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* Sun-Times…
Lt. Gov. Sheila Simon is likely to announce a run for Comptroller next week, a source will knowledge of the decision told the Sun-Times.
Simon is shifting gears after Illinois Atty. Gen. Lisa Madigan’s announcement that she would not vacate her position after all. Simon had been eyeing the AG’s spot when Lisa Madigan said she’d be interested in a possible run for governor.
I polled this race a while ago. Despite this being a Democratic state, she trailed Comptroller Topinka by seven points.
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Jul 16, 13 @ 10:09 am
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Will she beat Will County Auditor Duffy Blackburn in the primary?
Comment by West of Interstate 80 Tuesday, Jul 16, 13 @ 10:18 am
Oooh, this is going to be a tough one.
Do we vote for the one who thinks the Comptroller should be in the business of finding homes for pets, or the one who has done nothing at all?
Comment by VonKlutzenplatz Tuesday, Jul 16, 13 @ 10:20 am
“Getting ‘Comped’?
Illinois Lt. Governor, and Lisa Madigan Confidant, Sheila Simon is now focused on getting ‘comped’ through the Primary…
Translation; Simon for Comptroller is this/close to being announced, and Ms. Simon is hoping for a free pass thorugh the Primary.
Polling is showing that the irrepressible Judy Baar Topinka leads Simon by 7 points which leads this reporter to ask this question…
Is Sheila Simon writing checks…that a candidate for Comptroller can’t cash?
Me Thinks Ms. Simon might want to check the Balance Sheet on this race, and Pronto!
Sneedlings …
Justice Anne Burke and the Influential Ald. Ed Burke, again, ate lunch, probably with Jay Doherty somewhere and they all looked fabulous and over the moon about something to boot.”
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jul 16, 13 @ 10:23 am
I love Sheila Simon, but this is an oops if she really does this. Judy Baar Topinka is a beloved figure in Illinois politics and just will not lose. I have yet to meet a Democrat that says anything bad about her. Good luck!
Comment by MrGrassroots Tuesday, Jul 16, 13 @ 10:35 am
I never thought Lisa would run for Governor. She wants to run, but then she sees the headwinds and backs away.
Considering both legislative caucuses are in disarray and have been mostly idle for a quarter, I expect it’s more likely Republicans will lose one seat in each chamber than gain one.
I expect Rutherford will probably win primary and still lose. If Rauner wins primary he will lose by even more. We will lose the Treasurer’s office. If the Dems play hard, Topinka will lose too.
In a year where Republicans will pick up a congressional seat or three in Illinois, we will be swept from every constitutional office and relegated to permanent super-super-minority in the ILGA.
I expect the Republican party in the other 49 states will fare much, much better.
Comment by despondent downstate republican Tuesday, Jul 16, 13 @ 10:35 am
I’ve been expecting this ever since she stepped away from PQ. Looking forward to the banjo vs. the accordian
Comment by Chicago Cynic Tuesday, Jul 16, 13 @ 10:36 am
Don’t be despondent, Despondent Downstate Republican. I think you have it backwards. Rauner or Rutherford will win in a general, as will JBT. You will lose the treasurer’s race though - sorry.
Comment by Chicago Cynic Tuesday, Jul 16, 13 @ 10:37 am
I think JBT is pretty much unbeatable that far down the ballot.
I think Simon is regretting the day she jumped off the Quinn team. He’s no sure thing by any means, but his chances just got a lot better.
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Jul 16, 13 @ 10:38 am
Accordion vrs. Banjo
Maybe instead of Comptroller debates, we can have “Music Wars” instead….
Comment by Judgment Day Tuesday, Jul 16, 13 @ 10:39 am
Duffy, we hardly knew ye.
Comment by Lord Stanley's Cup Tuesday, Jul 16, 13 @ 10:40 am
Sheila Simon will tout all of the great work she did as Lt. Governor(really nothing) and all she learned from Governor Quinn. Opps! That last part may be detrimental to her campaign.
