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Repubs, Dems crow about local victories

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Illinois

* From the ILGOP…

For the past year, J.B. Pritzker and Mike Madigan have teamed up in an attempt to install Madigan supporters in local elections – and have failed miserably.

Before the 2016 election, Pritzker secretly funneled $200,000 to Madigan-backed House candidates, hiding his name by funneling the money through corporations. Madigan Democrats lost six seats in that election.

Last month, Madigan ally Linda Chapa LaVia failed to advance to the runoff in her race for Aurora Mayor after being blasted for her ties to Madigan. Pritzker campaigned and provided Chapa LaVia with financial support. Then, Pritzker backed Rick Guzman in the runoff, who lost to Republican Richard Irvin. Irvin will be Aurora’s first black Mayor.

And just yesterday, Pritzker teamed up with Democratic activists to oust Mayor Roger Claar from Bolingbrook. Despite statewide Democrats descending on the town, and despite Pritzker’s photo-op door knocking, Claar appears to have held on in a village with a heavy Democratic registration advantage.

Instead of trying and failing to win local races, Madigan should pass a balanced budget with reforms.

* From the Illinois Democratic County Chairmen’s Association…

Against Proft and Rauner’s Millions, Democrats Make Historic Gains
Big Republican outside money wasn’t enough to stop Democratic victories

Springfield, IL - Across Illinois, Democrats made unprecedented gains against outsized Republican spending and influence in local races. Republicans invested heavily in municipal and township races across the state, but Democrats made headway in elections they had not won - in some instances - for over a decade.

“Dan Proft and the Republicans were ready for the Democratic backlash after Trump’s election, but the money Bruce Rauner gave them wasn’t enough,” said Doug House, Chairman of the Illinois Democratic County Chairmen’s Association. “Across the state, Democrats picked up seats we weren’t supposed to win as well as in other places where thousands of dollars were spent against us. The takeaway: No Republican will go unchallenged no matter how hard and how tough the race will be.”

Democrat wins were evident across Illinois in these locations:

City of Kankakee - Chasity Wells-Armstrong upset incumbent Nina Epstein, electing Kankakee’s first Democratic African-American Mayor.
City of Rockford - Democrat Tom McNamara bested his opponents in a landslide, proving Rockford does not stand for Bruce Rauner’s turnaround agenda.
City of Springfield - Democrat Kristin DiCenso won in convincing fashion beating her Republican Precinct Committeeman opponent by almost 70%
West Deerfield Township (Lake County) - For the first-time Democrats took entire control of this Lake County Township.
Vernon Township (Lake County) - Democrats swept the trustee elections, as well as electing Daniel Didech as Supervisor - taking out five incumbents.
Normal Township (McLean County) - Democrats elected supervisors and trustees to this township board for the first time in over 100 years.
Springfield Township (Sangamon County) - Lakeisha Purchase made history last night by becoming the first Democrat (and top vote getter) to be elected to the Springfield Township board since 1976
Chatham Township (Sangamon County) - Diana Carlile became the first Democrat (and top vote getter) ever to be elected to this predominantly Republican stronghold.
Palatine Township High School District 211 (Suburban Cook County) - Love trumped hate, and incumbent school board members who supported transgendered students were re-elected against opponents funded by outside hate group Alliance Defending Freedom.
New Trier Township (Suburban Cook County) - Among many areas Dan Proft was funding, Republican candidates attempted to fly below the radar in this township, but were soundly defeated by the Democratic Economy Party.
Maine Township (Suburban Cook County) - Democrats elected Claire McKenzie in the all GOP-controlled township government.
Richland Community College (Macon County) - Macon County Democratic Chairman Jim Underwood won in impressive fashion and will now be able to bring a strong Organized Labor voice as this Community College as they deal with higher education cuts from Bruce Rauner.
Lincoln Land Community College (Sangamon County) - Not even Donald Trump could save 16-year incumbent and former Trump State Director Kent Gray. He was trounced by Democrat Gordon Gates in this contested race.

In other races across the state Democrats came within inches of beating entrenched incumbents. Grass-roots Democrat Jackie Traynere lost by less than 100 votes against 30-year Republican Trump supporter Roger Claar after Dan Proft and others spent hundreds of thousands in television attack ads against Jackie.

* Greg Hinz referees…

Gov. Bruce Rauner and his conservative allies had a good night in yesterday’s suburban elections, winning more races than they lost. […]

[However] On the North Shore, a slate of incumbents easily held off challengers in contests for New Trier Township commissioner, despite lots of conservative activity. And in High School District 211, where Rauner ally and big funder Dick Uihlein also was involved , incumbents won easily in a race focused on whether to revisit the district’s stance on allowing transgendered students to use the bathrooms and locker rooms of their self-identified gender.

Beyond that, Rauner made a bit of play in elections in Rockford, and got clocked.

Still, overall results show that as long as Rauner’s big wallet is open, it will have an impact.

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Apr 5, 17 @ 2:29 pm

Comments

I very proud of Richard Irvin as he made history! Goes to show money isn’t everything. It’s about grassroots and connecting with the people.

