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They’re dropping like flies

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Illinois

* We’re getting close to a dozen state legislators who’ve announced that they’re not running for reelection or who have already resigned…

State Rep. Naomi Jakobsson, D-Urbana, announced Tuesday night that she will not run for a seventh term in 2014.

And Michael Richards, a Champaign County Board member who managed Jakobsson’s last two campaigns, said he hopes to succeed her in the Illinois House. […]

Richards followed Jakobsson’s email with his own, saying that Jakobsson had asked him to run for the seat representing the 103rd District, which includes almost all of Champaign and Urbana.

“Representative Jakobsson has asked me to run for state representative,” said Richards, a county board member from Champaign and a legislative liaison to the Illinois Emergency Management Agency. “Whomever wins this seat will have big shoes to fill.”

Other candidates in both parties are expected to announce as well.

There was a huge turnover in the first post remap election, but it appears that some legislators wanted to hold onto their respective seats for one more cycle before leaving.

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Sep 11, 13 @ 9:46 am

Comments

Kramer wants to be our state representative? I don’t think so.

Comment by Easy Wednesday, Sep 11, 13 @ 9:52 am
Oh, I think Michael Richards has bigger problems with his candidacy.

Comment by Just sayin' Wednesday, Sep 11, 13 @ 10:05 am
It’s my understanding at least 2 more suburban GOP members are going to leave as well. Pretty sure I know who, but not since I have not heard it from them not sharing right now.

Comment by Downstate GOP Faithless Wednesday, Sep 11, 13 @ 10:22 am
You might get a protest run in the dem primary from an Urbana Green or Socialist activist, but I would highly doubt any legit dem candidate would challenge Mike. He’s known there as the Champaign County political wizard and he’s already secured Naomi’s support. The only real question is if a legit republican candidate can be talked into running in the solid dem district ?

Comment by Big Debbie Wednesday, Sep 11, 13 @ 10:58 am
Sorry if this is a dumb question, but is Jakobsson plsnning to run for Frerich’s senate seat? I don’t recall if his term is a 2 or a 4, but assuming he wins, is she expected to go for it? I confess I don’t pay much attention to C-U Democratic politics, so if anybody can help me out, I’d appreciate it.

Comment by 47th Ward Wednesday, Sep 11, 13 @ 11:03 am
Mike has some pretty broad based support in the area and is very knowledgeable about how Springfield works. The district will be very well served by him.

Comment by Anons Wednesday, Sep 11, 13 @ 11:08 am
Frerichs has a 4-year term (hence, the flexibility to run for Treasurer), so his successor will have to be appointed by the Champaign & Vermilion Co. Dem Chairs, although Champaign would have the votes. So, Naomi is moving out, not up.

Naomi’s support is nice, but where is Frerichs on this?

I don’t think Naomi

Comment by Hyperbolic Chamber Wednesday, Sep 11, 13 @ 11:12 am
Frerichs’ seat isn’t up for election in 2014.
If he’s elected State Treasurer he will resign after the November election and prior to taking over the Treasurer’s office. The local Dems will then appoint a replacement. If he loses the Treasurer race, then he coninues on as State Senator.

Comment by train111 Wednesday, Sep 11, 13 @ 11:13 am
Not to minimize a DUI charge, but its not like Richards would be the first House member to get elected with one (Bill Mitchell, Ron Stephens, etc.). Unless there’s videotape of him saying “do you know who I am?” or some other part of the story of him using his influence to get out of it he’s probably fine with this being 2 years ago.

Maybe the House GOP oppo research can find a way to make something out of his old “Rocket” column in the Di.

Comment by hisgirlfriday Wednesday, Sep 11, 13 @ 11:14 am
Richards is a wanna be. I haven’t heard Jakobsson say those words. Only Richards promoting himself. Anons - I think you over-estimate the CU broad based support. There are many more qualified and acceptable candidates. But hey, it’s early.

