* Republican Ethan Hastert, the son of former US House Speaker Denny Hastert, has begun raising money for a congressional bid. His performance to date isn’t exactly impressive. Hastert raised $86,600 in the second quarter of the year for his campaign against Democratic incumbent Bill Foster, who pulled in $384,173 and had $592,702 on hand.
Hastert’s fundraising expectations were quite high, considering his bloodline, but this report won’t impress anyone.
* Political quote of the day goes to GOP gubernatorial candidate Dan Proft…
The 37-year-old graduate of Northwestern University and Loyola Law School spoke fondly of his years caddying at Chicago Golf Club in Wheaton and the people he met on the job.
“Caddying was a fantastic experience … I developed a work ethic and learned to respect my elders,” Proft said.
Apparently, Proft does not believe that his fellow Republican candidates are his “elders,” even though they’re all older than him. He’s fast getting the reputation as the junkyard dog in the race.
* Proft does provide a glimpse into the future for Comptroller Dan Hynes, though, with this new press release…
While Burr Oak Was Robbed, Dan Hynes Raised $900K
Illinois government has basic responsibilities to its citizens. The Chicago 9 routinely ignore these core duties and meddle in areas where government has no place, while amassing political war chests for the next political stepping stone. In a Proft Administration government will fulfill its promises and focus on its core mission.
The Burr Oak Cemetery crime reveals in plain view that the Chicago 9 – in this instance Illinois Comptroller Dan Hynes – are more concerned with perpetuating their power than with fulfilling their duty.
It would not surprise anyone that grave-robbing is illegal. But the response of Mr. Hynes, the constitutional officer who is responsible for cemetery oversight, is to pass a new law, grab a headline, move out, and move up. Cemetery oversight is the duty of the comptroller; outside of the constitutional responsibility to order state payments from funds maintained by the State Treasurer, oversight of cemeteries is one of the few other core duties of that office and Mr. Hynes has failed to fulfill his duty.
* Green Party gubernatorial candidate Rich Whitney lays out the campaign ahead…
And with the wind of a faltering state legislature at his back, Whitney said his chances are good. While he acknowledged the failures of state lawmakers in Springfield who, for the third consecutive year failed to pass a budget on time, Whitney said that won’t be the focus of his campaign.
“Such an argument does carry some force and it may be one reason to vote for me,” he said. “But I will not base this campaign on the simple notion that, true as it is, I’m not one of them. This campaign will be about demonstrating to the voters that I am one of you.”
Whitney said he embraces a long-proposed measure that would lower property taxes in favor of an increased income tax as a means of both closing the state’s $11.5 billion deficit and providing more equal education funding across the state.
Among his other proposals Whitney endorsed a single-payer health care system, budget reform and measures to reduce the clout of special interest groups and big-business donors.
* State Sen. Dave Koehler (D-Peoria) has endorsed Peoria native Raja Krishnamoorthi for comptroller. From a press release…
“Raja Krishnamoorthi has proven his commitment to a more transparent and efficient state government,” Senator Koehler said. “It will be a great honor that the next State Comptroller has deep roots in Peoria. I cannot think of another candidate that could better serve this state than Raja.”
The last person with Peoria roots to hold statewide constitutional office is believed to be John Edward A. Cassidy, who was Illinois Attorney General from 1938-1941, according to the Illinois Attorney General’s website.
* Democratic Cook County Commissioner Joan Murphy sponsored the 1 cent sales tax hike, but her Democratic primary opponent, Nick Valadez of Oak Forest, thinks there are other issues…
“It’s the anger and frustration of people who couldn’t park their commercial vehicles in the driveways of their own homes that convinced me to get in the race,” Valadez said.
“They swarmed my office begging me to run. I have 150 of them willing to campaign for me. They want to give me money for the campaign. They convinced me to get into this race. And that’s going to be one of my key issues in the campaign.” […]
Of course, Valadez is still going to criticize Murphy for backing that sales tax hike and later voting on an unsuccessful motion to repeal that law.
“She represents a district that borders Will County and Indiana,” he said. “If she was representing her constituents, she would have voted against that tax increase.”
Murphy also “stood up with Crestwood Mayor Robert Stranczek and tried to defend the village’s decision to distribute water that was poisoned,” Valadez said.
Target-rich environment.
Murphy reported raising almost $45,000 the first six months of this year and had about $25K in the bank by June 30th.
* I didn’t know this, but Sen. Kirk Dillard, an announced GOP gubernatorial candidate, threw out the first pitch at Rickett’s Field before Sunday’s game against the Cardinals…
If you listen carefully, you’ll hear that the announcer referred to Dillard as “Kurt.” Also, notice that he didn’t throw from the mound. His pitch did make it to the plate, though.
* Deputy House Majority Leader Art Turner will announce his lieutenant governor’s campaign soon. He has a website, but nothing’s there yet. And his FaceBook page announced his appearance on WTTW’s “Chicago Tonight” yesterday. No talk about campaigns, though. Just the budget…
* Yesterday, we posted a Pat Quinn campaign video featuring his attentiveness to southern Illinois. Today’s video is from the recent Gay Pride Parade in Chicago…
* Related…
* Retired Illinois judge to run for US Senate seat: Sixty-two-year-old Don Lowery of Dixon Springs in Pope County says he’ll be running as a Republican for the Senate seat now held by Roland Burris.
* Blagojevich Closes Campaign Office
* Family of dead Burris ally-turned-critic seeks answers: “There’s not any paint transfer from another other vehicle, car marks or skid marks,” Kendall Sheriff’s Cmdr. Scott Koster said. Koster said there were no defects in the car and no drugs or alcohol involved. The accident was likely caused “by a few moments of inattentive driving,” Koster said.