Comment by Rocky Rosi Wednesday, Apr 5, 17 @ 2:35 pm
Dems won no contested township race in Algonquin, McHenry and Nunda Townships in McHenry County…even with three GOP Algonquin Township Trustee candidates working for the one Democratic Party Township Trustee candidate.

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Apr 5, 17 @ 2:57 pm
Jack Franks-endorsed candidate in Marengo (Franks’ home town), a GOP Committeeman who endorsed Franks’ successful bid for McHenry County Board Chairman, lost. Jack Franks ally, Mayor of Woodstock Brian Sager, won a fourth term. Sager also endorsed Franks for County Board Chairman, but had the integrity to step down as a GOP Committeeman.

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Apr 5, 17 @ 3:01 pm
No Dems running for contested Algonquin, McHenry and Nunda Township office in McHenry County won.

Even the Algonquin Township Dem running for Trustee who was supported by three of the GOP Trustee candidates lost.

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Apr 5, 17 @ 3:02 pm
Somebody should tell the Illinois GOP that Richard Irvin is no longer a Republican. He has voted in Democratic primaries since 2010. He also had the support of many Aurora Democratic elected officials.

Comment by Eugene Wednesday, Apr 5, 17 @ 3:11 pm
The Dem’s list has a minor mistake-it’s Capital Township, not Springfield.

I noted last night that the local Dems had finally figured out how to crack the R stronghold in these townships-run one strong candidate.

Comment by Arthur Andersen Wednesday, Apr 5, 17 @ 3:38 pm
New Trier: The Proft efforts in this township were largely an illusion. The Democratic Economy Party used a front group to slander their opponents as being allied with Proft (based upon flimsy evidence) while failing to disclose who was paying for their mailings and campaign posters.

Comment by Wake Up Call Wednesday, Apr 5, 17 @ 3:55 pm
Kristin DiCenso was popular in school and from a good family. Name recognition helped her more so than party.

Comment by popular kid Wednesday, Apr 5, 17 @ 3:58 pm
nice to see the Il Dem County Chair( come on, change the name) Association commenting, if not acting everywhere. did anyone see a push from Berrios himself? just wondering.

Comment by Amalia Wednesday, Apr 5, 17 @ 4:03 pm
==I noted last night that the local Dems had finally figured out how to crack the R stronghold in these townships-run one strong candidate.==

Well, it’s a good strategy to end a shut-out on those townships, but if Dems ever want to run one of them, they’ll have to run 2, or heavens, maybe even 3.

Overall, the Dem list is more impressive, if only because The Republican list is nothing more than 2 mayors with a bunch of Democratic ties.

Comment by Arsenal Wednesday, Apr 5, 17 @ 4:30 pm
In Elgin Township (Kane County), Democrats were elected to Supervisor and all four Trustee positions. This is a small governmental unit, but as far as we can tell, this is the first time that Republicans have lost control of Elgin Township government to Democrats since the mid-19th Century. Elgin Township has a population of about 100,000 and pretty much covers the same geographic area as the City of Elgin precincts in Kane County.

Comment by Bob in Elgin Wednesday, Apr 5, 17 @ 4:33 pm
==Kristin DiCenso was popular in school and from a good family. Name recognition helped her more so than party.==

I guess that’s fine, but she’s been a stalwart Democrat for years, not sure it’s productive to separate her out like that.

Comment by Arsenal Wednesday, Apr 5, 17 @ 4:49 pm
Naperville Township GOP (DuPage County) got hammered by the DEMS!

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Apr 5, 17 @ 6:31 pm
Mayors races are obviously the headliners, but City Council positions are 1 vote on a board, just like most Mayors. In the quad cities, Thoms won the Mayors race, but 3 New Democrats and progressives won alderman races and now control the board. On the Moline School board, all 3 positions went to progressives. In Port Byron the Mayor and City Councilman that were hostile to organized labor were also defeated. Sometimes we need to dig a little deeper than the headlines

Comment by Redraider Wednesday, Apr 5, 17 @ 8:13 pm
Normal Township actually elected a Dem Supervisor and Dems won 3 of the 4 trustee spots. The City of Normal also proudly elected their first African American city councilwoman.

Comment by Spliff Thursday, Apr 6, 17 @ 7:17 am
Here in Chucktown and Coles County, several GOP candidates for local races lost. That is virtually unheard of.

Comment by Chucktownian Thursday, Apr 6, 17 @ 8:27 am
Perhaps this is a bit of an aside, but in my neck of the woods I was surprised to see how few seats had Democratic challengers to the Republican option.

It really makes me question the strength of the local parties in some of the Down State communities if they’re not able to find candidates for township leadership positions.

I hope — and I mean this — I hope that whoever winds up with the Democratic Nomination is not going to rely on just cutting a check to local parties to get the job done.

Comment by Anon Thursday, Apr 6, 17 @ 8:53 am
We are feeling pretty chuffed in McLean County, that’s for sure.

Comment by Rayne of Terror Thursday, Apr 6, 17 @ 5:04 pm