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* From WSIL TV interviewed outgoing Lt. Gov. Sheila Simon…
As for her future, some people are urging her to run for Congress against Republican Mike Bost, who just took office this week. For that reason, Simon tells News 3 it’s far too early to make a decision. But she’s not ruling it out.
* The NRCC responded this morning with its usual understated modesty…
Hey there –
News hit today that former Lt. Gov. Sheila Simon is thinking about running for Congress in Illinois’ 12th District. Shocking right? It’s almost unbelievable that someone so closely tied to the toxic former Governor Pat Quinn would even consider running for another office after November’s election. Guess some folks just can’t see the writing on the wall.
If you plan on covering the bizarre news that Sheila Simon is thinking about resurrecting her toxic political career, please consider the following quote from the National Republican Congressional Committee:
“Southern Illinois families have already been hurt enough by the policies of Sheila Simon and Pat Quinn. The last thing folks need is the out-of-touch Quinn-Simon agenda wreaking havoc on them from Washington.” – Katie Martin Prill, NRCC Spokeswoman
Sigh.
All I can figure is, either they must really be worried to go so far over the top already, or they just can’t stop themselves from issuing press releases like this.
We’ve all given LG Simon a lot of grief here, but, c’mon, man… er… Katie.
posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Jan 9, 15 @ 10:15 am
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It’s election hangover. And it’s ungracious.
Comment by A guy Friday, Jan 9, 15 @ 10:16 am
She also thinking for another run at comptroller
Comment by Last chance for love Friday, Jan 9, 15 @ 10:18 am
This. Is. Pathetic.
I guess it was a slow day at the NRCC.
Comment by Demoralized Friday, Jan 9, 15 @ 10:19 am
Making Sheila Simon into a sympathetic character is no easy task. So, give ‘em that, at least.
Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Jan 9, 15 @ 10:20 am
This is actually a pretty good strategy. In 18 months, Quinn won’t be in anyone’s mind (unless he runs for something). Cementing Simon’s (loose, at best) ties to Quinn while his flaws are still fresh in voters minds will damage her fav/unfav’s in the long run.
Comment by Empty Chair Friday, Jan 9, 15 @ 10:20 am
I dunno, given Presidential year turnout patterns and Bost’s reputation, it’s probably smart to get an early start. The only real problem with it is that I don’t think Simon is his most likely opponent.
Comment by Arsenal Friday, Jan 9, 15 @ 10:21 am
Someone please send a thesaurus to the folks at the NRCC. Toxic toxic toxic (repeat)…
That said- why would she even play along with the reporter on the subject of running for another political office? I guess stating “it’s too early to tell” is noncommittal, but after losing a statewide office, any speculating this soon is silly IMHO
Comment by Roadiepig Friday, Jan 9, 15 @ 10:22 am
Hey PeeWee, what is the word of the day: ‘Toxic’.
Comment by zatoichi Friday, Jan 9, 15 @ 10:25 am
I think about the only thing you can say about Simon’s political career is that it has been largely “undistinguished”. In order to label her agenda as “toxic” you would first need to be able to explain exactly what that agenda was.
Comment by pundent Friday, Jan 9, 15 @ 10:25 am
for the record, i have not yet made a decision on running, either. my wife is reluctant to move into the district anyway. and i would have to figure out where i could run my dogs and ride my bike.
Comment by Langhorne Friday, Jan 9, 15 @ 10:31 am
Toxic former Governor Pat Quinn? I almost spit out my coffee laughing so loud. Bruce hasnt even started the job yet and is already proving his toxicity here in the Land of Potter.
Comment by Del Clinkton Friday, Jan 9, 15 @ 10:34 am
Maybe Quinn will run for Comptroller. (Ha!)
If the GOP could prove to me that Sheila Simon played an active role in the poor state of Illinois’ economy, they’d have a shred of credibility. As it is, the Lt. Gov. has about as much power as the vice president.
Comment by Streator Curmudgeon Friday, Jan 9, 15 @ 10:38 am
Somehow I never felt like the last couple of years here in Illinois were being guided by the Quinn-Simon agenda. I didn’t realize they even spoke to each other.
Comment by And I Approved This Message Friday, Jan 9, 15 @ 10:40 am
I think both parties use the same ‘gripe bot’ to write releases sometimes…
Comment by Oneman Friday, Jan 9, 15 @ 10:42 am
If Paul Simon was running for the first time in Southern Illinois, I’d question if he would find enough voter support to win a US Congressional seat there. Times have changed down there, especially in nationally focused races.
When her father was making a name for himself, his political party reached outside Chicagoland for rising political stars. Mayor Daley loved to find Democrats outside Chicagoland to elect statewide.
The past decade’s Democratic successes have occurred only within Chicagoland and their statewide ticket wasn’t statewide. Frerichs is from Champaign, but was there anyone else put on the ballot that wasn’t from Chicagoland since 2002? Senator Burris was a Chicagoan by then.
So, based on that, I believe we need to see the Chicago political party return to Daley’s formula to benefit non-Chicagoans interested in statewide of national office. I think Frerichs seems aware and might try something similar to go further politically. Sheila seems a bit too exotic for Southern Illinoisans, even with her banjo.
Comment by VanillaMan Friday, Jan 9, 15 @ 10:47 am
These DC types just can’t clam up. I’m sure Sheila appreciates the shout out.
Google “Katie Martin Prill” and you get a bunch of hits for “Famous DC” gossip items. A DC lifer flack who wouldn’t know Carbondale from carbon dating.