Comment by Downstater Tuesday, Jul 16, 13 @ 10:42 am
I don’t really see anyone beating JBT.
Comment by Chavez-respecting Obamist Tuesday, Jul 16, 13 @ 10:45 am
Probably a bad move politically for Sheila … but what other office would she have a shot at?
On second thought, maybe she should just run for Gov … has the same qualifications (LT Gov) as the current office holder … and she IS a downstater.
Comment by RNUG Tuesday, Jul 16, 13 @ 10:52 am
Any candidate for Comptroller would have the answer the question that is on the minds of many Statehouse workers. Will Cheesecake Day cease to exist if JBT is replaced?
Comment by estubborn Tuesday, Jul 16, 13 @ 11:06 am
But you haven’t polled a Sheila Simon-Duffy Blackburn primary. Where is the wonkiness?
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Jul 16, 13 @ 11:07 am
She’s extremely unimpressive, 1.5 years from now she’ll be back at SIU teaching law in time for the spring semester.
Comment by shore Tuesday, Jul 16, 13 @ 11:08 am
Sheila Simon thinking about running against JBT? I must ask, what is she thinking?!
Comment by Anon Tuesday, Jul 16, 13 @ 11:09 am
Do we know for sure JBT is running for comptroller…she’ll be a great lt. gov. candidate for some one.
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Jul 16, 13 @ 11:10 am
Loooooooooooooooooooooos Gravel.
Comment by Empty Chair Tuesday, Jul 16, 13 @ 11:12 am
I’m not sure she beats Duffy Blackburn in the Primary. He’s ambitious, appears to have a clean slate, and has a lot of early support (even though much of it is from his native Will County).
It doesn’t seem worth competing in a Primary for a General she is favored to lose.
Comment by estubborn Tuesday, Jul 16, 13 @ 11:16 am
==Probably a bad move politically for Sheila … but what other office would she have a shot at?==
Treasurer? Or sit this on out?
Comment by Robert the Bruce Tuesday, Jul 16, 13 @ 11:17 am
If the Simon Crew were to ask me …
I would seriously cozy up to Daley, try to be the LG for a Daley/Simon ticket.
Would be about a 12 minute coup-type story, but nice fodder to keep the animosity going beween the two camps through the Primary.
Madam Lt. Governor,
Call the Daley campaign. Ask for the #2 spot, and if offered, take it, and take it very quickly.
You’re welcome.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jul 16, 13 @ 11:18 am
with a h/t to Simon’s band, her choices are now:
Lose/Grovel
Comment by Tough One Tuesday, Jul 16, 13 @ 11:19 am
A beauty contest this ain’t.
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Jul 16, 13 @ 11:19 am
Willy — How does Simon help Daley? He’d be better off with Raoul.
Comment by Soccermom Tuesday, Jul 16, 13 @ 11:20 am
–A beauty contest this ain’t.–
Classy. Must be George Clooney checking in.
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Jul 16, 13 @ 11:21 am
==I’m not sure she beats Duffy Blackburn in the Primary. He’s ambitious, appears to have a clean slate, and has a lot of early support (even though much of it is from his native Will County).==
And just $24k in fundraising in the second quarter for Duffy Blackburn. Maybe Blackburn and Simon should start doing joint fundraisers so they can cover the restaurant expense?
Comment by Robert the Bruce Tuesday, Jul 16, 13 @ 11:22 am
- Soccermom -,
Oh … she doesn’t…
I was coming at this from the Sheila Simon perspective of losing her chair in the musical chair game she chose to play, … leaving Quinn, … thinking/saying Lisa is running for governor, and now … finding herself touting a very uphill battle… to get TO … a General Election contest between herself, and arguably the Most Popular GOP Officeholder, in Illinois today …
Simon would be a “12 minute coup-type story”, adding nothing more for Bill Daley.
