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Shia Kapos' must-read rundown of political news in the Land of Lincoln
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By SHIA KAPOS
11/17/2021 08:16 AM EST
Good Wednesday morning, Illinois. We’re in the final countdown. Thanksgiving may be a week from tomorrow but we all know we’re phoning it in the day before.
There was pizza, beer and political drama last night as hundreds of Cook County Democrats gathered in restaurants and school classrooms on Chicago’s North Side to cast their ballots for candidates they want to endorse in 2022.
Some wards are still counting, but Norwood Park and 38th Ward Democrats announced at about 10:30 p.m. that they’re endorsing Alexi Giannoulias for Illinois secretary of state, Tom Dart for another term as Cook County sheriff and Kari Steele for Cook County assessor — a surprise given she’s a South Sider competing against incumbent Fritz Kaegi. Official slating is Dec. 13 and 14.
Talk about democracy at work. Last night’s pre-slating process was a far cry from the old days of backroom decision-making about who would appear on campaign literature and mailings.
“Now we make decisions collectively and openly and everyone who’s involved in electing Democrats gets a say in the process,” Paul Rosenfeld, the 47th Ward Committeeman, told Playbook after leaving DePaul College Prep, where candidates spoke for up to five minutes and took questions from Democrats in the ward. Democrats from the 40th Ward were also in that slating.
In all of the locations on the North Side, party members took a ballot before taking their seats and listening to the candidates. Everyone gave their elevator pitch about why they deserve an endorsement, including 14 water reclamation candidates — who gave an earful about flooding and “green infrastructure.” Even Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, who doesn’t have a challenger for 2022, went through the process.
There was energy in the crowd and plenty of chatter about issues. “It was good to be together again talking about politics,” a Democrat from the 41st Ward said after leaving Dino’s Pizzeria, a joint owned by County Commissioner Kevin Morrison’s family and where beer and thin slice pizza was served (on the North Side no less). Democrats from the 39th and 50th wards were also at Dino’s.
The open process for slating candidates has been a gradual change. It has nothing to do with new leadership in the state Democratic Party, which is also calling for more transparency. It’s come about because the patronage system, which was common as recently as 10 years ago, has ended. Ward bosses can’t hand out jobs, so they are looking for new ways to engage Democrats and keep them excited for volunteering. Being part of the decision process does that.
And the beer helps.
Illinois state Rep. Dan Brady, speaking during a General Assembly meeting, is throwing his hat in the ring to run for Secretary of State. | Associated Press file photo
DAN BRADY IS IN: After months of speculation, state Rep. Dan Brady is announcing today he’s running for Illinois secretary of state. He’s already filed his paperwork with the State Board of Elections.
The Bloomington Republican will make it official at a press conference today.
Brady has been considering a SOS run for months. And though Democrats might have made that easier by drawing him out of his House district during the redistricting process, his veteran status meant he still could have won anywhere.
Last week, he said the remap wouldn’t be a deciding factor in his running for statewide office. “If it was about maps versus public service, I’d probably not even be thinking about this," Brady told Lee Enterprises. "But if you’re true about public service, that comes with a risk that you get out of that comfort zone and you do the exploring of things that I’m doing right now."
Brady served as McLean County coroner from 1992 to 2000. He’s been in the General Assembly since 2001, serving as Republican spokesman on the Higher Education, Insurance, and Rules committees.
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At the Drake Hotel at 11 a.m. to celebrate the in-person return of the annual Magnificent Mile Lights Festival ahead of the holiday season.
Presiding over the City Council meeting at 10 a.m.
Joining a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the new Belmont Cragin Health Center at 10 a.m.
— Illinois sees 70% increase in Covid cases in recent weeks: “While the recent increases in cases are causing some concerns among officials, the upticks are still not nearly what they were over the summer. As of Sept. 4, the state was seeing 4,440 new cases of Covid per day, the highest mark the state had seen since widespread inoculations against the coronavirus had begun,” reports NBC 5’s Mary Ann Ahern.
— DuPage County lags suburbs, Lake County leads in vaccinating kids 5 to 11: “Despite having the highest rate of fully vaccinated residents among the 102 counties in Illinois, DuPage County is lagging in getting needles into the arms of its younger residents who just recently became eligible for the Covid-19 vaccine,” by Daily Herald’s Jake Griffin.
— FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: Gil Villegas has secured endorsements from City Council colleagues for his run for Congress in the newly created 3rd District. Backing him are Alds. Scott Waguespack (32nd), Felix Cardona (31st), Chris Taliaferro (29th), and Ariel Reboyras (30th) — who all also serve as ward committeemen — and Ald. Samantha Nugent (39th), Elmwood Park Village President Angelo “Skip” Saviano, 26th Ward Committeewoman Angee Gonzalez Rodriguez, and former state Rep. John D’Amico.
— FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: All the Democratic big guns have come out for Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle in her bid for reelection 2022, including Gov. J.B. Pritzker, Lt. Gov.Juliana Stratton, Sens. Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth, Democratic Party of Illinois Chair and Congresswoman Robin Kelly, Senate President Don Harmon and Illinois House Speaker Chris Welch. Preckwinkle, who also serves as president of Cook County Democrats, also is backed by Sheriff Tom Dart, State’s Attorney Kim Foxx, Assessor Fritz Kaegi, Clerk of the Circuit Court Iris Martinez, Treasurer Maria Pappas, and Clerk Karen Yarbrough.
— FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: Republican state Rep. Seth Lewis is running for the Illinois Senate’s 24th District seat. Lewis currently represents the 45th House District. “I love being the voice in Springfield for the communities that I currently represent,” Lewis said in a statement. “After the implementation of the new legislative maps, I am fortunate to have the opportunity to continue serving our region on a greater scale by running for the state Senate. My goal as an elected official remains to make Illinois a place where people want to live, not to leave.”
— ENDORSEMENTS: DuPage County Board member Greg Hart has secured a long list of endorsements in his run for DuPage County Board president, including from state Sen. John Curran, Warrenville Mayor Dave Brummel, Hinsdale Village President Tom Cauley, and Naperville Mayor Steve Chirico. Full list
— Jessica Gutierrez, a community relations director at the Puerto Rican Cultural Center, is throwing her hat in the ring to run for the 30th Ward aldermanic seat now held by Ald. Ariel Reboyras. It’s a rematch as Gutierrez gave Reboyras a run for his money in 2019, pushing him into a runoff election that he ultimately won. The municipal election is in 2023.
— State Sen. Dale Fowler seeking reelection in 59th District: He’s served on the committees for Education, Higher Education, Energy, Public Utilities, Revenue, and Transportation and as the GOP spokesperson for Commerce and Economic Development. “During my time in office, I have worked with the members of our community and other state officials to accomplish great things for the families of Southern Illinois, but there is still more work to be done,” he said in a statement, via The Southern.
— Springfield to get $13.5M in federal grant money for Rail Improvements Project: Along with funding a new underpass at Madison and Jefferson streets, “grant money will fund grading and trackwork from Capitol Avenue to Mason Street and new pedestrian crossing signals at Capitol Avenue and Washington and Monroe streets,” reports State Journal-Register’s Riley Eubanks.
— Pritzker signs electric vehicle incentives package into law: “It was on an expedited timeline, an acknowledgment of the significant competition among states to attract EV producers and suppliers and how quickly those companies plan to make decisions on where to invest in the months ahead,” by Lee Enterprises’ Brenden Moore. WITH VIDEO
— Pritzker signs law banning dark money, out-of-state contributions in judicial campaigns, by NPR’s Hannah Meisel
— Some Illinois educators say they’ve been left out of plans to revamp state’s testing system, by Chalkbeat’s Samantha Smylie
— Pritzker announces $2.6M grant to expand aviation mechanic training in Rockford, by WREX’s Andrew Carrigan
— Sierra Club calls on Illinois EPA to deny operating permit to Pawnee natural gas plant, by ABC 20’s Jakob Emerson
— LGBTQ organizations say Illinois schools need to be safer, by WSIU’s Steph Whiteside
— Illinois’ copy of Gettysburg Address is coming out of the vaults, and it has a weird back story, by WTTW’s Patty Wetli
‘We’re behind the eight ball: Debate rages over new Chicago ward map with 15 days until deadline: “The leaders of the Chicago City Council’s Black and Latino caucuses said during a “Chicago Tonight” interview Tuesday that they could endorse a new Chicago ward map with 18 wards with a majority of Black voters and 15 wards with a majority of Latino voters. But it is not clear it would be possible to craft that map, given the fact that Chicago’s Latino population rose 5 percent from 2010 to 2020, while Chicago’s Black population dropped 10 percent, according to the 2020 census,” by WTTW’s Paris Schutz and Heather Cherone. WITH VIDEO
Illinois Board of Elections dismisses campaign finance complaint against Auditor General Frank Mautino: “The board’s action during a special meeting was the result of a May ruling by the Illinois Supreme Court, which found Mautino’s campaign committee violated campaign finance law by spending more than $227,000 over 15 years on gas and repairs at a local service station for vehicles that were not owned or leased by the committee,” by Tribune’s Rick Pearson.
STEP INSIDE THE WEST WING: What’s really happening in West Wing offices? Find out who’s up, who’s down, and who really has the president’s ear in our West Wing Playbook newsletter, the insider’s guide to the Biden White House and Cabinet. For buzzy nuggets and details that you won’t find anywhere else, subscribe today.
— City should buy Bears and sell shares to fans, alderperson says: “Ald. George Cardenas (12th), Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s City Council floor leader, plans to introduce a resolution Wednesday to authorize a feasibility study on ‘whether it is practical and advisable for the city to pursue the purchase of the Chicago Bears,’” by Sun-Times’ Fran Spielman.
— Lightfoot appoints Andrea Kersten as permanent COPA chief, defying 20 aldermen who wanted her disqualified: “The alderpersons are ‘vehemently opposed’ to Andrea Kersten because she allowed COPA to release a report recommending a three-day suspension for slain Chicago Police Officer Ella French,” by Sun-Times’ Fran Spielman.