Comment by Wordslinger Friday, Jan 9, 15 @ 10:48 am
If there is one person who made a public stand out of running from Governor Quinn’s “toxic agenda,” it was Sheila Simon. Sheesh.
Comment by Soccermom Friday, Jan 9, 15 @ 10:50 am
I am shocked, simply shocked that a politician whose term has expired and lost an election would consider another run for political office……
This should be another example that reminds the public that a political career is a lot more lucrative than we are led to believe.
Comment by Plutocrat03 Friday, Jan 9, 15 @ 10:55 am
Perhaps the NRCC is afraid of a Simon ad showing a Bost rant, without sound, accompanied by Sheila on the banjo playing Dueling Banjos from Deliverance?
Comment by Smitty Irving Friday, Jan 9, 15 @ 10:59 am
Jedi mind trick. Maybe the NRCC wants to look worried to trick Simon into a run to keep a real candidate from running.
Comment by the Patriot Friday, Jan 9, 15 @ 11:06 am
Sheila is toxic on her own; heightened by her lack of loyalty to Quinn. She stands in her own way without worrying about the bad juju from someone else. As a GOPer, I’d welcome her into any contested race.
Comment by A guy Friday, Jan 9, 15 @ 11:06 am
She’s failed in every general election she’s run in outside of her Carbondale City Council seat, including a failed run for mayor of Carbondale…but now, after 4 years in a do nothing role that she got by appointment and coattails, she’s supposedly a threat to win a Congressional seat? Yawn.
Comment by Anonymoiis Friday, Jan 9, 15 @ 11:22 am
Maybe we need a new Cap Fax awards category:
“How can we remember you fondly if you won’t ever go away?”
Sheila Simon would certainly be a contender.
Comment by Judgment Day (on the road) Friday, Jan 9, 15 @ 11:24 am
LOL. Sheila Simon against Bost!! Sheila needs to go back to running her dad’s think tank/foundation and give up politics. She just isn’t very good at it.
Comment by Apocalypse Now Friday, Jan 9, 15 @ 11:25 am
=== Judgment Day (on the road) - Friday, Jan 9, 15 @ 11:24 am:
Maybe we need a new Cap Fax awards category:
“How can we remember you fondly if you won’t ever go away?”
Sheila Simon would certainly be a contender.====
Contender??!!?? You could name the award after her from the start!
Comment by A guy Friday, Jan 9, 15 @ 11:30 am
The loop within the Republican echo chamber has spun so many times that they now have a robot writing all this stuff. That is how mindless it is and how mindless much of their constituency has become within the tyranny of their freedom village.
Comment by vole Friday, Jan 9, 15 @ 11:32 am
==Sheila needs to go back to running her dad’s think tank/foundation and give up politics. ==
I don’t think they ever gave her the keys to that, she was just a legal writing instructor
Comment by Anonymoiis Friday, Jan 9, 15 @ 11:44 am
@Empty Chair =Cementing Simon’s (loose, at best) ties to Quinn while his flaws are still fresh in voters minds will damage her fav/unfav’s in the long run.=
You must be new to this game. A day is a month, a month is a year and 18 months is an eternity. This characterization won’t be “cemented” in anyone’s mind, other than those who have already made up their minds about her (read: Republicans).
Comment by Nick Naylor Friday, Jan 9, 15 @ 12:10 pm
Surely there will be some court seat open down there for which she can run. I doubt Karmeier is going anywhere for a while, however.
Comment by Paul Lynde for the Block Friday, Jan 9, 15 @ 12:16 pm
==was there anyone else put on the ballot that wasn’t from Chicagoland since 2002? ==
Dick Durbin
Comment by James R. Anderson Friday, Jan 9, 15 @ 12:18 pm
This is a prime example of why I will never vote for a. Republican ever again. Judy’s gone,I don’t have to.
Comment by Cheryl44 Friday, Jan 9, 15 @ 2:05 pm
“The past decade’s Democratic successes have occurred only within Chicagoland and their statewide ticket wasn’t statewide. Frerichs is from Champaign, but was there anyone else put on the ballot that wasn’t from Chicagoland since 2002?”
Saying “but for Frerichs and Simon” is a little weird. That’s 1/3 of the Constitutionals from outside Chicagoland, which lines up nicely with the state’s population…and the Republican ticket.
(Also: That Durbin guy is kind of a big deal.)
Comment by Arsenal Friday, Jan 9, 15 @ 2:31 pm
Sheila Simon deserves criticism, but she also deserves a break so soon after the election.
We all do.
Comment by Formerly Known As... Friday, Jan 9, 15 @ 3:08 pm
While I agree that Sheila isn’t a good campaigner (for Carbondale Mayor and Comptroller) and improperly dissed Quinn, she is every bit part and parcel of southern Illinois. Not many people know anything about the region - and obviously the DC babe doesn’t….but I KNOW that Sheila Simon is not too “exotic” for southern Illinois. I have known here for 30 years. She IS southern Illinois. And quit dissing the banjo would ya?
Comment by Northern Light Friday, Jan 9, 15 @ 3:20 pm
I’ve known Sheila for decades…and yes, as it turns out, campaigning isn’t her strength. But I wouldn’t dismiss her too quickly. The GOP’s 2014 gains are temporary. 2016 will be another story, and I think party leaders understand this. Their early, uppity attitude is bound to fall flat unless they can prove themselves quickly. There will be plenty of opportunity for someone like Simon who knows the home turf better than most. Bost best be careful.
Comment by Deep South Friday, Jan 9, 15 @ 3:53 pm