Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar

Lawsuit mulled as Durkin primary takes more nasty turns

Posted in:

Illinois
YouTube

Burr Ridge Village Board members are threatening to sue state Rep. Jim Durkin of Western Springs for allegedly slandering the village with his political advertisements.

Durkin, the Illinois House Republican leader, is running for re-election in the 82nd House District and Burr Ridge Mayor Mickey Straub, also a Republican, has filed to run against him in the primary. The district includes all or portions of Burr Ridge, La Grange and Western Springs.

Board member Albert Paveza said a group called Citizens for Durkin has been mailing out numerous fliers alleging the village has run unbalanced budges while driving up property taxes. The advertisements also allege the village raised fees to pay for a Chicago bailout.

Paveza said he consulted with the village’s attorney, and the attorney agreed Durkin’s political ads may have crossed a line.

* Thing are really heating up on the ad front in that race. Straub is backed by Dan Proft and Proft is mostly funded by Richard Uihlein, who was a big player in the Roy Moore Senate race last month. Keep that in mind when watching this new Durkin spot…

* And the pro-Straub folks have a new spot whacking Durkin over alleged mob ties…

One of the problems with this particular line of attack is that Henry Vicenik, the man testifying that Durkin tried to set up a meeting about opening a strip club, is now in prison.

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Jan 10, 18 @ 11:22 am

Comments

Woof, Durkin ain’t taking this challenge lying down. He’s going for the throat.

But no matter what you think of Madigan, it’s wrong to associate him with Roy Moore and a “sexual predator” tag. You can put the wood to Madigan on a lot of things, but that’s just wrong.

If you want to roll that way, Dennis Hastert is still in the neighborhood. He’s a prominent sexual predator that a lot of people played ball with for many years.

Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Jan 10, 18 @ 11:46 am
The word “Madigan” is becoming like “dweeb” — it is becoming an utterly meaningless insult.

Madigan Mickey? There were zero references in the ad to the Speaker and the key reference was to somebody who’s recently made a career of opposing the Speaker.

It is really getting ridiculous.

Comment by Gooner Wednesday, Jan 10, 18 @ 11:52 am
==But no matter what you think of Madigan, it’s wrong to associate him with Roy Moore and a “sexual predator” tag. You can put the wood to Madigan on a lot of things, but that’s just wrong.==

Think that’s more of a reference to Dan Proft

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Jan 10, 18 @ 11:52 am
==But no matter what you think of Madigan, it’s wrong to associate him with Roy Moore and a “sexual predator” tag==

The hundred Thousand dollar donor to the sex predator is Uihelien, not Madigan. The Madigan tag is probably just a catch all name that’ll be used in all the ads, the excuse being that Local 150 is backing Straub.

Comment by Political Animal Wednesday, Jan 10, 18 @ 11:53 am
Rating the ads:

I don’t like the idea of having Durkin personally appear (especially with kids) in the same ad that ties his opponent to a “child predator”. Watch it with the sound off. There’s a lot going on…might some viewers get confused and think the accusation is against Durkin? This is an uncharacteristic misstep by Z.

And speaking of uncharacteristic, Proft’s “mob hit” on Durkin is actually quite good. It’s slick and to the point. Lacks the cheezy amateur feel of his other efforts. Maybe the guy in the video deposition is a con, but that clip really makes the ad.

Comment by Roman Wednesday, Jan 10, 18 @ 11:54 am
I’m with Leader Durkin.

All day.

So, to the Post,

When you think about the punishing of Durkin, and the punishing of Rauner, and these attacks, Proft is saying that had he taken over the Rauner political apparatus with Ken Dunkin supporter Matt Besler, Proft woulda been fine with Leader Durkin.

The point is righteous indignation by Proft, by being dismissed from what he felt was owed to him and Besler.

It’s important to this discussion because Proft claiming a phony high ground, it’s a momentary choice to say these things and make a case against Durkin as Proft has chosen to, with the irony of the Uihlein money.

The reality, of course, is the undercurrent will still be hidden behind Ads from Proft that are designed to splinter the HGOP into Rauner Seats or Proft Sests, with Uihlein paying the freight.

Can’t be with Durkin more. It sides me with Rauner too… and that is my quandary in Durkin’s race and the HGOP primaries too.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Jan 10, 18 @ 12:01 pm
Mickey got a lot of free swings early. Now he’s getting punched back hard. It’s adult swim. His brain trust forgot to tell him about this part. You picked a fight. Your gang talks big. The other gang showed up. Now…this.

Comment by A guy Wednesday, Jan 10, 18 @ 12:10 pm
The Village of Burr Ridge is upset. How sweet.

Dilettantes.

Comment by JS Mill Wednesday, Jan 10, 18 @ 12:14 pm
Looks like there might be a throwdown at the intersection of Wolf and Plainfield Roads. Don’t go out alone, folks. It’s rough in the wild wild west(ern part of Cook County).

Comment by Bill F. Wednesday, Jan 10, 18 @ 12:32 pm
BTW, I think those of us working on the D side can appreciate Durkin workshopping this Uihelien attack. Expect we’ll see it again.

Comment by Bill F. Wednesday, Jan 10, 18 @ 12:33 pm
===Expect we’ll see it again===

Yep.

Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Jan 10, 18 @ 12:45 pm
The sex offender deal will be used by Dems against anyone who got a Uihlein donation. Just happens to be starting in the primary vs Mickey. Jim just opened the door against his entire caucus.

All GOP members can fall under this line of attack if they took party money because the GOP has received Uihlein money at some point.

Going to be brutal come September and October.

Comment by DuPage Bard Wednesday, Jan 10, 18 @ 2:47 pm
==BTW, I think those of us working on the D side can appreciate Durkin workshopping this Uihelien attack. Expect we’ll see it again.–

Oops.

Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Jan 10, 18 @ 2:51 pm
You can definitely see your expertise in the paintings you write. The world hopes for even more passionate writers like you who are not afraid to mention how they believe. Always follow your heart. “The most profound joy has more of gravity than of gaiety in it.” by Michel de Montaigne.

Comment by promote website on facebook Thursday, Jan 18, 18 @ 6:50 pm