THE iLLINOIS OBSERVER
Toni Preckwinkle
Rahm Emanuel, Toni Preckwinkle Release Cautious Statements of Support on Quinn Illinois Pension Plan
(Chicago, IL) – April 20, 2012. Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle today released cautious statements of support for Governor Pat Quinn’s proposed Illinois pension plan reforms. Continue reading
Late Night: Indicted State Rep. Derrick Smith Has Stashed $100,000 in Campaign Cash… and More
(Chicago, IL) – April 16, 2012. Usually candidates–even victors–in tough primary fights end a campaign with an empty treasury. But not indicted State Rep. Derrick Smith (D-Chicago). Smith apparently made a profit. Continue reading
Suffredin Cook County Tax Plan in Doubt as Commissioner John Fritchey Withholds Support–For Now
(Chicago) – April 14, 2012. Special Report: The fate of a plan by Democratic Cook County Commissioner Larry Suffredin of Evanston to streamline the county property tax system may be in doubt as another key Democratic commissioner is for now withholding support. Continue reading
Late Night: Chris Welch Declares Illinois House Primary Victory–Finally… and More
(Chicago, IL) – With a 36-vote victory margin in his pocket, Emanuel “Chris” Welch finally declared victory on Tuesday over Rory Hoskins in the Democratic primary for 7th District House seat in western Cook County. Welch was waiting for Cook County Clerk David Orr to finish counting all the mail in and provisional ballots. Orr … Continue reading
Late Night: Chicago Dog Registration Zooms after Chicago Clerk Susana Mendoza Crackdown… and More
(Chicago, IL) – March 31, 2012. After a string of high-profile, vicious attacks in Chicago by unlicensed pit bulls, Chicago City Clerk Susana Mendoza launched a crackdown on dog registration in January, an effort which has boosted dog licenses 99.4% in the first three months of 2012. Since the launch of the crackdown in January, … Continue reading
Saturday Late Night: Chicago GOP Party Alleges Fellow Republican Jack Roeser Launders Campaign Cash…and More
(Chicago, IL) – Chicago GOP Clown Car: Part I – GOP State Treasurer Dan Rutherford, who is laying the groundwork for a 2014 gubernatorial campaign, on Friday jumped into the backseat of the clown car that is the Chicago Republican Party, endorsing the party’s current driver, Eloise Gerson, who is locked in a bitter primary battle against Chicago Young Republican Tom Smithburg for the booby prize of Chicago’s 42nd Ward GOP Committeeman post. Continue reading
Late Night: Poll Says Kenny Johnson Leads Christian Mitchell; Who Wants Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s Private Cell Phone Bills?… and More
(Chicago, IL) – Over the Cliff Together – Governor Pat Quinn’s opposition to a bi-partisan revenue estimate resolution, sponsored by House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) and Minority Leader Tom Cross (R-Oswego), which was $221 million below the Governor’s estimate, was well known. The Illinois Responsible Budget Coalition, chaired by John Bouman, also criticized the Madigan-Cross … Continue reading
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. … Continue reading
Cook County 2010: Toni Preckwinkle Aims to Snuff Out Cook County Sales Tax Repeal Controversy
(Chicago, IL) — May 20, 2010. Democratic Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle yesterday got a valuable lesson in the inherent risk of the absence of a finely tuned, planned, practiced, and adhered to political message when a candidate inhabits a loftier political atmosphere than previously and the topic is taxes. Preckwinkle got swatted around … Continue reading
Illinois Gaming: Rep. Will Burns Pushes Slots at Illinois Race Tracks; Negotiation Deadlock Keeps Plan in Limbo
(Springfield, IL) — April 29, 2010. Organized labor leaders and State Rep. Will Burns (D-Chicago) today gave a public push at a press conference in Springfield to legislation that would permit slot machines at the state’s horse racing facilities. The plan, House Bill 5975, would generate an estimated $100 million to $300 million annually that … Continue reading
Illinois Politics: Toni Preckwinkle Campaign Manager Scott Cisek Quits, Moves to Cook County Dem Party; Frets Potential Quinn, Giannoulias Losses
(Chicago, IL) — April 8, 2010. Political operative Scott Cisek, who helped engineer Toni Preckwinkle‘s victory in the Democratic primary for Cook County Board President, has resigned as Preckwinkle’s campaign manager to become political director at the Cook County Democratic Party. Cisek announced his departure in a statement posted on a new blog “Cook County … Continue reading
Illinois 2010 Elections: Opponents to John Fritchey’s County Commissioner Bid Post “Todd Stroger-John Fritchey” Campaign Signs
(Chicago, IL) — February 2, 2010. The weekend before election day is like Halloween–when all sorts of witches and goblins emerge to haunt candidates. And State Rep. John Fritchey (D-Chicago), who is giving up his House seat and seeking the spot on the Cook County Board being vacated by Commissioner Forrest Claypool, has been the … Continue reading
Cook County 2010 Democratic Primary: Toni Preckwinkle, John Fritchey, and Victor Forys Form Second Cook County Reform Candidate Coalition
Cook County candidate reform coalitions are all the fashion rage these days. Continue reading
Jesse White, Lisa Madigan, John Cullerton, Barbara Flynn Currie, Robin Kelly and Other Illinois Pols Attend White House Holiday Party
(Chicago, IL) — December 5, 2009. President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama welcomed a group of Illinois Democrats to a glittering holiday party at the White House on Thursday. A select group. Heading up the Illinois White House party goers–with an invitation–were: Secretary of State Jesse White, Attorney General Lisa Madigan, State Senate … Continue reading
Illinois 2010 Elections: Candidate Todd Connnor, Former SEC Chairman Arthur Levitt Bash Water District Bond Deal that Flushed $68 Million in Taxpayer Money Down the Sewer
(Chicago, IL) — November 9, 2009. The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) of Greater Chicago Board of Commissioners last Thursday got a pasting from financial analyst Daniel Kaplan and candidate Todd Connor–who is aiming to join the board’s ranks–over a botched bond deal that cost Cook County area taxpayers $68 million. The MWRD cleans sludge. … Continue reading
David Ormsby, Editor
Gov. Pat Quinn
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IL General Assembly
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The Capitol Fax Blog
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