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Drury says he’s exploring gubernatorial bid, quotes Bob Dylan

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Illinois

* From Rep. Scott Drury (D-Highwood)…

Everyone:

Earlier today I informed supporters that I am exploring a run for governor. A press release is attached and set forth below. Please let me know if you have any questions.

–Scott R. Drury

* The e-mail to his supporters…

Friends:

With your encouragement, I have decided to explore a run for governor. By all accounts, Illinois is headed downhill. Partisan bickering, public corruption and uncontrolled violence have come to define our once great State. The public feels helpless against a billionaire governor and Democratic machine that refuse to prioritize people’s needs over political gain. Governor Rauner’s approval rating is dreadful, and Mike Madigan’s is even worse. The public believes Republicans and Democrats share the blame for the State’s problems and knows that long-term solutions are needed.

Before running for public office, I was an Assistant U.S. Attorney in Chicago. In that position, I fought on the front lines of the battle to rid our State of public corruption and gun violence. Public service - not partisan politics - guided the mission.
Since taking office, my goal has been to usher in a new era of government in Illinois - one defined by credibility and responsibility. The public does not trust Illinois government. If Illinois is to change course and move forward, it first must establish a strong foundation of trust upon which it can build.

To that end, in January, I became the first Democrat in 30 years to refuse to support Mike Madigan in his quest to become Speaker of the Illinois House. The status quo has no place in the new era I envision. My vote represented the majority view of Democrats, Republicans and Independents, alike. While entrenched politicians did not like my actions, I sided with the public.

Further, back in 2015, I was the first Democrat to publicly set forth a viable solution to the budget standoff that is destroying our State - proposing that each party simultaneously submit a truly balanced budget, each of which would then be publicly debated and voted upon. The common-sense proposal received universal accolades. But those who see political value in keeping the impasse going have chosen to continue the destruction.

I recognize the enormity of trying to change the status quo in Illinois and the resistance the establishment will put forth to stop the effort. However, as Bob Dylan famously wrote, “the first one now will later be last, for the times they are a-changin’.” The purpose of this exploration is to determine whether Illinois is ready for such change.

–Scott R. Drury

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Apr 10, 17 @ 10:41 am

Comments

Awesome, absolutely positively awesome!

Comment by Come on Man! Monday, Apr 10, 17 @ 10:42 am
Special.

Comment by JoeMaddon Monday, Apr 10, 17 @ 10:44 am
He has supporters?

Comment by Cubs in '16 Monday, Apr 10, 17 @ 10:44 am
As a Dem or as an Independent?

Comment by Fax Machine Monday, Apr 10, 17 @ 10:45 am
LOL!

Sidenote: Bob Dylan has literal volumes of insight and poetry to select from, and he takes a hamfisted line arguably Dylan’s most well-known song.

Comment by AlfondoGonz Monday, Apr 10, 17 @ 10:47 am
===I became the first Democrat in 30 years to refuse to support Mike Madigan in his quest to become Speaker of the Illinois House.===

“And I’m STILL waiting for my clock!”

Comment by Cubs in '16 Monday, Apr 10, 17 @ 10:48 am
He was a US District Attorney? I had no idea

Comment by Boy Blunder Monday, Apr 10, 17 @ 10:48 am
Is this an 4-1 message that got hung up in Capt Fax spam filter for 9 days?

Comment by Annonin' Monday, Apr 10, 17 @ 10:49 am
Maybe William Kelly can prep him for debates. /s
Mic drop. Walk away. Stomach grumble. There goes breakfast. Ugh.

Comment by A guy Monday, Apr 10, 17 @ 10:49 am
Gauging interest, is he?

You don’t need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows.

Comment by wordslinger Monday, Apr 10, 17 @ 10:50 am
From the guy last week who said everyone that didn’t vote on the life-line budget was spineless and then proceeded to not vote at all. Yeah, he’ll fix the State right up.

I think I heard something about him being a lawyer or something? I don’t know, he should probably let us know what he did before entering the political arena.

Comment by Alex P. Keaton Monday, Apr 10, 17 @ 10:50 am
Is Illinois ready for the change it takes to quote a song from 1964?!

Comment by Arsenal Monday, Apr 10, 17 @ 10:50 am
So, I hear this guy is a former AUSA.

“My vote represented the majority view of Democrats, Republicans and Independents, alike”. Ah, yes, Madigan is the only politician re-elected to the House and re-elected as Speaker by a minority vote.

Comment by JoanP Monday, Apr 10, 17 @ 10:51 am
Man, wait until Drury hears Led Zepplin for the first time.

Comment by Arsenal Monday, Apr 10, 17 @ 10:52 am
Was that email message dated April 1, 2017?

