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* Chicago City Clerk Anna Valencia, state Sen. Michael Hastings, D-Tinley Park, and Chicago Ald. Pat Dowell (3rd) participated last night in a Zoom event sponsored by Ald. Gilbert Villegas. Alexi Giannoulias said he had a scheduling conflict. From Rachel Hinton’s story…
For Dowell, that includes making transactions “as easy and safe for consumers and employees as possible” and issuing multi-year license plate stickers.
Hastings told those on the call “what matters most to me, is what matters most to you.” He also gave ideas for economic development, such as lowering fees related to starting a business.
Valencia’s vision for the office includes creating an app for taxpayers to make their appointments and pay fees online. She also pledged to boost the state’s libraries, including looking into expanding broadband access and grants. […]
Asked how they’d run a statewide campaign, Hastings said he has the support of colleagues throughout the state. Valencia pointed to connections she made while running U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin’s 2014 re-election campaign that she said could help her build a “diverse coalition” to get elected.
Dowell acknowledged that of the three candidates she was “a little late to the party.
Go read the rest for more details.
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, May 4, 21 @ 8:44 am
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Alexi had a scheduling conflict — for a zoom? Awfully early to employ the Rose Garden strategy.
Comment by Roman Tuesday, May 4, 21 @ 8:55 am
Yeah, the making an appointment part peaked my interest. I see a line start forming 3 hours before the SoS opens every day…outside…in the cold, so appointments, YES.
Comment by PublicServant Tuesday, May 4, 21 @ 8:57 am
Well perhaps Alexi didn’t show because talking about ideas would require, you know, having ideas.
Comment by Ron Burgundy Tuesday, May 4, 21 @ 8:59 am
Every day Alexi doesn’t have to answer questions is a great day for Alexi.
Alexi isn’t about public service.
Alexi is about his ego, ignoring who he is… and his past, and he’s not really about grasping that… well… Alexi hasn’t been missed.
Alexi wins, it could very well be a pickup for a Raunerite with cash willing to expose Alexi and all he is.
Luckily for Alexi… that Raunerite hasn’t popped up yet.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, May 4, 21 @ 9:13 am
Alexi will prevail- you can take it to the bank. Just not that one particular bank…
Comment by Bobby McGee Tuesday, May 4, 21 @ 9:23 am
=== Alexi will prevail===
That may be, still trying to grasp who his constituency would be…
“Enough people who are fooled”?
Might be enough of them.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, May 4, 21 @ 9:26 am
Could one Capt Fax’s hipper readers ’splain how you have a “scheduling conflict” for a ZOOM event?We have some ideas, but sometimes our minds are in the gutter.
Comment by Annonin' Tuesday, May 4, 21 @ 9:32 am
I’m sorry but Senator Mike Hastings seems like he is just outside of what many of us are looking for next year. 2021 could be winning year for electing more black and brown candidates to higher office. Senator Hastings could show his true devotion to support diversity by stepping aside.
Comment by Frumpy White Guy Tuesday, May 4, 21 @ 9:35 am
===Could one Capt Fax’s hipper readers ’splain how you have a “scheduling conflict” for a ZOOM event?===
It’s an intrinsic trait that helps one lose a state wide United States Senate seat to Mark Kirk because being tall, white, rich, and handsome isn’t enough to overcome being woefully disinterested in the process of campaigning or engaging in the public in a meaningful way.
And if Alexi has any staff yet, they should know well enough they need to explain the schedule conflict.
Comment by Candy Dogood Tuesday, May 4, 21 @ 9:36 am
=== I’m sorry but Senator Mike Hastings seems like he is just outside of what many of us are looking for next year. 2021 could be winning year for electing more black and brown candidates to higher office. Senator Hastings could show his true devotion to support diversity by stepping aside. ===
Answer this questions Frumpy: Are all white male Democrats supposed to stop running for higher office in the name of diversity? If so, how can the Democratic party truly reflect the diversity of this state if no white candidates ever get consideration for higher office?
Comment by Hannibal Lecter Tuesday, May 4, 21 @ 9:40 am
here’s an idea.
Setup system to SCHEDULE testing.
Needed road test & vision.
Got there 1/2 hour before opening. Number 19 in line. By open, another 15 or so behind me.
