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* The SJ-R surprised quite a few people last night by endorsing Sen. Sam McCann’s Republican primary opponent…
Going beyond the arbitration vote, we remain deeply troubled by the pattern of incidents involving Sen. McCann that have dogged him for multiple election cycles.
There is confusion about whether McCann has exaggerated or lied about being in the U.S. Marines, a controversy that dates back to his 2010 campaigns and prompted a recent public rebuke from two of Illinois’ congressmen, John Shimkus and Adam Kinzinger, both veterans.
McCann’s construction businesses have been embroiled in liens for alleged tax delinquencies dating back to 2010; McCann has said the government is mistaken and blamed problems with his paperwork filings. He also has faced lawsuits for alleged nonpayment of credit card debt, although three of them were ultimately dismissed. A recent one is pending.
More recently, McCann took more than $38,000 in mileage reimbursements from his campaign fund in the last year. At the federal reimbursement of 57.5 cents per mile, that would mean McCann drove more than 66,000 miles on campaign business last year alone. And that doesn’t count an additional $19,600 in mileage reimbursements from the state since 2011. McCann says he drove those miles to cover his sprawling district, but also admits that “bookkeeping is not one of my strengths.”
These are not isolated blips, but rather an ongoing series of issues. Although the anti-McCann ads have had distortions or overstatements, the liens, mileage questions and other issues should raise serious concerns for voters about McCann’s judgement.
Benton brings a positivity that offers a chance for enthusiasm and change outcomes. Despite his inexperience, he earns the edge for our endorsement.
All good points. It’s amazing to me that he didn’t do more to clear this up before waging battle with the Death Star.
This district, like some other Downstate areas, is very sensitive to “earned media.” Oftentimes, what’s published in newspapers and appears on the TV news is just as or even more important than the ads, which is one difference between TV markets like this one and the Chicago metro area. It’s not that people are more literate or pay more attention, it’s just that legislators are on the TV and radio and are regularly in the papers, so more people tend to know who they are.
* And the SJ-R has published yet another story which is harmful to McCann’s prospects…
State Sen. Sam McCann’s campaign finance committee should be ordered to file amended reports to give specifics on what was purchased for $46,000 in “grouped expenditures” listed, a State Board of Elections hearing officer says.
The hearing officer, board campaign disclosure specialist John Levin, also recommended that there be a public hearing on McCann’s mileage reimbursements from the campaign. The campaign paid McCann more than $38,000 for mileage in April through December of 2015.
The elections board meets Monday – the day before the primary in which McCann, of Plainview, faces a challenge from fellow Republican Bryce Benton of Springfield in the 50th Senate District. […]
“(W)ithout speaking to whether there is sufficient evidence pointing to unwarranted levels of mileage reimbursement … there are enough unanswered questions to support a recommendation that this portion of the complaint move to a public hearing,” Levin wrote. “I therefore recommend the complaint be found to have been filed on justifiable grounds, and that the matter proceed to a public hearing.”
* Related documents…
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 10:18 am
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i will be curious to see if McCann is saved by his vote on the no strike bill…. becae otherwise imho he would lose this election.
Comment by Ghost Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 10:23 am
“Benton brings a positivity…”
Seriously? You do realize Benton’s propped up by Proft and Rauner, don’t you? I’m sure he’ll be such a positive addition to the Statehouse.
Comment by In the Middle Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 10:24 am
The McCann Crew is desperately trying to hit the “FF” button on the remote to get to election day.
This is one of those rare instances of time not being a friend, as in too much time left to let damage sink in.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 10:24 am
The SJ-R endorsed ALL of Rauner’s handpicked candidates.
Comment by He Makes Ryan Look Like a Saint Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 10:25 am
The SJ-R is not really owned and run by media people anymore who live locally. It is run by finance people in NYC.
Comment by Beaner Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 10:27 am
It doesn’t matter if a decision won’t be made until after the primary. The fact that the hearing was announced five days before the primary gives Benton’s folks ample time to ramp up press and make a final push. Early voting in Sangamon County still going on and literally runs right to Monday afternoon at the close of business.
Comment by Team Sleep Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 10:29 am
Like the Chicago Tribune the Springfield Journal-Register seems to be compromised. They have not done one story criticizing Benton. There is no balance and they have only attacked McCann and protected Benton from criticism. Something fishy is going on here.
Comment by said so Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 10:31 am
Beaner - but the ed board is mostly (if not all) local people. That includes Bernie Schoenberg.
Comment by Team Sleep Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 10:31 am
==Like the Chicago Tribune the Springfield Journal-Register seems to be compromised. They have not done one story criticizing Benton. There is no balance and they have only attacked McCann and protected Benton from criticism. Something fishy is going on here.==
Hey, save some tinfoil for the rest of us.
Comment by so... Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 10:34 am
The editorial also had this:
Benton, who also serves on the Prairie Capital Convention Center board, pretty much aligns identically with the governor’s “Turnaround Agenda.” Pressed for details, he stuck to talking points and did not seem to display in-depth knowledge on issues beyond law enforcement.
