Wednesday Watch: The Most Expensive Illinois Legislative Primary? Judicial Pensions on the Table?…and More

(Springfield, IL) – And The Prize For Most Expensive Primary So Far Goes To… GOP State Senators Dave Syverson (R-Rockford) and Christine Johnson (R-Shabbona) for harvesting $581,100 with which to clobber each other. Second Prize Goes To… State Senator Kirk Dillard (R-Hinsdale) and State Rep. Chris Nybo (R-Lombard) for vacuuming in $512,800 for their slugflest.

That’s $1 million unavailable to assault Democrats in November. Thanks for those numbers go to David Morrison at Illinois Campaign for Political Reform.

More Money Rushes In – State Rep. Kelly Cassidy (D-Chicago) who is fighting to keep her seat on Chicago’s north side against a stiff challenge from lesbian activist Paula Basta continues to haul in heaps of campaign cash. Cassidy reported $9,000 more on Tuesday. Illinois PAC for Education popped for $8,000 and House Deputy Majority Leader Lou Lang (D-Skokie) gave $1,000.

State Rep. Toni Barrios (D-Chicago) yesterday reported $2,500, which is on top of the $246,700 she’s already raised. Berrios is fending off a challenge from Will Guzzardi, a former Huffing Post editor in Chicago. Guzzardi has raised $61,300… Conservative activist Jack Roeser, who is playing not so subtly or nicely in a top Democratic primary, tallied $26,000 for his Republican Renaissance PAC, including a $10,000 check from Richard Weiss of Wells Capital Management.

Mr. Moneybags – The biggest contributor so far to legislative primary campaigns has been–drum roll here–the Illinois Education Association: $555,100.

Help Wanted – Ex-Equality Illinois political director and lobbyist Rick Garcia, who was fired from his post at the human rights group, has landed a new gig at The Civil Rights Agenda as a “Policy Advisor”. “Everyone kept saying, work with TCRA because that is the organization actually getting things done,” said Garcia. “Everyone was right.” Everyone except for, perhaps, his ex-employer.

All Aboard – The Rockefeller Foundation yesterday kicked in $485,000 to The Chicago Community Trust to improve Chicago’s bus service. The dough will go to “planning, branding and community outreach projects”. No word on whether that money will help folks to get to work on time.

To Do–Today, Wednesday, the Illinois Senate intends to pass a bi-partisan Illinois budget revenue resolution, HR 68, sponsored by Senate Republican Leader Christine Radogno (R-Lemont), that mirrors projections made by the House resolution sponsored by Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) and Minority Leader Tom Cross (R-Oswego).

From the Corner Office – State Senator Terry Link (D-Vernon Hills) hosted a gaming strategy meeting with assorted gaming players in his senate office on Tuesday afternoon.

Don’t Quote Me – Rumor and gossip that’s not quite fit to print, but, what the heck, we’re including it anyway because we’re sure you’ll find it as titillating as we do… Judicial Pension Changes on the Table? In a pension reform meeting yesterday, staff from Governor Pat Quinn’s office floated a proposal for retired judges to compromise on their pension benefits. Illinois State Employees Association Retirees Executive Director Rudy Kink canned that idea: no. … Do They Have a Policy to Cover a Loss? Big Illinois insurance companies are increasingly worried that State Senator Bill Haine (D-Alton), Chairman of the Senate Insurance Committee, may lose his seat in November. The well-respected and admired Haine faces a tough fight in November against Wood River Township Supervisor Mike Babcock (R-Bethalot) in a traditional Democratic district that is trending more Republican every 15 minutes.

What’s a Work Day? … Chicago’s Mayor in Peoria – For Mayor Rahm Emanuel and U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, they will be discussing economic development across the Chicago region. They will chat about Chicago economic development at a meeting of the Peoria Chamber of Commerce at the Peoria Civic Center, starting at 11:45 a.m.

For Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, she will announce a Sustainability Advisory Council for the Chicago region at a press conference in Chicago. The panel’s proposed co-chairs, Anne Pramaggiore, President and CEO of ComEd, and Christopher Kennedy, ex-President of Merchandise Mart will join Preckwinkle in the county press room at 10:30 a.m.

For Quinn, he has no public events.

Send press releases, comments or tips to David Ormsby at [email protected].