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* Carol Marin points to a good reason why state parties and legislative caucus committees ought to be kept out of primaries as much as possible…
[At the building housing the Chicago and Cook County election boards], an ant army of Madigan’s foot soldiers, between 35 and 40 of them, swarmed the place, furiously combing through the candidate petitions of their fellow Democrat and perpetual thorn in the side, state Sen. Rickey Hendon.
Hendon, an 18-year legislative veteran and African American, had his own handful of troops on site returning the favor by combing through the petitions of Madigan’s assistant majority leader, state Rep. Arthur Turner.
Rep. Art Turner and Sen. Rickey Hendon are old enemies, but Hendon may have precipitated this latest fight by combing through the petitions of Turner’s son, who is running for Turner’s House seat. Turner’s son, also named Art, had to refile new petitions Monday because the initial batch may have been insufficient to stay on the ballot. The elder Turner and Hendon are both running for lieutenant governor, and that’s what Madigan’s people were looking at.
More from Marin…
Hendon, not a reformer, certainly sounded like one last night when it came to the power that the real reformers tried but failed to take away from Madigan last week in the form of campaign finance reform.
“Madigan is using Democratic state money against me,” he protested, referring to that part of the ethics bill that failed. “What’s an ethics bill if you don’t change the power of the leader?”
Actually, the reformers did take some of that power away from Madigan by capping leader and party contributions in primaries. But I assume that Marin and Hendon were referring to the original language in the bill Gov. Quinn vetoed…
A State central committee organized under Alternative B of this Section shall not make any contributions, expenditures, or electioneering communications on behalf of a candidate for nomination for any office in that party’s primary election. The State central committee also shall not endorse candidates for nomination in its party’s primary election.
Speaker Madigan more than implied last week that the governor was OK with getting rid of that language once Lisa Madigan dropped out of the governor’s race. Quinn should’ve stuck to his guns.
…ADDING… A point I should have made is that the Democratic Party of Illinois’ central committee - an elected body - “chose” not to slate candidates. Actually, they never voted not to slate. Chairman Mike Madigan made that decision on his own. But, since the party didn’t slate, the chairman shouldn’t be using party resources to kick off a candidate unless it’s some sort of emergency situation. Even then, the central committee could always meet via teleconference to take that up. This is one guy making the decisions for questionable purposes. Not good.
* Meanwhile, the Rockford Register Star says Gov. Quinn should sign the campaign finance reform bill…
The campaign finance reform bill passed last month is far from perfect, but it’s better than what lawmakers came up with during the spring session and better than what was suggested as the fall veto session started.
Illinois deserves better. But considering we’ve gone from no limits to reasonable limits on everyone but party leaders during the general election, we think Gov. Pat Quinn should sign the legislation.
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Nov 4, 09 @ 9:58 am
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Stripping the State Central Committee of the power to slate and make endorsements turns the Democratic panel into Speaker Madigan and his 37-member cheerleading squad. What else do they have to do (besides helping Republicans assigned to draft fund-raising letters, who can use the assorted skeletons in the closets of many of Madigan’s cohorts on the State Central panel - people like Emil Jones, Jim DeLeo and Carol Ronen come quickly to mind - to raise funds for the GOP warchests)?
Comment by fedup dem Wednesday, Nov 4, 09 @ 10:07 am
I know this sounds incredibly naive, but it’s wrong for a state party chair to try to knock real Dems out of the box.
LaRouchies, I understand. But not a long-term eleced official.
Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Nov 4, 09 @ 10:07 am
I agree. The party leader should try to build consensus around a candidate and failing that he should stay out of it. It might be naive but its the way it should be. Otherwise why bother having an organization. The Speaker should not use party funds to dictate who runs for what.
Comment by Bill Wednesday, Nov 4, 09 @ 10:13 am
The notion that political parties should be shorn of the right to shape themselves and support primary candidates is just downright goofy.
If a party wants to win a general election, they need an appealing candidate and, at times, a primary is where they start.
Political parties should be the only clubs who are barred from choosing their own members? Nuts.
Comment by David Ormsby Wednesday, Nov 4, 09 @ 10:14 am
===The notion that political parties should be shorn of the right to shape themselves and support primary candidates is just downright goofy.===
I agree. But your definition of party and mine may be different. What about just letting primary voters decide? That’s the real party.
I should add that if the state party wants to slate candidates, then elected party leaders should do so. But, in this case, no slating was done, so there is no consensus from elected party leaders on this race. In that case, the chairman ought to stay the heck out.