Windy, cold, rainy day. They hand out numbers & say, ‘go wait outside’. I ask about how long, ticket lady says at least 45 minutes. Ugh.
Swell. NOT a great experience.
Comment by sal-says Tuesday, May 4, 21 @ 9:46 am
===Answer this questions Frumpy: Are all white male Democrats supposed to stop running for higher office in the name of diversity? If so, how can the Democratic party truly reflect the diversity of this state if no white candidates ever get consideration for higher office?===
The top of the ticket and Standing Tall are both white males, are they not?
Comment by K3 Tuesday, May 4, 21 @ 9:47 am
“issuing multi-year license plate stickers”
Sign me up.
I also appreciated Valencia’s mention of the state library. I would love to see that office take on a leadership role in using the Illinois State Library to find ways to support small, struggling libraries throughout the state.
Comment by NIU Grad Tuesday, May 4, 21 @ 9:48 am
=I’m sorry but Senator Mike Hastings seems like he is just outside of what many of us are looking for next year. 2021 could be winning year for electing more black and brown candidates to higher office. Senator Hastings could show his true devotion to support diversity by stepping aside.=
This is the anti-diversity diversity approach I guess.
Diversity occurs through many avenues, not just skin color. Thought, socio economics, and religion
are all possibilities.
Suggesting a qualified ( I don’t know if he is or isn’t) candidate step aside because of his skin color is antithetical to Americanism, democracy, our Republic, the concept of fairness and equity.
We work to lift up underrepresented people not push down others.
Comment by JS Mill Tuesday, May 4, 21 @ 9:55 am
“multi-year license plates”
Please stop teasing me.
Much like staying on Daylight Savings, it will be debated ad naseum with no changes.
It’s cruel.
Comment by Flyin' Elvis'-Utah Chapter Tuesday, May 4, 21 @ 9:55 am
–Dowell acknowledged that of the three candidates she was “a little late to the party.–
Haven’t paid attention to this race anyone mind filling me in, layman’s terms?
Comment by Anthony Tuesday, May 4, 21 @ 9:56 am
== Alexi wins, it could very well be a pickup for a Raunerite ==
Agreed. If I’m a Republican with statewide ambition, I’m running for SoS, not governor.
Comment by Roman Tuesday, May 4, 21 @ 9:59 am
=== Agreed. If I’m a Republican with statewide ambition, I’m running for SoS, not governor.===
Don’t forget about the Frerichs Tax, taxing retirement income.
Two real chances for pickups, if Alexi gets the nomination.
Is there a smart Republican with cash?
To the post,
I find the three in the interview still trying to find who they are and what it means to run statewide for, arguably, the most visible office to daily lives.
They’ll need more of a hook, the lot of them.
First real campaign hurdle… let’s see who can get signatures too.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, May 4, 21 @ 10:07 am
== Hannibal Lecter & JS Mill ==
White male Democrats should be the most outraged by the white hate crimes and racism that is terrorizing and destroying America. We must take every opportunity to be agents of change even if that means we have to sacrifice our personal advancement.
=
Senator Hastings represents a district where the majority of the Democratic primary voters are African American. These are vital voters that hopefully will provide the winning margin for African America candidate for Secretary State.
Comment by Frumpy White Guy Tuesday, May 4, 21 @ 10:08 am
Will J. White’s endorsement (if he gives one) mean anything? Will the Dem Leaders try to get behind someone to knock Alexi? Convincing some of them to drop? Doesn’t Hastings have to give up his Senate seat to run?
Comment by 10th Ward Tuesday, May 4, 21 @ 10:29 am
Will J. White’s endorsement (if he gives one) mean anything?
Of course it will. And if he makes even a few campaign appearances it will be huge.
Commercials with JW saying “This is the person I trust to be our next SoS”…..
Something I think any sane candidate would want to have.
Comment by Fav Human Tuesday, May 4, 21 @ 10:34 am
= Could one Capt Fax’s hipper readers ’splain how you have a “scheduling conflict” for a ZOOM event? =
Sure.
I have a Zoom event scheduled for 3:00 next Tuesday. Another organization wants to schedule a Zoom event for the same time. I can’t do both.
