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Campaign 2010 Round-Up

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Illinois

[posted by Mike Murray]

* State Capitol Q&A: The candidacy process

Political candidates have been preparing for months, but the 2010 election season didn’t officially start until Tuesday, the first day candidates could circulate the nominating petitions they need to file for office.

This week’s State Capitol Q&A takes a closer look at the process and what it means to Illinois voters.

* Pankau launches petition drive for DuPage Co. Board president

tate Senator Carole Pankau began campaigning for DuPage County Board chairman at the Wheaton Metra Station. Pankau, pictured here with an unidentified voter, began soliciting signatures for her nominating petitions from voters boarding trains early Tuesday morning. Fellow State Senator Dan Cronin and several other Repubican DuPage Board members have voiced interest in the chairmanship as well.

* GOP field in 10th growing

Most expect a fierce fight among Democrats with the exodus of U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk in the North suburban 10th District.

The region is tilted Democratic and Kirk, a Highland Park Republican, has had to fight hard to keep the seat. For years district voters haven chosen a Democrat for president. Plus, the national Democrats are expected to make sure they win the seat as they play mostly defense in next year’s mid-term elections.

Now another potential candidate is stepping forward: Renee Thaler, a small business owner in Northfield and Kirk camp insider. Certainly, any Republican to make it through the primary is going to have an uphill battle. To win, they will need serious name recognition and big bucks.

On the Democrat side so far, state Rep. Julie Hamos, an Evanston Democrat and three-peat candidate Dan Seals are among those running. State Sen. Terry Link, a veteran Waukegan Democrat, is also weighing a bid.

posted by Mike Murray
Wednesday, Aug 5, 09 @ 10:18 am

Comments

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Comment by Shore Wednesday, Aug 5, 09 @ 10:38 am
Renee Thaler is a democrat and has donated a lot of money over the last 20 years to 9 democrats and only 3 republicans. She is in the wrong primary.

http://watchdog.net/contrib/60062/renee_thaler

Last year she gave not a nickel to any Republicans but instead gave money to hillary clinton just as she has given money to democrats like the DNC, Barbara Boxer, Tammy Baldwin and others over the years.

The killer though is her involvement and work to defeat Mark Kirk. In 2000, she gave money to JAC-PAC, an anti-moderate republican, pro liberal democrat outfit that gave generously to Mark Kirk’s 2000 opponent and people like jan schakowsky and Barack Obama and Chris Van Hollen who have tried to defeat him.

We are moderate in the 10th, but we do not want a nominee who has spent her life trying to defeat us.

Comment by Shore Wednesday, Aug 5, 09 @ 10:42 am
I live in the 10th Cong. District, and I hope that State Rep. Elizabeth Coulson will run for Kirk’s seat. She agrees with him about many issues, and she’s been a state rep. since 1997.

Comment by Conservative Veteran Wednesday, Aug 5, 09 @ 10:50 am
Shore, those are just Thaler’s federal contributions. It gets worse when you look at her state contributions.

Comment by Payton Wednesday, Aug 5, 09 @ 10:51 am
where are those?

Comment by Shore Wednesday, Aug 5, 09 @ 10:53 am
http://www.elections.il.gov/CampaignDisclosure/ContribListSearches.aspx

Go here, plug in her name, then read ‘em and weep.

Comment by Obamarama Wednesday, Aug 5, 09 @ 11:08 am
Dan Seals the perennial underemployed candidate should have guessed by the last election that he is not wanted in the 10th. Perhaps he could run in the district he lives in to see if he is more welcome there. All the pundits expected an Obama coattail sweep, but it did not pan out.

If the Dems choose to go hard left with a candidate like Terry Link for the 10th, then that opens the door to a moderate Repub. if they can find one.

I can’t say that there is going to be a groundswell to get more hard left Dems to Washington based on what is going on. Time will tell what the voter’s sentiments will be.

Comment by Plutocrat03 Wednesday, Aug 5, 09 @ 11:28 am
are the candidates’ petitions to file for candidacy posted anywhere?? say, on the state board of elections website?? if they are, I can’t find them

Comment by student Wednesday, Aug 5, 09 @ 11:59 am
Thaler has no business whatsoever in the GOP primary. She is one of the legions of Kirk Hangers-on who only care about Kirk’s Israel stance. In fact, she was one of the brains behind “Democrats for Kirk.”

It’s also ridiculous that she calls herself an “Edgar administration official.” Edgar wouldn’t know her if he ran her over.

The 10th may not be the best district for a right wing Republican, but an actual Republican can win it. Thaler belongs in the Democratic primary.

Comment by Adam Smith Wednesday, Aug 5, 09 @ 12:08 pm
what about other races you could talk about in the capital fax blog like cook county board priesdent or governor or us seante race

Comment by mark the ball Wednesday, Aug 5, 09 @ 12:44 pm
There is a rumor flying that a prominent black male politician will be challenging Rep. Barbara flynn Currie in the democratic primary.

Comment by Interested party Wednesday, Aug 5, 09 @ 1:08 pm
Thaler may have been a Democrat in the 90’s but switched parties years ago. Her views fit well in the 10th Republican primary and definitely not in a Democratic primary. She is strongly against cap and trade, against ObamaCare and against Quinn’s 50% tax increase. She supports smaller government not the dramatic expansion the current administration is undertaking. Let’s hear Hamos and Seals say that and get elected in the D primary. Thaler is strongly pro-Israel and pro-choice which will help keep those voter’s in Highland Park, Deerfield and Northbrook who pushed Kirk over the top in 2008. She is a hard worker, bright and will be a strong candidate against either Dan or Julie. Those pointing to Thaler’s ten year old donations forgot to mention that Thaler has given plenty of money in the last 6 years to the Illinois Republican Party, the Lake Co Republican Federation, the Republican National Committee,Republican Mark Kirk, Republican Beth Coulson and former State Senator Kathy Parker. She is lining up money and support quickly. Expect her Republican primary candidates to go after her strongly and the Dems to chime in and bash her as well. There is a reason. She is a threat.

Comment by In the Know Wednesday, Aug 5, 09 @ 11:19 pm
Conservative Veteran,

This is the Republican you are rooting for?

https://capitolfax.com/wp-mobile.php?p=18&more=1

Comment by Confused Wednesday, Aug 5, 09 @ 11:29 pm
The Constitution only requires that you reside in the state of the Congressional district, not the district itself.

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Aug 6, 09 @ 7:21 am