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Nov 4, 09 @ 10:28 am
If Madigan, Hendon etal put as much time,effort, and ingenuity into fixing the state’s problems as they do into looking over each others petitions, trying to knock each other off the ballot, and playing their petty political games, this state would be in much better shape than it is!!!
train111
Comment by train111 Wednesday, Nov 4, 09 @ 10:40 am
Re: Rockford Register
I agree that Quinn should just sign the reform legislation, and just pilfer Change Illinois’ spin. He is so light on actual accomplishments as Governor, he needs this. His best bet is to argue that it is a start and that if elected to a full-term,and given an actual mandate, he would make seeking more reform one of his priorities. Frankly, after the work of his reform commission went up in smoke earlier this year, he should have just put reform on the back burner anyway because of the heavy opposition it faced from Madigan and Cullteron. With the short time that he has had as governor he really should have just been the “[in the interim] the stabilizing the state’s financial situation governor.” The budget and state’s financial situation were his only real priorities this entire year. but, no. he tried to do way too much in way too little time because he’s been so busy running for governor rather than just being a governor.
p.s.,
I know we live in Illinois, but there are parallels between Illinois and what took place yesterday in New Jersey and Virginia, particularly the former.
The good people of New Jersey and Virigina got it right lastnight! New Jeresey especially has an excellent new governor. [Assistant] U.S. attorneys are some of the hardest working and best people on earth. I was very encouraged by the conclusion in New Jersey. The incumbent was voted out and the people voted with their heads, not their hearts. voting for what was in the best interest of the state of New Jersey. They wanted sound leadership in a governor, not a “friend” or a “Good-Time Charlie” in the governor’s office/masion. There is too much at stake to put the reward failed governing by putting it back in office. Some wise person once said that insanity is doing the same things over and over and expecting different results, right? Hope springs eternal for the good people of Illinois in the Land of Lincoln.
Comment by Will County Woman Wednesday, Nov 4, 09 @ 10:48 am
==I agree. But your definition of party and mine may be different. What about just letting primary voters decide? That’s the real party.==
That’s true to an extent, but we’re not a true closed primary state. Nobody has to be registered in a party to vote in that party’s primary, they just have to ask for a ballot when they go to vote.
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Nov 4, 09 @ 10:59 am
We’re talking Honduras, or Haiti?
Chicago?! Whiskey Tango Foxtrot Batman!
This is blatantly undemocratic behavior. That it exists in 2009 in Illinois, under the guise of a political party named “Democratic” is just disgusting. What Madigan is doing is undermining democracy via legal means - he authored. You want to know why we have a pack of spineless public servants thwarting any needed reforms? You want to know why we keep electing governors better schooled in chicanery than leadership? It is because of the thug government we see being described by Carol Marin today.
We understand the need to have open books. We understand why we allow political opponents to check the authenticity of nominating petitions. We understand why we need transparency in these situations. We also understand the need for political parties to determine their own plans. But this is a freakin’ embarrassment and a complete disrespect for citizen participation in government, isn’t it?
Illinois government is broken. We have people in power who will not fix it. These people need to be replaced. After Ryan and Blagojevich, we have seen corruption top the tickets and invade the highest elected offices in Illinois. If after a decade of rampant corruption from a group of liars who ran as reformers, and if we allow this kind of disgusting behavior behind the scenes, then we need to accept the fact that perhaps Haitian-styled politics is OK for a Illinois Democratic Party dominating this ruined state.
Comment by VanillaMan Wednesday, Nov 4, 09 @ 11:02 am
[I agree. But your definition of party and mine may be different. What about just letting primary voters decide? That’s the real party.]
The petition process is a regulatory requirement subject to review. Without such a process in place anyone could be on any party’s ballot. Some responsibility has to be placed on the candidate, and their management coordinators, for meeting the regulatory threshold. If they can’t, or don’t meet it, then they should not be allowed on the ballot.
Once on the ballot however; ultimately it is the party primary voters that do decide. For the party to epend money on behalf of one eligible candidate on the ballot over another, does not in and of itself guaranty a victory. Cook County Democratic slated candidates for judge have been getting beaten with greater frequency in the past election cycles, even when they out raise and out spend their oponents.
The problem is not as much the party (either one, or any of them Greenies included), but rather the apathetic and disnterested electorate that has continued to allow the decisions of the few to affect the many.
People to need to do two things more diligently. The first of course is to become fully informed on the candidates, but the second is to actually show up and vote once they are.
Aside form re-districting reform, there is little that can be done to solve the porblem, unless the electorate is willing to step up and do something about it, and so far there has been no compelling motivation to do so in Illinois, unlike in other states where they have occasionally reached a threshld of pain that is to great for them to withstand any longer.
Quite frankly, I am surprised that we have not gotten there yet in Illinois. While the state teeters on the precipice of total economic collapse, people seem to be too preoccupied with their own personal situations to have awakened to how the state will have an adverse impact on them, no matter how comfortable their station in life may be at the present time. That is unless of course they are an elected official vested in the tax payer funded pension plan from which they will simply move to a warmer climate and draw upon in the event they are eventually un-seated against their will.
