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*** UPDATE *** Comptroller candidate Sheila Simon is an IEA member, but the IEA wound up endorsing incumbent Republican Judy Baar Topinka.
* No surprise, considering its alternative. From a press release…
The Illinois Education Association (IEA), made up of 130,000 teachers, school support professionals and other education employees and retirees, says Quinn is the only candidate for governor who will fight for public schools statewide and work to make sure every student has the resources needed to succeed in school.
The unanimous decision by the IEA Board of Directors to support Gov. Quinn, a Democrat, over Republican challenger Bruce Rauner, came after a panel of IEA members interviewed both candidates.
IEA has supported candidates for governor from both major political parties in the past, recommending Republicans for the office of governor in five of the last nine elections.
* In other endorsement news…
In his bid for governor, Republican Bruce Rauner is announcing all sorts of new coalitions of late including Tuesday’s roll out of the Women for Rauner coalition that includes the wife of his top donor and the running mate of his main primary opponent.
Anne Dias Griffin, the founder and Managing Partner of Aragon Global Management, was listed among the women who are part of the Women for Rauner coalition. On Sunday, the campaign announced a Latino coalition anchored by Rauner running mate Evelyn Sanguinetti. Griffin’s husband, Ken Griffin, is Rauner’s biggest donor, having given more than $3.5 million in cash and in-kind contributions.
Also part of the women coalition is state Rep. Jil Tracy, R-Quincy, who ran against Rauner as Kirk Dillard’s running mate in a bitter primary battle.
Also no surprise. More from Rauner’s list…
Sugar Rautbord – Best-selling novelist, senior writer for Huffington Post, Founder and President of Sugar Rautbord Public Relations Inc.
I have never met Chicago’s leading socialite, but, man, do I ever love her name.
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Jul 2, 14 @ 11:25 am
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Her birth name is Donna Louise Kaplan.
Comment by Responsa Wednesday, Jul 2, 14 @ 11:28 am
I once had dinner with Sugar. Memorable.
Comment by Soccermom Wednesday, Jul 2, 14 @ 11:29 am
Bad week for Rauner, but not surprising the IEA endorsement.
I look forward to
“Republicans for Rauner” next, since Raunerites have courted Dems, Indies, Amigos, Women…
…just not any GOP support that doesn’t look contrived …
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Jul 2, 14 @ 11:31 am
Sugar is a hoot
Loved the story trying to make Princess Di at ReBoot was just joining up. Guess we don’t count Mr. ReBoot loaning the plane or the $2.5 million
Funniest name was LuLu who has now made her second Mitt Rauner list
Comment by CirularFiringSquad Wednesday, Jul 2, 14 @ 11:33 am
Rich People For Rauner. No surprise.
Comment by Aldyth Wednesday, Jul 2, 14 @ 11:33 am
There must be something wrong here, the griffins are major donors to BOTH Rauner AND Rahm?! A real city deserves a real mayor! Williamjkellyforchicago.com
Comment by William j Kelly Wednesday, Jul 2, 14 @ 11:34 am
“Binders full of women.”
Meh. Vaguely creepy.
Comment by Frenchie Mendoza Wednesday, Jul 2, 14 @ 11:34 am
They had no choice.
Comment by Federalist Wednesday, Jul 2, 14 @ 11:35 am
With the Griffins major backing of Rauner - Reboot Illinois should disclose the publication’s interest in advocating for Rauner. They will argue that they are objective but the are about as objective as IPI - another group that has gotten significant Rauner dough. For that matter, We Ask America should disclose IMA Presiden Greg Baise’s partnership with Ron Gidwitz and his involvement in GIdwitz’ super PAC. This is all very incestuous. Frankly, We Ask America polls for that reason should not be the main polls news outlets lean on.
Comment by anon Wednesday, Jul 2, 14 @ 11:36 am
===Her birth name is Donna Louise Kaplan. ===
Responsa, you must come from old money.
lol
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Jul 2, 14 @ 11:37 am
“Chicago’s leading socialite” endorsed Rauner? That changes everything!
Comment by Northsider Wednesday, Jul 2, 14 @ 11:38 am
===Frankly, We Ask America polls for that reason should not be the main polls news outlets lean on. ===
Numbers are numbers.
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Jul 2, 14 @ 11:42 am
=A real city deserves a real mayor! Williamjkellyforchicago.com=
That’s a hoot. I would be giving you credit if I said you were a dog chasing a bumper on a car in your quest for Mayor of Chicago. You’re more like the flea on the back of the dog chasing the bumper. You’d be better served running for “Mayor of Western Ave”.
Comment by Knome Sane Wednesday, Jul 2, 14 @ 11:42 am
A coalition of the salivating, rabidly rich bridging the gender barrier.
Wealth is a great uniter. It’s nice.
But, no, Rauner is not out of the touch with the average Illinoisan.
Comment by Frenchie Mendoza Wednesday, Jul 2, 14 @ 11:44 am
If the IEA would have jumped in earlier for Dillard, they might be making second endorsement of him.
