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* The transportation funding lockbox amendment overwhelmingly prevailed in every Illinois county, despite lots and lots of harsh editorials and columnists who regularly rail on the General Assembly for an inability to do its job. Well, the lockbox amendment does the job for legislators and that seemed abundantly clear to fed-up voters.
And now we’re stuck with it.
* Meanwhile, Donald Trump won McHenry County by 8 points. Mark Kirk won it by 10. Democratic state Rep. Jack Franks won the county board chairman’s race by 15 points. Franks represents only about a third of that county in the House. Say what you want about him, but the man knows how to win.
* This was a waste of a million dollars by asbestos trial lawyers…
Despite efforts to derail the Republican Fifth District Appellate Court candidates’ campaigns with lawyer-funded attack ads, the Republican candidates are leading by roughly 10 percent margins with 99 percent of the precincts reporting.
For the vacancy created through the retirement of Bruce Stewart, Madison County Circuit Judge John Barberis is leading with a margin of 55 percent to 45 percent. Barberis has received 305,727 votes, while Williamson County Circuit Judge Brad Bleyer has received 238,255 votes.
I don’t know who did their TV ad, but this was just silly from the get-go…
If they’d just given me that money I would’ve absolutely guaranteed them the same end results. /s
* Speaking of that part of the world…
Republican Ron Duebbert has been elected circuit judge in the Twentieth Judicial Circuit, defeating Democrat incumbent, Chief Judge John Baricevic.
That’s a huge GOP win. The Baricevic family had a very bad night.
* And while we’re in the formerly Democratic-dominated Metro East…
In a squeaker of a race, Republican Kurt Prenzler beat Democrat Alan Dunstan for chairmanship of Madison County government.
Prenzler is a tea party favorite, won the county treasurer’s office four years ago and ran on a platform of lowering taxes.
* What else is out there?
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 12:54 pm
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At least Bob Romanik did not prevail in his campaign.
But neither he nor his money are going away!
Comment by illini Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 1:01 pm
I’m pretty sure that whoever produced that spot would have dressed up the fat dude in the tutu no matter the issue or candidate. Just dying to do it.
The St. Louis area is a world of its own.
Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 1:03 pm
Metro East politics are certainly changing. I was floored at how easily Barberis and Moore won their respective races. Those were blowouts. Ron Duebbert is a super hard working guy. Kurt Prenzler is also hard working and very gutsy. Rodger Cook likely would have made the St. Clair County Board Chairman race closer if he had more cash.
Franks winning is no surprise but I was a bit taken aback by the spread.
I noted last week that the lockbox proposal would get 75%. I was close.
It does make sense because people pay those specific taxes for a specific purpose and expect the money to be used appropriately.
Comment by Team Sleep Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 1:05 pm
I thought the Rhonda Crawford thing was a hoot. Arrested for impersonating a judge only to be elected a judge. Priceless.
Comment by Demoralized Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 1:05 pm
Franks also spent a ton of money, and his opponent did not run the best of campaigns. But, he did in fact win…
Comment by Favorite Human Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 1:06 pm
Orland Township voted 54-46 to secede from Cook County and join Will County.
I expect a Fort Sumter at a local Cook County Forest Preserve at any moment. The Orland militia is organizing over a beef at Portillo’s. /s
Comment by Ron Burgundy Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 1:11 pm
Gonna get me a lockbox-shaped spittoon, and I don’t even chew.
Comment by walker Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 1:12 pm
LaSalle County has been trending Republican for years and it was really apparent this year. Skoog wasn’t the only incumbent beat by the Republicans. They won the state’s attorney, county clerk, and recorder of deeds races against incumbent Democrats. Jim Hicks (D) did hold on to the county chair position, but he won by less than half a percentage point.
Comment by G'Kar Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 1:14 pm
The Judge Baricevic defeat is especially sweet, this is a sitting judge that decided to run for election to his own seat instead of simply facing a retention vote. The percentage of votes required to be retained is higher (60%?) than a simple majority against an opponent, so he figured he’d take on any loser the R’s could throw at him and slide back into his seat in D dominated St. Clair County. Sorry your honor, people are getting tired of being played.
Comment by Stooges Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 1:16 pm
I know that Raja’s election was favored after he won the primary, but a big win for him. I think he is a rising star for the IL Dems.
I know there are a lot of benchwarmers in the state senate for the Dems, but I think he just got moved up on the bench.
Comment by siriusly Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 1:16 pm
–Well, the lockbox amendment does the job for legislators and that seemed abundantly clear to fed-up voters.–
With the lockbox amendment, something has to give, and it won’t be the consent decrees or the judicial order paying employees without an approp., as things stand now.
More squeeze the beast, and welcome back, pension holiday.
Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 1:16 pm
A referendum to increase school funding for Edwardsville lost 51% to 49% and a proposal to consolidate East Alton, Hartford and Wood River school districts lost by 9 votes… not 9%. It lost by 9 votes. Education was also a loser last night.
Comment by Fairness and Fairness Only Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 1:24 pm
Republicans also took over Madison Co Board in addition to chairman.
Comment by Reme Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 1:26 pm
Lockbox is going to squeeze local governments.
And my guess is there will be a push to put K-12 and higher ed spending into a lockbox. Can’t blame the public frankly.
Comment by From the 'Dale to HP Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 1:26 pm
Will County Board remains in GOP hands but Democrat Larry Walsh remains Will County Executive.
Comment by Mokena Pretzels Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 1:28 pm
Hey!
Wait!
I’ve got a new complaint
Forever in debt to your priceless advice
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6P0SitRwy8
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 1:36 pm
A woman who isn’t allowed to practice law got elected to be a judge in Cook County even though she can’t take the bench. I wonder if she’ll still collect her salary and pension.
Comment by Not It Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 1:36 pm
Jackson County passed a 1% sales tax to fund school facilities. I am very sorry to see that Brad Bleyer lost.
Comment by redeft Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 2:10 pm
Once again, the trial lawyers tried to buy justice and it failed.
As they say, a fool and his money is soon parted….
Comment by 4 percent Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 2:19 pm
Congratulations to Local 150 and all the others who helped get this passed. They did a masterful job getting through the hurdles in the Legislature and then wisely teamed up with Mike Z to run a great campaign. Great leadership!
Comment by Roads Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 2:19 pm
Will be curious to see how much Scott Bennett spent to beat his opponent, 61/39%. Never saw an ad for ‘the other Mike Madigan’, but Bennett was always on TV in Central IL.
Comment by Behind the Scenes Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 3:05 pm
Franks got about the same under 60% (57.5%) margin that he got two years ago when Steve Reick brought him under 60%.
Considering the paid workers and negative mailings against his opponent, who won re-election to his district seat quite handily, getting less than 60% must have disappointed him.
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 3:25 pm
With all the R’s winning in Madison County that makes Kay’s loss all the more interesting.
Comment by Highland IL Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 3:39 pm
“Once again, the trial lawyers tried to buy justice and it failed.”
I am not certain I buy your characterization of ” buying justice”. I have gotten to know both Judge Weber and Judge Bleyer. As honest, competent and capable as anyone would hope to have sitting on the Appellate Court - and they were definitely not for sale.
Yet, I suppose that it is quite alright for a Billionaire Governor and his friends to spend many, many million try to change the composition of the GA and other state offices. What was the ROI on their investment when they lost a major office and only picked up a hand full of seats?
Comment by illini Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 3:57 pm
jack franks won by 15 points, a Democrat, way out in that county, who is Jewish. drink that in for several moments. and then ask yourself, what does Jack do that appeals to people? what does he have that works?
Comment by Amalia Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 8:36 pm