Comment by InsideOutsider Wednesday, Sep 11, 13 @ 11:19 am
This huge turnover kinda underminds the term limit push. Pretty soon you’ll be able to count the number of House members who have been there more than five terms on both hands.

Comment by Frank Wednesday, Sep 11, 13 @ 11:43 am
==I would highly doubt any legit dem candidate would challenge Mike==

You mean like Kurtz taking the county board chair from him?

Comment by thechampaignlife Wednesday, Sep 11, 13 @ 12:10 pm
Richards couldn’t secure the county board chairmanship with a Dem majority so I wouldn’t say he’s a shoo-in for the nomination. A lot of Dems have been patiently waiting behind Naomi.

Comment by Former Downstater Wednesday, Sep 11, 13 @ 12:34 pm
I like Mike, but the ads write themselves. I’m not sure if the DUI or being on Quinn’s staff is a bigger negative.

HDems need to get a credible candidate before Jim Durkin talks Erica Harold into running, or they may lose the seat.

Comment by Assembly Hall Native Wednesday, Sep 11, 13 @ 12:38 pm
I like the part where it says Richards “managed Jakobosson’s last two campaigns”

Did she even have opponents in the last two races? Not exactly high profile contests there.

Comment by horse w/ no name Wednesday, Sep 11, 13 @ 12:49 pm
Assembly Hall Native:

HD 103

2010 Quinn 11725, Brady 7829

2012 Obama 23805, Romney 9947

The HGOP could nominate Jesus Christ himself, but unless the Dem is caught with $50 grand in his freezer, or in a compromising situation with a minor, the HGOP is totally wasting their time on this one!!

Comment by train111 Wednesday, Sep 11, 13 @ 1:02 pm
I don’t think Erika Harold can run this cycle. There’s a residency requirement and she hasn’t lived here long enough.

Comment by wayward Wednesday, Sep 11, 13 @ 1:05 pm
Imagine that! A huge turnover without term limits.

More than one third of the House has been there ess than four years. Where’s the evidence that most legislators stay for decades? Or that newcomers are more effective than veterans?

Comment by cicero Wednesday, Sep 11, 13 @ 1:46 pm
Run Rocket Run!

Comment by the217 Wednesday, Sep 11, 13 @ 1:49 pm
Rocket does have Naomi’s support. The interesting thing about the district, which did not change much in the 2010 redistricting, is that Naomi only won by 52-48 in her very first run. And that race was the biggest target in the state for both Dem and Rep. state parties in the election, becoming the most expensive IL House race in history up to that time. So it was not originally drawn as a safe Dem district, but has become more Democratic over the decade that Naomi has held it. It will be interesting to see if it remains so.

Comment by jake Wednesday, Sep 11, 13 @ 3:18 pm
===Naomi only won by 52-48 in her very first run===

53-47. Six points. Not all that close.

http://www.elections.il.gov/ElectionInformation/VoteTotalsList.aspx?ElectionType=GE&ElectionID=13&SearchType=OfficeSearch&OfficeID=1893&QueryType=Office&

Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Sep 11, 13 @ 3:22 pm
And that was against an incumbent.

Comment by Just sayin' Wednesday, Sep 11, 13 @ 3:48 pm
Richards would be an excellent legislator. He’s very policy-oriented and a diligent student of the nuts-and-bolts of government.

Comment by Dan Johnson Wednesday, Sep 11, 13 @ 4:00 pm
==Did she even have opponents in the last two races? Not exactly high profile contests there.==

Local restaurant owner Rob Meister ran against her last time and before that a photographer named Norm Davis ran against her. He had a bit of a spittle problem (or at least when I met him once he had a spittle problem that resulted in unnecessary wetness for me).

Comment by Precinct Captain Thursday, Sep 12, 13 @ 12:06 am
Is Julie Mirostraw going to manage Pat Devaney’s campaign?

Comment by Just sayin' Thursday, Sep 12, 13 @ 9:12 am