February 25, 2015
"SPEND-TO-STAY" ALIVE AND WELL IN ILLINOIS
It cost Bruce Rauner (R) $32.03-per-vote to get elected Illinois' governor. That's not quite double what Pat Quinn spent ($17.95-per-vote). Add it all up, including the SuperPACs, and the total spent is close to $125 million, and that's just for governor. Rauner campaigned on a pledge to "Shake up Springfield. Other than his own win, the status quo remained unshaken. Speaker Madigan (D) raised $12.8 million in 2014, spending up to $600,000.00 in certain House districts to retain his 71-47 majority; Senate President Cullerton (D) raised $5.1 million, losing only one senate seat. Republicans fervently hope Rauner delivers on his no new taxes/less spending promises. Full Article...
February 18, 2015
AS ELECTION APPROACHES, 'FIZZLERS' RETURN TO REALITY
It’s “fizzler” time – that dreaded, painful moment, usually about a week before the election, when delusional candidates have an epiphany, and realize that defeat is imminent. Their campaigns have fizzled, due to lack of money, endorsements, workers, PAC contributions, or candidate flaws, or all of the above. With the Feb. 24 Chicago municipal elections imminent, here’s this column’s recitation of fizzlers and winners. Full Article...
February 11, 2015
IT'S "WHOPPER TIME" IN 38TH WARD ALDERMANIC RACE
It's "Whopper time" in Chicago's northwest side 38th Ward. And we're not discussing hamburgers. "Burger Queen" Heatrher Sattler is serving up plenty of implausible, undigestible delights. Long the lair of the Cullerton Clan -- a Cullerton has been in the city council for 125 of the last 144 years, since 1871. Incumbent Tim Cullerton is retiring, and Sattler, daughter of his former chief-of-staf. is touting herself as an "independent; she isTim's annointed successor. The city council remapped anti-Emanuel 36th Ward Alderman Nick Sposato into the newly-configured 38th Ward, which contains 50% of the old 38th Ward and 47% of the old 36th Ward. Sattler bemoans "lack of services and increasing taxes,"" but blames Rich Daley, not mom, Tim or Rahm. She claims to be a "pillar of civic leadership in the community." but has lived in the ward for all of 2 years. Sposato has raised over $200,000, and the SEIU (which is anti-Emanuel) will spend what it takes (over $100,000) for pro-Sposaro mailings. Sattler's "Whoppers" will be her undoing..Sposato is way out front. Full Article...
February 04, 2015
"BUPKIS" CANDIDATES FACE SILVERSTEIN IN 50TH WARD
It's nice to have a "bupkis" for an opponent. That's an ancient Yiddish word for a person of no consequence, a nobody, or, in politics, a loser. In Chicago's West Rogers Park 50th Ward, where the House of Silverstein prevails, incumbent Ald. Debra Silverstein faces two bupkis foes in 2015. The ward is a veritable ethnic melting pot, but Jews remain a voting majority. Ira Silverstein is the area's state senator and Democratic committeeman. After decades of feuding between the likes of Howie Carrolll and Berny Stone, the Silversteins have consolidated all power in one couple. Full Article...
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