While picking favorites in an intramural contest is not the best or most equitable use of party resources, in the end I still blame the no show voters, rather than the party leaders or officials.
For those that do vote, and yet complain about what happens afterwards, they simply get the government they deserve for not motivating enough others to help them select a more credible alternative.
Comment by Quinn T. Sential Wednesday, Nov 4, 09 @ 11:20 am
Quinnie,
Are you competing with Vannie to see who can use the most words to say nothing?
Comment by Bill Wednesday, Nov 4, 09 @ 11:36 am
WCW makes a good point about NJ and VA, but don’t forget NY. NY has limits, even a total ban on primary contributions by the parties, and has a totally dysfunctional if not thoroughly corrupt legislature. NY also has petition challenges much like what Marin describes. Whether he signs it or not, Quinn’s reformer cred is just gone. And absent real party caps in the future, pretty soon Change Il’s cred will be gone as well.
Comment by FRTCY Wednesday, Nov 4, 09 @ 11:42 am
Billie,
Allow me to dumb it down to a level that will be easier for you to comprehend.
Bite me!
Comment by Quinn T. Sential Wednesday, Nov 4, 09 @ 11:50 am
Notwithstanding the merits of the arguments, Hendon’s favorite bi-annual fall hobby is to head downtown to the board and see who he can knock off the ballot. It’s actually kind of funny to watch.
Comment by Scooby Wednesday, Nov 4, 09 @ 12:08 pm
The petition review is part of the democratic process. Like someone said, if you dont have the required amount of VALID signatures, you shouldnt be allowed on the ballot. I have seen Rickey Hendon bring some of his thug gangbangers down there to try and intimidate those that are challenging petitions..
My only position is that we get a good quality candidate. Those who resort to the thug mentality had displayed to me that they are in NO position to be Lt. Governor, Congressman, or State Senator for that matter.
My final thought is that Carol Marin is a fantastic reporter. I wish she would have asked Hendon one question, if he didnt get his way with Emil & Blago when they were around, why didnt he drop the dime to her then ? But we know that Hendon got what he wanted, so there was no need to jump on the soap box..
He reminds me of the kid playing football and got hit, he cried that he was taken his ball and going home. Well Ricky just go home..
Comment by Stallion Wednesday, Nov 4, 09 @ 1:54 pm
VanillaMan, you reminded me that I came across this, thank you.
Here’s what the Yale Law Journal had to say about Illinois’ unique process to kick people off of ballots. They are reviewing the court case Nader v. Keith where Madigan’s thugs kicked Nader off the ballot. Note, Lee v. Keith came after Nader v. Keith and was successful.
google - illinois ballot access yale - look for pdf
“This Comment does not seek to laud Nader’s candidacy or to condemn those who challenged his nomination filings. Instead, it argues that individual rights and democratic values must not be trumped by political expediency. Courts should ensure that states do not unduly burden minor-party and independent candidates by coupling seemingly reasonable ballot access laws
with a strict validation process. When candidates litigate the constitutionality of ballot access laws, they should consider directly assailing the legality of validation procedures. Systems that encourage private challenges to candidate filings are particularly problematic because they allow partisan actors to target disfavored adversaries without appreciably advancing the state’s legitimate interest in regulating the electoral process.”
Here’s that last sentence again from the Yale Law Journal.
“Systems that encourage private challenges to candidate filings are particularly problematic because they allow partisan actors to target disfavored adversaries without appreciably advancing the state’s legitimate interest in regulating the electoral process.”
Are they wrong? No. What will so-called Democrats do about it? Make it worse.
There has been no independent candidate on the ballot in Illinois since 1980. Yet they still face the highest signature requirement in the US.
Based on current filings, 52 of 118 State Rep. races will have ONE candidate on the general election ballot in 2010. 44% unopposed. That would be 55 without the Green Party. In the State Sen. 10 of 21 races will only have ONE candidate in the general based on current filings. 48% unopposed. 62 of 130 unopposed for the GA.
While Illinois has some of the toughest ballot access laws in the democratic world? While swarms of Madigan’s government employee foot soldiers work furiously to kick Democrats and everyone else off of ballots?
This state is rigged, from the elections on down the line. What is the state’s interest in Madigan’s thugs kicking people off ballot? There is no state interest, there is Michael Madigan’s interests that take priority. This episode proves that again. Lee v. Keith proved they were using our election for selfish party interests instead of the state’s interests. The Yale Law Journal agrees.
If you are still a Democrat or Republican (Fortner is awful) in Illinois while this continues to happen, shame on you, you are the problem. Fix it. Including Madigan.
Doesn’t Michael Madigan’s government employee staff have better things to do than use taxpayer paid vacation and sick says to kick people off of ballots in a state where 45% of the races are currently unopposed next fall, like finding ways to shrink the budget gap?