As someone in the GOP, I would not like to face a Daley/Raoul or a Quinn/Raoul ticket any time soon.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jul 16, 13 @ 11:26 am
Simon says: “Duffy who? This would be billed in the media by the World Wrestling Federation (or the World Geek Federation) as— “The Pocket Protector” versus “The Slide Rule Wizard”.
Comment by A Casual Observer Tuesday, Jul 16, 13 @ 11:30 am
Why not somebody has to run.
Comment by siriusly Tuesday, Jul 16, 13 @ 11:31 am
same advice for Sheila as for Duffy….JBT is not good at the policy part of her job. wonk may be boring, but if you have a chance to go at her on substance, do it. Illinois is not in need of a person whose best fiscal expertise is how to shop at a garage sale.
Comment by Amalia Tuesday, Jul 16, 13 @ 11:39 am
Lt Gov Simon, some advice - don’t give up your night job. The banjo is making a comeback - it’s real big in coffeehouses in Carbondale. From there, it’s a short step to Lollapalooza.
Comment by dupage dan Tuesday, Jul 16, 13 @ 11:40 am
Any ambitious Illinois pol would do well to take a page from PQ’s playbook. He leveraged the LTG office to build a statewide platform, and it’s still paying off. It’s only a do-nothing office if you choose to do nothing.
Comment by Soccermom Tuesday, Jul 16, 13 @ 11:49 am
Simon has beaten up her image by appearing over-the-top opportunistic … if that’s possible in politics … by just seeming to look for whatever office is open to run for … so instead of being about why she’s running it appears to be all about her too much in this scenario … However, she has decent name ID and can’t be taken lightly
Comment by NW Illinois Democrat Tuesday, Jul 16, 13 @ 12:01 pm
Illinois not a completely Democratic state. We’re more purple than we get credit for. Cook County is solidly blue, but DuPage and the rest of the state are fairly red.
Comment by Washerman Tuesday, Jul 16, 13 @ 12:02 pm
=she’ll be a great lt. gov. candidate for some one. =
That would certainly make things “interesting.”
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Jul 16, 13 @ 12:08 pm
===DuPage and the rest of the state are fairly red.===
DuPage fairly red? Have you looked at the last election’s results in DuPage?
Yikes!
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jul 16, 13 @ 12:18 pm
In basketball, a point guard will sometimes drive to the basket, leave their feet without a clear shot, suddenly a defender rises up where they thought there would be none, and the point guard frantically look around to pass the ball before they land and get called for a turnover. I’ve always thought that fraction of a second before they land has got to feel pretty bad.
Sheila Simon and Tom Cross should have watched more basketball.
Comment by Century Club Tuesday, Jul 16, 13 @ 12:35 pm
Why would anyone pick Simon to be a running mate after she knifed Quinn in the back? A Topinka-Simon race would be a true battle between two of the most clueless pols in this state and that’s saying something. I’d give my vote to Topinka since she’s done nothing and that at least means she’s done no harm. On the other hand, my heart goes out to those poor students who would wind up with her as their professor when she goes back to the obscurity she deserves in academia.
Comment by David P. Graf Tuesday, Jul 16, 13 @ 12:43 pm
I actually think she has a better chance of beating Quinn and Daley in a 3-way Guv primary than she has of beating JBT in the General.
Both are longshots, but beating Judy is longer.
Comment by Frank Tuesday, Jul 16, 13 @ 12:49 pm
Judy knows far more about State finance than Duffy and Simon put together. Go ahead and try to cheap shot her for shopping at “garage sales.” Actually, she likes to go to thrift shops. I’m sure the ordinary person on the street would be horrified that the person monitoring their tax money likes to save money herself by patronizing such places.
Comment by Norseman Tuesday, Jul 16, 13 @ 12:59 pm
honestly I am surprised she only trailed by seven points…..
Comment by Ghost Tuesday, Jul 16, 13 @ 1:07 pm
Simon made a mistake by jumping ship on Quinn so quickly. She did so based on either flawed judgment or bad info.