If they’ll knock on doors for Quinn in the suburbs and Downstate, this is big news for him
Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Jul 2, 14 @ 11:44 am
==Responsa, you must come from old money. lol==
Nope Rich, just pointing out that anybody can manufacture a cool name!
Comment by Responsa Wednesday, Jul 2, 14 @ 11:55 am
Numbers may be numbers. But the kinds of questions that are asked and the people that they are asked to skew those numbers. I feel better that capitol fax is involved in the process with some of these polls - but I wish you’d find a more objective counterpart.
Comment by anon Wednesday, Jul 2, 14 @ 12:01 pm
Sugar Rautbord — a socialite legend in her own mind and that of Michael Sneed. Her pulp fiction works can be purchased for as little as one penny per book (used) or one dollar (new), according to Amazon.
LOL
Comment by Upon Further Review Wednesday, Jul 2, 14 @ 12:09 pm
Titles of Rautbord’s literary opuses: “Girls in High Places,” “Sweet Revenge” and “Chameleon.”
Comment by Upon Further Review Wednesday, Jul 2, 14 @ 12:14 pm
I’ve met Sugar a few times. I always walk away laughing. Not because she’s particularly funny - she’s not. But because she’s somehow made a life out of being a “sociaLITE” name dropper with emphasis on the word LITE. Oy.
Comment by Chicago Cynic Wednesday, Jul 2, 14 @ 12:24 pm
Just how does one become a Socialite? Is being a socialite sort of like Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart’s definition of pornography - “I know it when I see it”? Would love an actual explanation someday.
Comment by Stones Wednesday, Jul 2, 14 @ 12:27 pm
IEA backing Quinn is a bit of a surprise now. Right before a holiday weekend. The actual endorsement is no surprise. I contend, will it amount to votes? Getting your teachers out to vote for D-Lard and business as usual. And getting them out for a guy who cut their benefits..PQ and the rhetoric of Rauner… Depending what happens by the courts if anything before November… The teachers union could be a liability to the average struggling voter. People know who caused the problem of under funding pensions mostly by kicking the can… But the blame will fall to the teachers possibly…
Comment by Walter Mitty Wednesday, Jul 2, 14 @ 12:30 pm
===Comptroller candidate Sheila Simon is an IEA member, but the IEA wound up endorsing incumbent Republican Judy Baar Topinka.===
@FakeSheilaSimon - attention all organizations I belong to; let me know you are going to endorse Comptroller Topinka over me so I don’t have to read about it. #ButImOneOfYou
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Jul 2, 14 @ 12:33 pm
@ Stones: You become a “socialite” when Mike Sneed declares on your birthday that you are “ageless, priceless, and sometimes useless”. Then you all make your way to Chicago Cut Steakhouse for your coronation.
Comment by Knome Sane Wednesday, Jul 2, 14 @ 12:34 pm
Good news for Judy.
Comment by Norseman Wednesday, Jul 2, 14 @ 12:35 pm
==- Stones - Wednesday, Jul 2, 14 @ 12:27 pm:
Just how does one become a Socialite? Is being a socialite sort of like Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart’s definition of pornography - “I know it when I see it”? Would love an actual explanation someday.==
A socialite is the one throwing/attending the parties you aren’t invited to
Comment by So. ILL Wednesday, Jul 2, 14 @ 12:50 pm
Sheila, did you ever have a party and nobody came?
Think of your run for office as the equivalent.
Comment by Wensicia Wednesday, Jul 2, 14 @ 12:55 pm
* So. ILL *
It doesn’t sound like a party I would WANT to attend!
Comment by Stones Wednesday, Jul 2, 14 @ 1:22 pm
@FakeSheilaSimon - hey IEA, if I happen to lose, which I doubt, but if I do, I won’t be paying my dues when I return to teaching. #SyllabusAtTheReady
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Jul 2, 14 @ 1:23 pm
Sugar is alright. Paris Hilton was the 2.0 version. Hey, it’s a living. And a good one.
OW, Jil Tracy, the best candidate to run the 5th largest state is on the Rauner team. I’ve heard nary a word from you on that. Shouldn’t you be sending her a message about her “better self?”
Comment by A guy... Wednesday, Jul 2, 14 @ 1:24 pm
IEA’s endorsement didn’t do much for Dawn Clark Netch
Comment by Sue Wednesday, Jul 2, 14 @ 1:24 pm
===IEA’s endorsement didn’t do much for Dawn Clark Netch ===
Gotta go back 20 years for an example, eh?
lol
Look, comparing the DCN fight to this one is a bit much. That was a hugely GOP year. This one will likely be so as well and JBT is a Republican. She’s a well-liked, liberal incumbent. What Jesse White is to Republicans (a guy they can vote for) JBT is to Democrats.
I’m not saying that Sheila is toast. I am saying that your drive-by comment wasn’t all that helpful to a discussion.
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Jul 2, 14 @ 1:29 pm
===OW, Jil Tracy, the best candidate to run the 5th largest state is on the Rauner team. I’ve heard nary a word from you on that. Shouldn’t you be sending her a message about her “better self?”===
I am glad she is there to keep an eye on ole “Slip and Sue”.
