(Chicago, IL) – All Politics is Local Part I – Democratic state representative candidate Chris Welch of Hillside, who’s campaigning for an open seat in western Cook County, won the open support of the Illinois House GOP Campaign Chairman and nearby incumbent State Rep. Angelo “Skip” Saviano (R-Elmwood Park) in large part because he is not fellow Democrat Rory Hoskins, Welch’s top opponent in the four-way Democratic primary, sources say.
Hoskins, who is a Village of Forest Park commissioner, was first elected to his village post with the help of Saviano in 2007. In 2011, Hoskins allied himself with fellow commissioner Marty Tellalian’s failed effort to challenge long-time Forest Park Mayor Anthony Calderone for a fourth-term.
Calderone’s chief ally is Saviano. Calderone is also backing Welch, a Proviso school board trustee Ex-commissioner Tellalian is backing Hoskins.
Had Hoskins played nice he might have been Skip’s endorsed Democratic state representative candidate on Tuesday.
All Politics is Local and Petty Part II – Pontiac Mayor Scott McCoy, who is locked in a five-way GOP primary for an open, downstate state house seat in the new 106th district, aired recently a testy e-mail exchange with the GOP Livingston County Chair John McGlasson who is backing McCoy opponent Brian Gabor.
The epicenter of the political drama was the Pontiac Elks Lodge. McCoy was skipping the GOP Lincoln Day rubber chicken Dinner two weeks ago to attend his daughter’s play, but he planned a brief radio interview at the lodge in a separate room that evening. Because he was to be in the same building as the dinner, McGlasson wanted the mayor to buy a ticket. McCoy refused. McCoy published the exchanged, which is not worth the price of admission.
Follow the Money – Late last night, Democratic state house candidate Christian Mitchell, who is battling Kenny Johnson for an open seat, reported $28,000 in fresh campaign cash, including $25,000 from Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle… Just after midnight Chicago Democratic state senate hopeful Napoleon Harris, who has been largely and generously funding his own campaign, reported a $5,000 check from the Chicago Teachers Union… Republican state senate hopeful, perennial candidate and dairy magnate Jim Oberweis found someone besides himself to donate to his campaign. John Miller from Glenview dropped $5,000 into Oberweis’ war chest… On Wednesday, House democratic wannabe Silvana Taberes of Chicago got a $9,500 check from State Senator Marty Sandoval (D-Chicago)… Also on Wednesday House Republican hopeful and Illinois senate judiciary staffer Chris Hage of Wheaton, who is seeking an open seat in DuPage county, snagged $5,000 from wealthy conservative Jack Roeser of Barrington who is President of the Family Taxpayers Network.
Illinois Democrats Taken to TASC – On Sunday, two days before the primary on Tuesday, top Illinois Democrats U.S. Senator Dick Durbin, U.S. Rep Danny K. Davis (D-Chicago), State Senator Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago) and State Senator Kwame Raoul (D-Chicago) are taking precious time away from campaign battles of allies–and in Davis’ case his own fight with ex-State Rep. Deborah Graham for the 29th Ward’s Democratic committeeman’s job–to be feted with awards from the Illinois Association for Criminal Justice. The event is at 571 West Jackson in Chicago at 3:00 p.m. The group is spearheaded by the influential TASC or Treatment Alternatives for Safe Communities, a criminal justice advocacy group, and the treatment behemoth Safer Foundation.
Transit Group Says Chicago Tribune Misreporting Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s Speed Camera Plan: The Active Transportation Alliance issued a statement on Wednesday blasting the Tribune’s reporting of Emanuel’s speed camera program, but in the swirl of Chicago Democrat State Rep. Derrick Smith’s arrest, the statement was buried.
Here it is:
“The Chicago Tribune reporters appear to be more interested in blocking speed camera enforcement than reporting on it. In their latest story published today, even the headline is inaccurate: “Mayor’s speed camera stats sketchy.” To date there has been no speed camera enforcement… How about the following data we have given the Tribune and it continues to selectively omit from its reporting”:
- An analysis of more than 90 studies assessing speed enforcement cameras in the Journal of the Transportation Research Board found an average injury crash reduction of 20 to 25 percent, with more effective programs reducing crashes by more than 50 percent.
- According to research done by the United Kingdom Department of Transportation, at 40 mph, pedestrians survive a crash only about 15 percent of time. At 20 mph, the survival rate for pedestrians is 95 percent.
Data smata.
Don’t Quote Me – Rumor and gossip that’s not quite fit to print, but, what the heck, we’re including it anyway as a public service because we’re sure you’ll find it as titillating as we do… Don’t Call Us, We’ll Call You – Illinois Blue Cross Blue Shield should not go knocking on the door of Mayor Emanuel anytime soon.
What’s a Work Day? Governor Pat Quinn will hold a press availability regarding Illinois’ appeal of FEMA’s federal disaster aid denial. Quinn is at James R. Thompson Center Plaza at 10:15 a.m… Mayor Rahm Emanuel has no public events… State Rep. Sara Feigenholtz (D-Chicago) has a House Human Services Appropriations Committee hearing at the Michael A. Bilandic Building, 6th Floor at 10:30 a.m.
Gov. Pat Quinn
Where are the meetings? I noticed that Quinn is having a meeting at the James R. Thompson center and that Feigenholtsz is having a meeting at the Michael M. Bilandic building and it occurs to me that we are falling behind in naming building after politicians. I do knows that in DuPage they named the court house after Henry Hyde and the jail after Pate Philip so at least we here in DuPage have a sense of humor.I think you should have a contest for naming building after deserving politicians and their contributors, Cellini & Rezko come to mind. I know we are sort of lacking in safe politicians to name things after but perhaps we could name the new prison the Feds bought in Illinois the State House and keep the local politicians closer to home when they have to “go away”.
Posted by Jim Sather | March 16, 2012, 9:06 AMFWIW Obama’s name is bigger and takes top billing on those Welch signs I see in Hillside. You’d think Welch had the nod for VP. Don’t know what the two would do with Skip in the WH….send him to Ray LaHood maybe.
Posted by Bill Baar | March 16, 2012, 2:05 PM