Running against JBT would be only her second worst mistake of the year.
Perhaps my hopes were too high, but she’s been a disappointing Lieutenant Gov. Not to mention disloyal and selfish when Quinn looked particularly vulnerable.
Loose Gravel it is.
Comment by Formerly Known As... Tuesday, Jul 16, 13 @ 1:18 pm
Soccermom is exactly right. PQ became the champion of vets in a very visible way as LG. Quick - name something Sheila SImon did as LG. Anyone? Anyone? Bueller? Bueller?
Nope - crickets. She took her chance and blew it. Now she’ll become an ex-politician pretty darned quickly.
Comment by Chicago Cynic Tuesday, Jul 16, 13 @ 1:31 pm
#raises hand
“I know, Chicago Cynic! I know the answer!
She sat on some committees that met once or twice a year, maybe even quarterly. No one has ever heard of them, but she may try to play them up as being really, super-important.”
#smiles proudly
#brings Chicago Cynic an apple next class
#thanks for calling on me
Comment by Formerly Known As... Tuesday, Jul 16, 13 @ 1:37 pm
PQ also took advantage of Rod’s complete lack of interest in the environment to develop relationships with enviro groups all over Illinois. That helped in the last election.
Comment by Soccermom Tuesday, Jul 16, 13 @ 1:59 pm
Hope SS does run against JBT. At the end of that, it might just indeed be the end of that. Then maybe she and Jason P can run away together.
Comment by A guy... Tuesday, Jul 16, 13 @ 2:08 pm
Simon cannot hold a candle to JBT - what is SS thinking - I don’t know why she was picked for Lt Gov ti begin with - she is not her father
Comment by Marie Tuesday, Jul 16, 13 @ 2:21 pm
man in gray suit keeps time as Gov. Quinn prepare a chaines’ turn move with AG Madigan…. all in good fun !!!
Comment by railrat Tuesday, Jul 16, 13 @ 3:29 pm
JBT is flash. she is thin on substance. whether the public can focus on the office long enough to get past her thin substance is another thing. at a time when Honey Boo Boo’s second season is accompanied by giveaways of scratch and sniff cards for the premier episode, I ‘ve lost most of what little faith I had in the public. that a show like that Honey Boo Boo thing exists at all took a huge chunk of the faith away to start.
Comment by Amalia Tuesday, Jul 16, 13 @ 4:54 pm
JBT might be flashy, but she tells the truth, and is respected. She will outperform all other GOPers at the state level, and beat Simon.
Neither job is all that difficult, provided you appreciate the professional staff, but JBT as Comptroller has outperformed Rutherford as Treasurer, hands down.
Did JBT help our state? yes
Did Rutherford help his future campaign? yes, that was his focus
Comment by walkinfool Tuesday, Jul 16, 13 @ 5:24 pm
Let’s be clear;
Comptroller Topinka has served the state of Illinois admirably, done an outstanding job in her Constitutional role as Comptroller and has been a very same voice in fiscal matters.
Comptroller Topinka is arguably the most popular GOP elected official in the state, is well-respected by all in the Statehouse, and always has the best interest of Illinois in mind as she does her job for the people of this state.
Illinois is lucky to have her.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jul 16, 13 @ 6:40 pm
Well said Willy. Just think about where we’d be if Judy had the money to compete against the crook.
Comment by Norseman Tuesday, Jul 16, 13 @ 8:04 pm
- Norseman -,
I think about it, but then it frustrates me to think not only what Rod did, but how some in My Party made it more difficult then it needed to be, because, hey, if the Sorting Hat doesn’t put you in Slytherin House, you won’t get their support … even against Rod …
But that … is another story as well, isn’t it?
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jul 16, 13 @ 9:26 pm
An “available” and unfocused candidate in search of an office–any office–is a pathetic sight. Shelia has told us a lot about herself in this series of recent moves. She’s not her dad by a long shot.
Comment by Responsa Tuesday, Jul 16, 13 @ 11:06 pm