Comment by JoanP Tuesday, May 4, 21 @ 10:35 am
You can already review your license plate online. 24/7/365. Even if you wait until the last day before expiration or even after it’s expired. Just print out your receipt page. Take a photo of it on the screen.
There are a few instances where you’d want to renew your plate in person. However most of the actual lines at the facility are for drivers licenses. I was at one a few weeks ago. Staff came outside every few minutes to take names and to inquire why you were there. Plate and title transactions were done by different personnel than drivers’ licenses. So those customers were in their own line and were allowed in separately.
FYI - go to the website, locate a facility in a smaller town. Go there if you can. The lines will be shorter.
Comment by thoughts matter Tuesday, May 4, 21 @ 10:43 am
==Just not that one particular bank…==
Broadway Bank?
Speaking of which, before its collapse, was Broadway one of the banks that participated in the SoS sticker bank sales program? Where customers could renew their license stickers at the bank rather than a drivers facility, if they were a customer presumably.
Comment by EssentialStateEmployeeFromChatham Tuesday, May 4, 21 @ 10:59 am
As the only candidate who mentioned the other job of the SOS, and had viable ideas right out of the shoot, Anna Valencia continues to be the strongest in the field. Alexi has already cornered the yesterday’s-news market, so why bother with a zoom?
Comment by Springfieldish Tuesday, May 4, 21 @ 11:04 am
Not to defend Alexi… but I am confused about how some of you all are confused about scheduling conflicts. Just because its a zoom doesn’t mean that he didn’t have a conflict. I do most/all of my meetings on zoom, and my calendar is pretty full and I have to turn down other zoom meetings sometimes because of conflicts.
This isn’t that hard to understand.
Comment by SaulGoodman Tuesday, May 4, 21 @ 11:09 am
=== Anna Valencia continues to be the strongest in the field.==
Who?
Your matrix for strongest in the field might need calibration
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, May 4, 21 @ 11:09 am
=== Agreed. If I’m a Republican with statewide ambition, I’m running for SoS, not governor.===
I would also suggest with Kwame’s recent self inflicted cyber security wound, the AG’s office is a prime plae to look for a republican pick up. The man raised a whole $3.00 this past quarter. He is sitting on next to nothing in his campaign account.
Comment by No Fan Tuesday, May 4, 21 @ 11:10 am
“They’ll need more of a hook, the lot of them.”
That’s the big issue…after so many years of Jesse, what is the “hook” for a position that most people are unaware of what it does outside of the DMV? Virtual appointments, multi-year stickers, online transactions…definitely a major bonus, but not something that will get people excited. So that leaves me to wonder if there will be a hook at the end of the day or just someone trying to crawl through the finish line with endorsements and vague platitudes.
Comment by NIU Grad Tuesday, May 4, 21 @ 11:11 am
==Frumpy White Guy==
After watching Senator Hastings outperform Alderman Dowell and Clerk Valencia last night and then suggesting that a white male should step aside because he’s a white male is what is wrong with the ultra “Frumpy” liberal sect of the Democratic Party. The forum spoke for itself last night. There’s a clear distinction here.
Comment by Res Ipsa Tuesday, May 4, 21 @ 11:12 am
I read somewhere that the candidates pledged to campaign nice, but I have to believe they are already scripting their Broadway Bank commercials. An ongoing news cycle over Washington Federal Bank is not going to help Alexi either.
Comment by Original Rambler Tuesday, May 4, 21 @ 11:14 am
=== Broadway Bank?
Speaking of which…===
.. how’s “Jaws”?
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, May 4, 21 @ 11:16 am
===scripting their Broadway Bank commercials===
With what money?
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, May 4, 21 @ 11:18 am
=== With what money?===
Until these 3, or others joining the race, show an ability to raise 7-figures to first… explain who the heck they actually are… then be able after introducing themselves to go after Alexi…
…
… what are we really talking about?
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, May 4, 21 @ 11:20 am
Frumpy White Guy, if you ask me, it sounds a bit like you don’t want real diversity, especially given that Hastings would be the only candidate with Native American heritage on the ballot, the only decorated veteran, and the only suburban candidate, at least at the top of the ticket. Seems like he is checking three “diverse” boxes, far more than any of the other candidates in this race or at the top of the ticket. But, that is just my opinion.