— Controversial union boss officially leaves department — while eyeing Lightfoot’s job, write Tribune’s Alice Yin and Annie Sweeney.
— Sterling Bay hatches two-tower plan for Fulton Market: “The development firm has proposed high-rises with a blend of residences and offices,” by Sun-Times’ David Roeder.
— McDonald’s CEO meets with South Side community leaders: Chris Kempczinski talked about his commitment to equity after drawing criticism about a text he sent to the mayor, via Bloomberg
— Angry that slain Chicago Officer Ella French was recommended for discipline, aldermen oppose mayor’s police accountability nominee, by Tribune’s John Byrne
— Will this study silence Kaegi’s critics? Don’t count on it: “Big landlords grouse that the Cook County assessor is overvaluing their properties. A new analysis shows that he’s a big improvement over his predecessor,” by Crain’s Alby Gallun.
— Many Illinois red-light cameras illegally ticket drivers, lawsuit says: “At one intersection in Stone Park, over $695,000 has been collected in fines the past two years, attorneys argue,” by Sun-Times’ Jason Beeferman.
— Joliet residents protest plan to hike water rates: “Mayor Bob O’Dekirk’s proposal to build a billion-dollar pipeline to access Lake Michigan water from Chicago rankles some Joliet activists who say the costs should fall harder on major companies that use the most water,” by John Lippert for the Better Government Association.
— Meet the final two contenders for a south suburban casino: “East Hazel Crest/Homewood and the village of Matteson all vying for a licenses. The Illinois Gaming Board is expected to make its final decision at the beginning of 2022,” by WGN 9’s Glenn Marshall and Will Caldwell.
— New mosque approved in Naperville, after compromise on future phases, by Daily Herald’s Kevin Schmit
— Toy giant Ty, based in Oakbrook, says it’s paid more than $200M to avoid logjammed ports by flying its ‘Beanie Babies’ from China, by Business Insider
Waukegan officials ‘rigged’ casino selection to favor bid from former state lawmaker, rejected competitor alleges in lawsuit: “The allegations, detailed in a recent federal court filing from a company owned by the Forest County Potawatomi Community, come as state gambling regulators are scheduled to vote Thursday to give preliminary approval for the license to operate a long-sought Waukegan casino. The Illinois Gaming Board is choosing between North Point Casino, led by former state Sen. Michael Bond, and Las Vegas-based Full House Resorts,” by Tribune’s Dan Petrella.
Darlene Oliver Hightower has been named president and CEO of the Metropolitan Planning Council in Chicago. | Photo courtesy of MPC
Darlene O. Hightower has been named president and CEO of the Metropolitan Planning Council. “As the first Black CEO to lead the Metropolitan Planning Council, Hightower brings more than two decades of experience leading civic organizations and initiatives to new heights,” the organization said in a statement. Hightower will join MPC from Rush University Medical Center, where she serves as VP of Community Health Equity. Hightower will fill the big shoes of MarySue Barrett, who announced in March that she would be stepping down after leading MPC since 1996.
We asked what does the other political party do better than the party you support? “Supports Israel,” Alison Pure-Slovin said. “As a Democrat, my view is that Republicans are better at winning state-level legislatures hidden in full view,” says John Straus. “Nothing, or lie,” John McCabe says (of Republicans).
For tomorrow, where would you spend the $17 billion in infrastructure spending coming to Illinois from the federal government? Email to [email protected]
THE FIFTY: Illinois isn’t the only state seeing its “machine” style politics change. Trenton insiders are looking slack-jawed at the diminishment of South Jersey Democrats’ dominance, writes POLITICO’s Matt Friedman, who also authors the New Jersey Playbook.
Peoria Magazine gets new owners: “WTVP in Peoria has acquired the intellectual property and community events of a local monthly magazine owned by Central Illinois Business Publishers. Peoria Magazine will cease publishing after its December 2021 issue and return in 2022 under WTVP’s direction,” reports Current’s Julian Wyllie.
— No verdict after first day of deliberations in Kyle Rittenhouse case, by Tribune’s John Keilman, Christy Gutowski and Stacy St. Clair
— House will vote to censure Gosar over anime video that depicted killing of AOC, and Rep. Adam Kinzinger will be a Republican supporting it, by POLITICO’s Heather Caygle, Olivia Beavers and katherine Tully-McManus
— Pain at the pump drives Biden’s suffering in the polls, by POLITICO’s Ben Lefebvre
— In rare interview, Sinema strikes back, by POLITICO’s Burgess Everett and Marianne LeVine
TUESDAY’s ANSWER: We stumped you! Macoupin County is the Illinois county with the longest Democratic winning streak among county offices.
TODAY’s QUESTION: What was the primary building at the site where the James R. Thompson Center was built? Email to [email protected]
Rita Forden, CEO at the American Osteopathic Foundation, and Channing Lenert, program officer for Polk Bros. Foundation.
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