With $2 million invested on his behalf by Rauner allies, can Benton speak for himself? That is absolutely a fair question for voters to ask. When pressed on where he might differ from the governor, Benton did say that he wished the governor had expanded the list of medical conditions that qualify a patient for a medical marijuana prescription.
As a trooper, BB knows the difference between red and green. Thats all he needs to know as a senator. If he has any problems, a 24 yo staffer will help him. Good value for $2 mil.
Comment by Langhorne Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 10:36 am
Gov Rauner knows the formula to win and he is using it with his hand picked candidates.
Comment by Magic carpet ride Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 10:38 am
The endorsement really shouldn’t have come as a surprise. The story about the hearing officer is the big hit. The folks will need to push harder to defeat the Rauner puppet.
Comment by Norseman Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 10:39 am
==Former state Rep. Raymond Poe has endorsed Benton, saying that “as a state employee himself, Bryce will be a strong voice for (state workers) in the state government.”==
That’s an interesting viewpoint, are there any examples where Benton would support state employees over Rauner’s objections? Any?
Comment by AC Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 10:43 am
@Team Sleep. Not really all local people. Corporate transplants with no ties to the area. Bernie doesn’t get a vote. Can only ask questions.
I have no dog in the fight, but “Said so” isn’t completely wrong. Besides his modeling career, the SJ-R has been pretty light on Benton. He’s been on the convention center board for ten minutes and has no experience other than gazing at himself longingly in the mirror.
Curiously, the SJ-R again featured every charge against McCann, but nary a mention of the myriad of tax, debt, and character questions against Kent Gray in the neighboring contest for State Rep.
Too bad somebody couldn’t come up with a decent candidate in this senate race. I’d have trouble voting for either.
Comment by Indochine Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 10:43 am
Indochine - good call on Bernie S, although I bet that his opinion and reports/columns have a bearing. I do know that they have several community members on the board.
Comment by Team Sleep Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 10:49 am
Say it with me … toast.
Comment by Ottawa Phil Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 10:49 am
===That includes Bernie Schoenberg===
Bernie isn’t on the editorial board.
Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 10:55 am
This is a race that McCann should have been able to easily win despite the near $2 million spent against him. But his response to the stories on him did him no good. There’s still a chance he pulls off a win, but its looking more and more like the folks in the 50th district want a turnaround in their Senator.
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 10:57 am
Rich - correct, and I apologize. I noted that in my 10:49 post. He has sat in on Ed Board interviews that I have staffed.
Comment by Team Sleep Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 10:58 am
Indo - sorry to go back to Bernie S, but he has written about Kent Gray’s problems in his columns. I also think that Kent is not taken seriously and that the 99th House GOP primary will not be close, whereas the 50th Senate GOP primary looks to be a lot more contentious. I could be wrong on how Rep. Jimenez and the HRO are viewing it, but that would be my take. Rep. Jimenez is working it, though.
Comment by Team Sleep Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 11:01 am
-i will be curious to see if McCann is saved by his vote on the no strike bill…. becae otherwise imho he would lose this election.-
It is because of his vote on SB1229 that Rauner is funding Benton.
Comment by Small Town Girl Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 11:01 am
Indochine - no one takes Gray seriously. On another note, while I would like to see McCann win simply because of his position to Rauner, his constituent service has been subpar. Emails not returned, or returned with snarky “Why don’t you look it up in my bio” comments. Service to district is more than a vote.
Comment by Dr X Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 11:02 am
When I worked for the state, and submitted travel vouchers that possibly exceed my mileage and got called on it, somehow saying “book keeping is not my strong suit” would not prevent my getting a discharge notice. Just saying.
Comment by illinifan Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 11:02 am
=Benton brings a positivity that offers a chance for enthusiasm and change outcomes=
Other than a smiling picture of his wife in a few ads, what positive message has Benton delivered in anything? His issues seem to be arrest state legislators and McCann!
Comment by OurMagician Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 11:02 am
Where is Bryce Benton working as it shows on the CMS web site he hasn’t worked for the State since 2010?
==Former state Rep. Raymond Poe has endorsed Benton, saying that “as a state employee himself, Bryce will be a strong voice for (state workers) in the state government.”==
That’s an interesting viewpoint, are there any examples where Benton would support state employees over Rauner’s objections? Any?
Comment by Fed Up2 Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 11:14 am
SJR…never heard of her…
Comment by Westward Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 11:25 am
I’m not surprised by the endorsement. To say the Governor is off to a bad start is putting it mildly. He’s had the worst 1st year of any Governor in my lifetime but you wouldn’t know it by reading the SJR. They have not been critical of the Governor.
Comment by The Dude Abides Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 11:28 am
Why is this so surprising? Has there been a single paper in the state to endorse either AFSCME arbitration bill? To everyone outside of state government, this is a no-brainer.