The museum of Drury’s mind is a fanciful place … to Drury, apparently.

Comment by Deft Wing Monday, Apr 10, 17 @ 10:53 am
Someone’s auditioning for Lt. Gov.

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Apr 10, 17 @ 10:53 am
==I became the first Democrat in 30 years to refuse to support Mike Madigan in his quest to become Speaker of the Illinois House==

How does it feel?
How does it feel
To be on your own
With no direction home
A complete unknown

Comment by Annyong Monday, Apr 10, 17 @ 10:54 am
“Millionaires like Bruce Rauner and machine-politicians like Mike Madigan may not want to hear this, but I say rock-n-roll is here to stay!”

Comment by Arsenal Monday, Apr 10, 17 @ 10:54 am
===Man, wait until Drury hears Led Zepplin for the first time.===

“Good times, bad times you know I’ve had my share…”

Comment by Cubs in '16 Monday, Apr 10, 17 @ 10:54 am
However, as En Vogue famously wrote,

“Never gonna get it, never gonna get it
Never gonna get it, never gonna get it
Never gonna get it, never gonna get it
Never gonna get it (whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa)
Never gonna get it, never gonna get it
Never gonna get it, never gonna get it
Never gonna get it, never gonna get it
Never gonna get it, never get it”

The purpose of this exploration is,as George Costanza famously stated, “all for the glorification of your massive ego!”

Comment by LizPhairTax Monday, Apr 10, 17 @ 10:55 am
who’s his Joan Baez?

Comment by Amalia Monday, Apr 10, 17 @ 10:56 am
= “And I’m STILL waiting for my clock!” =

Don’t worry, I’m sure it’s going to be cleaned for him soon enough…

Comment by cover Monday, Apr 10, 17 @ 10:58 am
That’s the way! Let’s continue to fill the up the primary field. The more primary candidates, the better. It worked well for the Illinois GOP in 2014 and the nat’l GOP in the 2016 Presidential.

Is Governor Dress Up Clothes gonna go ahead and get Ken Dunkin in the mix too?

Comment by Carhartt Union Negotiating Team Monday, Apr 10, 17 @ 10:58 am
Wait, did he not mention that he is a former federal prosecutor?

Comment by Precinct Captain Monday, Apr 10, 17 @ 11:01 am
==It worked well for the Illinois GOP in 2014 and the nat’l GOP in the 2016 Presidential.==

They won both those races.

Giving candidates a chance to hone their message and build their organizations is a good thing. Let the process play out. Hell, there’s only 3 real candidates in it right now, anyway.

Comment by Arsenal Monday, Apr 10, 17 @ 11:01 am
Dunkin for Veep.

Wait … nevermind.

Comment by Mr. K. Monday, Apr 10, 17 @ 11:03 am
==How does it feel?
How does it feel
To be on your own
With no direction home
A complete unknown==

This is fire.

Comment by Arsenal Monday, Apr 10, 17 @ 11:05 am
If follows through with this & gives up his seat, it will be one of the multimillion dollar fights for control of the House

Comment by Fax Machine Monday, Apr 10, 17 @ 11:07 am
Idiot wind …
From the Grand Coulee Dam to the Capitol.
. , , blowing every time you move your teeth.

Comment by Keyrock Monday, Apr 10, 17 @ 11:12 am
=====Man, wait until Drury hears Led Zepplin for the first time.===

“Good times, bad times you know I’ve had my share…”==

“If it keeps on rainin’ the levees gonna break”

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Apr 10, 17 @ 11:12 am
Drury is what Biss pretends to be, but he’s pompous and if he ever did manage to get elected would be almost as much of a threat to the public worker vested interest folks as Rauner (but more to the favor of the middle and working class than the 1%), so of course we’ll mock him.

That said, if Rauner wanted to fund a respectable candidate to wound the “Tier One” candidates and maybe divert enough votes to let an unelectable “Tier Two” candidate in, Drury is such a vehicle.

Comment by lake county democrat Monday, Apr 10, 17 @ 11:14 am
LCD- I think it’s more likely that if Drury gets any support, it comes from the Tier 2 candidates, helping Pritzker.

But tell me, who will contribute to Drury?

Comment by Keyrock Monday, Apr 10, 17 @ 11:19 am
If half these guys look like they’re really going to file, I’m guessing that Quinn will be awfully tempted to jump in, too.

He’s not afraid to lose, and he might just think he can swing a plurality in a crowded field.

Any female candidates notice all the dudes who are giving it a think? Didn’t there used to be a once and future female gov. candidate, the beneficiary of a decades-long conspiracy by the powers that be, according to some pundits?