Comment by ;) Tuesday, May 4, 21 @ 11:21 am
To the post,
This will be the most fascinating race in the upcoming election cycle. The SOS is more than just about DMV’s, its about protecting the investing public, its about lobbyist regulation and ethics, its about being the state librarian, being the place where new businesses are born, and….. its about JOBS! The SOS has more Political appointment positions than any other statewide office by far. If you capture the SOS post, you can guarantee that you will have influence in statewide politics for years to come.
To win, a candidate will have to implement a different kind of campaign than in the past. You wont be able to rely on the traditional party apparatus to get past the finish line. Its everyone for themselves and that will take a lot of money and human resources.
Comment by Hannibal Lecter Tuesday, May 4, 21 @ 11:27 am
Has Pat Quinn announced yet?
Comment by Ashland Adam Tuesday, May 4, 21 @ 11:34 am
Things a candidate could talk about:
Lower fees on small trailers, possibly a permanent plate with a one time low fee.
Require giant truck-cranes to buy license plates. They should pay for the same weight-based truck plates that other trucks pay.
Comment by DuPage Tuesday, May 4, 21 @ 11:48 am
Alexi has a massive fundraising advantage that will only widen. But his first ad was nothing but old Treasurer footage looped together. Super dull and really out of touch.
He has to convince people he actually wants this job which may not be possible.
Pat Dowell might be the best SOS of them all. She is super capable and a strong leader. I just don’t know if she can get enough support.
Anna should be the best candidate but the fundraising has been surprisingly bad. She will have the best message but won’t be able to get it out.
Hastings will play the politics the best and could surprise a lot of people.
I suspect another strong candidate or two will still enter the race.
Comment by Ogden Tuesday, May 4, 21 @ 11:50 am
In addition to long wait lines, are there any other ‘problems’ or issues that these candidates can campaign on? More books for IL libraries? I would campaign on getting JW’s endorsement.
Like with Bill Daley passing on a debate when running for mayor in ‘19, doesn’t look good on Alexi either. He comes off as aloof or my campaign chest is too big to join these fellas…I mean ’scheduling conflicts.’
Comment by Pizza Man Tuesday, May 4, 21 @ 11:55 am
=== are there any other ‘problems’ or issues that these candidates can campaign on? ===
Visit CyberdriveIllinois.com and see what other things the Secretary of State does.
Comment by Hannibal Lecter Tuesday, May 4, 21 @ 12:01 pm
Scripting - in their heads, not making. Hey, a candidate can dream (banned punctuation)
Comment by Original Rambler Tuesday, May 4, 21 @ 1:15 pm
The candidates that are running for Secretary of State all have a social media foot print. Take a look at each of their Facebook pages. Look at Senator Mike Hastings page during the George Floyd murder, protests, BLM activism. Did he decry systemic racism or announce support for police reform? How about a simply post that stated Black Lives Matter?
Comment by Frumpy White Guy Tuesday, May 4, 21 @ 2:23 pm
Frumpy, Hastings voted for the police reform bill. That seems a little more consequential than virtue signaling with social media posts…but I guess I’m old fashioned.
Comment by Roman Tuesday, May 4, 21 @ 2:33 pm
=== The candidates that are running for Secretary of State all have a social media foot print.===
Alexi is planning on speaking in 7-figure money type media
Just saying.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, May 4, 21 @ 2:39 pm
Mr/Ms Candy Dogwood
How much is needed to decide which event to pick
(A) event that got decent media attention and 7+ hour flogging on the state’s leading blog site
(B) conflicting event that apparently not a meeting with Sen. Durbin on picking new NDUSDA
Comment by Annonin' Tuesday, May 4, 21 @ 3:57 pm
- Frumpy White Guy - Tuesday, May 4, 21 @ 2:23 pm:
Oh Look! In addition to voting for the Criminal Justice Pillar, Senator Hastings was front and center leading the Suburban BLM March with JB ..
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/2020/6/8/21284776/pritzker-stratton-foxx-join-1000-residents-march-justice-south-suburbs-george-floyd-matteson
Comment by Fact Check Frumpin' Tuesday, May 4, 21 @ 5:37 pm