Comment by Robert the 1st Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 11:52 am
I despised how Sam ran his last campaign but yet I find myself pulling a republican ballot for the first time just so I can vote for him. I’m sure most of the charges against him are true, but I’d rather have him than a Raunerite. Yet, if Benton wins, Rauner will see it as support for his agenda rather than people being disgusted with all of Sam’s antics.
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 11:59 am
Certainly, McCann has much to answer for, and it is absolutely baffling that he’s had nearly six months to get his house in order, ever since Illinois Observer first reported this stuff on mileage and grouped expenditures. Doesn’t look good. At all.
But it’s hard to escape the appearance that the SJR, and other media, has allowed itself to be used as a cheap tool. The biggest paper in McCann’s district didn’t pick up the mileage/grouped expenditure issue until last month, when it was brought up as a campaign issue, just as the Observer predicted it would last summer. There’s also the issue of who, exactly, is this complainant. The Jacksonville paper apparently interviewed him last month, but no one seems to have asked him who is paying the legal fees to bring this to the forefront so that McCann will almost certainly look like an utter fool the day before the election.
As someone said in The Godfather, they played this one beautifully.
As for the SJR editorial board, there isn’t one, for all intents and purposes. There hasn’t been an editorial page editor since Thanksgiving-ish. The publisher isn’t known for her immersion in civic issues, government or politics. What you’re left with is three community volunteers. They might be great people, but that’s not an editorial board in the true sense of the word. Most of the editorials are reprints from Peoria and points beyond. If the SJR isn’t willing to do what it takes to produce an editorial page that goes beyond letters to the editor and syndicated columns on national issues, it should get out of the editorial business.
Comment by The Gray Lady Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 12:11 pm
McCann is my State Senator. His staff has been constantly changing (in one instance, the same person comes and goes). He does not return phone calls even when you are working with him on an issue. He does not answer his cell, and his cell is often at capacity with messages, so you can not leave a message.
His district office is usually locked.
I hate to see big outside money determine this race, but no one has yet done the complete story on McCann.
Comment by a constituent Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 12:29 pm
== That’s an interesting viewpoint, are there any examples where Benton would support state employees over Rauner’s objections? Any? ==
No.
Comment by RNUG Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 12:43 pm
== but its looking more and more like the folks in the 50th district want a turnaround in their Senator. ==
No, but we may get one …
Comment by RNUG Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 12:46 pm
“Despite his [Benton] lack of knowledge” and “despite his only depth of knowledge is law enforcement” … the SJR editors are telling us to vote for Benton, why???
Comment by SJR - isn't dead yet Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 12:46 pm
After the example being made of McCann for showing independence from party bosses on a single vote, will Republicans spare us from their habitual rhetoric about Democratic legislators supposedly being mushrooms who blindly follow their party bosses?
A new nickname for Rauner’s assassin: Dan “The Hitman” Proft.
Comment by anon Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 12:51 pm
Now Rodney Davis & Darin LaHood have just endorsed Benton.
Comment by downstater Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 1:10 pm
==After the example being made of McCann for showing independence from party bosses on a single vote, will Republicans spare us from their habitual rhetoric about Democratic legislators supposedly being mushrooms who blindly follow their party bosses?==
No
Comment by AC Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 1:14 pm
=“Despite his [Benton] lack of knowledge” and “despite his only depth of knowledge is law enforcement” … the SJR editors are telling us to vote for Benton, why???=
Because Rauner!
Comment by Qui Tam Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 1:17 pm
Rauner is spending all this money to show his Republicans what will happen to them if they vote against him.
It is a sad day when the legislators are not allowed to vote for their people!
Comment by Mama Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 2:12 pm
McCann stands up for the people in his district. That takes a lot of guts!
Comment by Mama Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 2:13 pm
==McCann stands up for the people in his district. That takes a lot of guts!==
AFSCME does not equal “the people of his district.” They are a small part of his district, the vast majority of which have no association with them.
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 2:31 pm
The SJ-R misstepped on this one. Based on what was written about Benton how could he be endorsed with any credibility? The best course of action would be to not endorse at all. This race is a choice between 2 very poor choices.
Comment by MyTwoCents Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 6:02 pm
I wonder if a Senator Benton would have to call the Governor’s mansion before casting a vote?
Comment by South Illinoisian Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 7:13 pm
“AFSCME does not equal “the people of his district.” They are a small part of his district, the vast majority of which have no association with them.”
So, Springfield and Jacksonville aren’t economies reliant on state government? I can’t think of one person in Springfield that doesn’t either a)work for the public sector b) have a family member that works in the public sector or c) work for a business reliant on customers from a) and b).
The willingness of Central Illinois to slit it’s throat is astonishing.
Comment by Hullabaloo Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 7:32 pm
=== I wonder if a Senator Benton would have to call the Governor’s mansion before casting a vote? ===
Nah, Goldberg will be standing by his desk telling him when to jump.
Comment by Norseman Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 7:56 pm