Comment by wordslinger Monday, Apr 10, 17 @ 11:20 am
==Any female candidates notice all the dudes who are giving it a think?==

That’s the $64,000 question, isn’t it?

Comment by Arsenal Monday, Apr 10, 17 @ 11:24 am
He’s still suing his former opponent, Dr. Mark Neerhof. Lawyers, Guns and money!

Comment by Deerfield Don Monday, Apr 10, 17 @ 11:25 am
“Everyone:
Earlier today I informed supporters that I am a former Assistant U.S. Attorney.
–Scott R. Drury”

Comment by MissingG Monday, Apr 10, 17 @ 11:26 am
@ Wordslinger

I agree… Quinn seems like an uncaged animal since leaving the Gov office, can 100% see him hopping in the race. And honestly, I can see him having some success.

Comment by Annyong Monday, Apr 10, 17 @ 11:28 am
== Didn’t there used to be a once and future female gov. candidate==

Yep. and she’s not jumping off the high dive, nor is she getting out of the way for someone who will.

Comment by A guy Monday, Apr 10, 17 @ 11:34 am
**Someone’s auditioning for Lt. Gov.**

LOL - and who, exactly, would choose Drury as his/her Lt. Gov?

As for those saying PQ will jump in? Nah…he’s ramping up for a Mayors race.

Comment by JoeMaddon Monday, Apr 10, 17 @ 11:45 am
Drury’s budget plan was to ask both sides to submit a budget. Genius!!

Where is your budget Governor Drury?! I thought you were the only one who is honest and has integrity ? So where is your budget ?

There is no way he actually wants to be Governor or even thinks that anyone will support him. He’s either a total Rauner shill to mess with the Democrats or he’s actually going to run for AG.

Comment by One of one eighteen Monday, Apr 10, 17 @ 11:49 am
Madigan might regard his statement as “revolution in the air,” but Scott is just Tangled Up In politics.

Comment by Amalia Monday, Apr 10, 17 @ 12:00 pm
and since I’ve always been more of a Joni Mitchell fan, “sitting in a park in paris france, readin the news and it sure looks bad, they won’t give the budget a chance, that was just a dream some of us had.”
Still wondering whom to tag as the Sunset pig.

Comment by Amalia Monday, Apr 10, 17 @ 12:32 pm
=== If follows through with this & gives up his seat, it will be one of the multimillion dollar fights for control of the House ===

It’s a pretty Democratic seat — I don’t see the GOP having much of a chance at taking it.

Comment by Just Observing Monday, Apr 10, 17 @ 12:36 pm
Someone must have conned Drury into thinking he’s the one that can do what’s never been done, who can win what’s never been won. Meantime life outside goes on all around him.

Comment by Benniefly2 Monday, Apr 10, 17 @ 12:38 pm
Drury vs. McCann.

A simple twist of fate.

Comment by Regnad Kcin Monday, Apr 10, 17 @ 12:40 pm
Wow, anybody figured the under/over on Drury percentage compared to Proft or Andrzejewski? I would say under?

Comment by Elliott Ness Monday, Apr 10, 17 @ 12:56 pm
Is Jack Franks tired of his new gig yet? Drury could pick him as his running mate as they run on the Look At Me, I Love Attention But No On Cares ticket.

Comment by Give Me A Break Monday, Apr 10, 17 @ 1:11 pm
The quote actually came from a man who was on earth about two thousand years before Dylan.

Comment by jimk849 Monday, Apr 10, 17 @ 1:22 pm
Can we have a “I was a former federal prosecutor” drinking game?

Comment by Chicago Cynic Monday, Apr 10, 17 @ 1:37 pm
“Democracy don’t rule the world, You’d better get that in your head; This world is ruled by violence, But I guess that’s better left unsaid.” Bob Dylan

Perhaps Drury and Roland Burris could get on the ticket together and make it easier for the memoir drafters. Is there one piece of legislation he can hang his hat on since serving in the ILGA? Has he made any friends or just burned bridges while in office? If he is going to fly the “man of the people” flag perhaps he could forget to mention the Assistant US Attorney gig just once.

Comment by frisbee Monday, Apr 10, 17 @ 2:17 pm
One could call him independent. But, I’d call him isolated. And very often totally unexplainable.

No, thanks Dreary Drury.

Comment by Observant27 Monday, Apr 10, 17 @ 2:36 pm
Who is paying him to run?

Comment by Mama Monday, Apr 10, 17 @ 4:23 pm
If he runs he is a dangerous dude - completely unshackled from the MJM machine - he might hold a few Trump card on the establishment Dems.

Comment by Lech W Monday, Apr 10, 17 @ 8:30 pm