not collecting her not one but 2 pensions? I am a fiscal conservative and generally vote republican but Judy has taken advantage of the pension system as much as anyone which makes me sick as a tax payer.
Duffy is a Democrat but from what I read he has cut his own budget which is unheard of in government.
So “for the record” / more then likely topinka hack posting for their boss operative, my question to you is what has Jbt done in her 30 plus year political career to show any form of fiscal responsibility.
The answer is nothing and in fact she has taken advantage of the system like every other politician, hense why I am leaning towards the kid unless Jbt actually does something worth while besides knowing how to play the accordion.
Comment by Swing Voter Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 10:50 pm
So he pronounced Comptroller incorrectly…
Comment by Mike Friday, Jun 21, 13 @ 12:23 am
Swing Voter, this really isn’t a difficult concept: when she was out of office, she received a pension. Now that she is back in office she does not. And where did you ome up with 2 pensions?
Not sure how I prove that to you, but I assume you can call the pension system to verify.
I get your a Duffy person and that is certainly your right. Misleading readers and making up nonsense is not.
Comment by For the Record Friday, Jun 21, 13 @ 6:08 am
I think JBT has done a commendable job. Her web site has all the information on spending in Illinois you ever need. What else do you want from a comptroller?
Comment by Friedman Friday, Jun 21, 13 @ 7:08 am
JBT loves dogs and harleys…. she can not be unseated.
That is all.
Comment by Ghost Friday, Jun 21, 13 @ 8:22 am
JBT tells the whole truth. She is remarkable in that practice. She’s got this Dem’s vote.
Comment by Anonymous Friday, Jun 21, 13 @ 9:33 am
Illinois needs to see more of Duffy!
Comment by Ace Friday, Jun 21, 13 @ 10:05 am