Nothing will change until Michael Madigan is gone, period, seems to be appropiate here as well.
Comment by TaxThePoor? Wednesday, Nov 4, 09 @ 2:04 pm
TaxThePoor, many of us know some of those MJM staffers who worked on that challenge. Calling them thugs is way over the line. Elevate your discourse or go away.
This is my final warning to you on everything.
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Nov 4, 09 @ 2:09 pm
Alright, but its not like I’ve used my power to keep independent candidates from the election process for 30 years or anything.
I’m sure some of my friends trying to stay on the ballot after tireless amounts of work have been on the other side of your friends trying to make all that work for naught. In fact, I bet I’ve personally been their target before. I certainly understand the personal nature of this war for ballot access, and I apologize to you for personally offending your friends on the other side of that war. Its your website and your rules.
If its words like thugs that can’t be used to describe anti-democratic behavior, I’ll try to stick to more facts, since nobody is questioning those.
I’m sorry if the truth and facts are inconvenient and hard to face and may shine light on political character, but they are what they are. To me, those facts and the actors behind them warrant the angry criticism they get.
Comment by TaxThePoor? Wednesday, Nov 4, 09 @ 2:37 pm
If you got kicked off the ballot it is your own fault. The rules are clear. If you can’t understand them or can’t hire a competent lawyer to explain them to you then you don’t deserve to hold or even run for public office.
Hundreds of candidates get on the ballot every election season. It is not that tough.
Comment by Bill Wednesday, Nov 4, 09 @ 2:52 pm
===If you got kicked off the ballot it is your own fault.===
Mostly, you’re right.
However, the abuse of the “petition signatures must match voter registration card” rule is problematic, in my view. It has really messed up a lot of candidates through no fault of their own and forced them to spend huge time and money tracking people down and getting them to sign affidavits.
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Nov 4, 09 @ 3:08 pm
Besides Hendon’s allegations, and Marin being quick to reprint them, why is there the assumption that Madigan is using democratic party resources (and not his own) to make primary petition challenges?
Comment by Curious Wednesday, Nov 4, 09 @ 4:27 pm
you have to love Rickey
Comment by Trash Talker Wednesday, Nov 4, 09 @ 5:35 pm
“If you got kicked off the ballot it is your own fault. The rules are clear.”
I don’t know about clear, but they were clearly unconstitutional to the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals. What if I was kicked off the ballot using an election statute that was ruled unconstitutional? Is that my fault they have unconstitutional laws in place? What if Rod Blagojevich is the one who kicked me off the ballot using an illegal law? Is that my fault someone of Rod’s obvious superiority at following rules would use an illegal law to kick me off the ballot?
“If you can’t understand them or can’t hire a competent lawyer to explain them to you then you don’t deserve to hold or even run for public office.”
What about people that use illegal laws to kick people off the ballots, do they deserve to hold or even run for public office?
I followed the rules, they didn’t. I got punished, they didn’t, except a hugely embarrasing court defeat the whole world is seeing. And it’s my fault they write illegal laws and people like Blagojevich use them to discriminate against political competition and kick people off of ballots? Sure.
What if my lawyers were more competent than Lisa Madigan and beat her convincingly in court? What if my lawyers were more competent that the state’s lawyers and beat them? What then? Still my fault?
You know, every petition drive I’ve ran has gotten on the ballot. Every petition challenge DEFENSE I’ve organized has been successful in getting the candidate on the ballot. Every signature sheet I’ve collected that has been challenged has been ruled valid. Every notary I’ve provided has been ruled valid. No one has successfully challenged any of my ballot access work, save a few signatures here and there and the little help Nader’s efforts to stay on the ballot. I’ve followed the rules.
And before Schnorf demands my identity again, yes, I’ve had knocks on the door and notes left for me giving me a clear warning about safety if I continued sniffing around who was doing what work with what money and how. Phone calls too. Private petition challenges are war.
The rest of the US and the democratic world functions fine without private petition challenges and it’s not that tough to get rid of it IF you deserve to hold or even run for public office.
Comment by TaxThePoor? Wednesday, Nov 4, 09 @ 6:14 pm
I am not a big Madigan fan, but I tip my hat to him on this one. Simply put, he works harder than anyone else and does it legally. The system allows folks to challenge petitions and I am happy we have this system. I would bet the ranch that none of Madigan’s staffers are doing these challenges on the government dime. Madigan has loyal followers who are doing a job when asked to do so. Where are the other politicians staffers challenging petitions? In my opinion, Madigan is doing what he always does and too often doesn’t credit. He is simply outhustling those that just don’t want to exert the effort.
Comment by anon Wednesday, Nov 4, 09 @ 6:41 pm
Rickey Hendon will not and has never been kicked off the ballot but Madigans boy Ruener is as good as gone. Bye Bye
Comment by westside Thursday, Nov 5, 09 @ 9:16 pm