Rep. Tracy is retiring from the House, she could be doing us all a service by reminding the Rauner Crew of their Dopiness.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Jul 2, 14 @ 1:30 pm
Well said, Rich.
BTW Sue, It’s Netsch.
Comment by OneMoreThing Wednesday, Jul 2, 14 @ 1:31 pm
There are TWO statewide races;
Quinn-Rauner. Frerichs-Cross.
Lisa Madigan, Jesse White, and it looks more and more and MORE like Judy Baar Topinka are well positioned to steamroll.
Who does Sheila have?
Losing Union support seemingly every single time they roll out endorsements, and her Crew, or lack thereof, is doing nothing to position Sheila in a way that Topinka’s Crew can’t outflank Sheila.
Here is the real “rub” that Sheila apologists need to understand, and understand quite quick;
Comptroller Topinka, and her Crew, they will work tirelessly , and won’t take one thing for granted, and will not surrender one inch to Sheila, or her Crew. This is far more about getting out-worked by Comptroller Topinka, than being asleep at the switch by Sheila and her Crew.
Sure, Sheila’s Crew got out-maneuvered… again…but even if they had all the pistons firing, and rolling as a Crew, that group is not as seasoned, organized, and not as politically savvy as the Topinka Crew and the Comptroller, and it shows…every time thus far we’ve been on this road.
LG would have been the play, now Sheila may be months away from being out of the game. Sheila might be the only one not seeing it.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Jul 2, 14 @ 1:41 pm
Worth remembering the IEA went all in hard for Blagojevich twice.
Comment by Upon Further Review Wednesday, Jul 2, 14 @ 2:35 pm
OW “Rep. Tracy is retiring from the House…”
You are capable of being gracious when you want to be. Sen. Dillard is also “retiring” from the Senate (albeit in his case early to remain in public service-not snark).
Even involuntary retirements deserve a measure of thanks when the retirees have served the public good. They have.
Comment by A guy... Wednesday, Jul 2, 14 @ 2:58 pm
Rep. Tracy is retiring from the House. She is.
I am a huge proponent of having a dissenting voice in your Crew to at least make the chorus of “yes” people have to explain why their Dopey ideas need to be looked at closely.
I will also they this;
If I were in the Rauner Crew, I literally would have Rep. Tracy take a week, and spend that exclusively with Evelyn.
During that week, go over Illinois government, the political of governing, budgetary and fiscal issues with both sides of the argument looked at and analyzed.
I also would have Rep. Tracy be her prep partner now and through November. Have Rep. Tracy prepare the binders for study, and coach her on seeing the big picture spin.
They have a shared experience (Primary), and it would really benefit Evelyn to almost be an annoyance by asking question and absorbing whatever Rep. Tracy is willing to pass on.
A smart Crew would recognize that those two being together will only make Evelyn stronger.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Jul 2, 14 @ 3:08 pm
==Worth remembering the IEA went all in hard for Blagojevich twice.==
No, IEA did not recommend either candidate when Blago ran for re-election.
Comment by Nearly Normal Wednesday, Jul 2, 14 @ 3:30 pm
@Nearly Normal:
If what you say is correct, the staff at the IEA regional office that I visited left the Blagojevich banners and posters on the wall for several years.
Comment by Upon Further Review Wednesday, Jul 2, 14 @ 3:35 pm
Rich- bringing things slightly closer to the present- IEA endorsed George Ryan in 1998- Their record kind of speaks for itself
Comment by Sue Wednesday, Jul 2, 14 @ 3:35 pm
It appears that the IEA has no gratitude to Lt. Gov. Simon for chairing the “School District Realignment and Consolidation Commission,” set up as a quiet graveyard for Gov. Quinn’s School District Consolidation bill. The Commission was composed of twenty members representing the major educational interest groups, including the IEA.
The idea of school district consolidation went under the bus, Simon was at the wheel.
Comment by Anon III Wednesday, Jul 2, 14 @ 5:17 pm
`=A socialite is the one throwing/attending the parties you aren’t invited to
=
…And who knows that annually corraling regalers around a piano does not always result in a loud chorus of Christmas tunes–which often makes for even more fun!
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Jul 2, 14 @ 6:10 pm
Considering that Judy Baar T was endorsed by the IEA, as was Dillard, would someone remind me again exactly which part of the Illinois GOP platform she still agrees with? Besides her name recognition and the fact that she’s done a lot favors for a lot of politically connected cronies, on what do Republicans base their support of her? I voted for her against Blago, but her disagreement with just about every Republican principle kept me from contributing or volunteering for her.
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Jul 2, 14 @ 10:00 pm
===…which part of the Illinois GOP platform she still agrees with?===
Your litmus test and blood oath is quite compelling.
Is there on or two platform planks you “must” or “always” follow?
Comptroller Topinka is a Republican. Not your type if Republican it appears, but she is.
Same goes for Bob Dole, who even said in an interview not too long ago, the GOP now is not the GOP that once was.
Shrinking My Party, that ain’t going to get it done.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jul 3, 14 @ 8:08 am