I had heard rumors of the possible retirement of State Senator Susan Garrett, and it turns out they were correct. Garrett sent out a press release announcing that she's hanging it up. She also makes clear that she's done with public office (although she pledges to serve out her term to January 2013), much to the disappointment of many Dems who were begging her to run against Congressman Bob Dold in the 10th Congressional District.
This may really open the door for a Republican to make a run in her senate district; cue Dr. Arie Friedman, perhaps?
UPDATED 7/28/11: Here's some follow-up by The Patch, with some interesting reaction by Senator Terry Link:
Though no names have been mentioned as a possible replacement, state Sen. Terry Link (D-Waukegan), one of Garrett’s mentors when she entered politics, knows a solid candidate will have to emerge.
“We have some very large shoes to fill both as a legislator and because of her character. She set the bar very high,” Link said. “Lake County and Illinois are losing a fine legislator, who represented her district as fine as any person could.”
If Link's comments are to be believed, I find it interesting that Garrett left the Dems in the lurch without an heir apparent. Last night at an event for Circuit Court Clerk Candidate Keith Brin, some of us were chewing over this, and few prospective Dem names were apparent to any of us, either. Of course, Lauren Beth Gash's name was raised, but her personal agenda remains a mystery. I also heard rumblings that Dan Seals might be thinking about yet another run for the 10th District (gasp of horror from the crowd), but I bet that he's probably getting quite used to his new cushy state paycheck and benefits to throw himself back into the fray, especially in light of Congressman Bob Dold's successful at fundraising so far.
UPDATED x2: Looks like the Julie Morrison announcement (mentioned in comments) is now official.
UPDATED x3 7/29/11 6:30 am: Another possible Dem contender whose name was raised yesterday here in comments, Annette Lidawer, has talked to the Patch and confirmed her interest. The Patch also tried to get an official answer out of Dr. Arie Friedman on the GOP side to see if he's ready to throw in, but he didn't give them anything to print. Since Garrett's retirement announcement, Friedman has been quietly (?) telling GOP insiders at various recent campaign events that he's throwing in, though, so don't be surprised to see an official announcement here around the end of the month.
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21 comments:
Hmm this is a very interesting move, but with the redistricting and the President at the top of the ticket, this seat will be expensive to win.
With both Moraine and West Deerfield GOP Townships having rebuilt themselves, let's not be so quick to dismiss a GOP run at this seat A. Bees! Redistricting also seems to have taken away more pro-Democratic areas than pro-Repubican areas in the newly configured State Senate Seat.
Louis G. Atsaves
I'd be willing to bet that Arie Friedman will most definitely get into this race. He's been out and about telling fellow docs that he wants and needs their support. Not sure he's ready for prime time, but on this one, TA, bet on it.
Very surprised to learn that both May and Nekritz are a no go on the seat. They must know something and be afraid to jeopardize what they have. Truth be told, a good candidate in their areas can take them out. Redistricting was not as favorable to them as most perceive.
JS
Freedman will win.
Would Dr. Friedman have to give up his medical practice-or just scale it back? I guess he had made a similar choice last election cycle...I agree its likely that he will run, and he have a good chance of winning.
But does he care about the children?
Anon 3:51 - moving from the state house to the state senate is not a move up the political ladder. It's twice the work for the same reward. Legislative seniority places second in desirability only to a legislative pension in the me, me, me world of Springfield.
One thing is for sure, Seals isn't going to run in the 29th. Unlike congressional races, you actually do have to live in the district.
Lauren Beth Gash? Hard to believe she has the stomach for it.
It just seems the Dem bench is pretty shallow nowadays.
TA, I just read that Democrat Julie Morrison, the West Deerfield Township Supervisor, has announced that she will run for the 29th. As Anon 10:29 wrote, the Dem bench is appearing REALLY shallow now...
Just changed my screen name :)
The Dem bench is empty when Julie Morrison is making the run for this seat. She changed parties to keep her current job as West Deerfield Township Supervisor as you know. I think this pretty much excludes Ms.Gash from announcing her candidacy since I don't think she'd want to challenge her friend. Not sure who else on the Republican side will jump in but it makes for interesting speculation.
donors and the dccc are not going to go round 4 with dan seals. at this point I think they'd rather streak the mall in I heart glenn beck tee shirts than run him for an office. the only other race I can think of where a candidate has run 4 times for a seat in recent memory was in Indiana with a guy named baron hill, but he won a few times and lost a few times so he wasn't a sure loser.
garrett will be a test for local, state, and springfield republicans to see if they can take the obvious advantages they've been handed-voter fatigue with democrats, corruption, frustration at handling of the economy to begin to fix the political situation and move the party to majority status.
dr.friedman may be a good candidate, but this will be full bore 15 month door to door politics and he didn't have much of an organization or raise much money last time which he'll need to do this time.
FOKLAES
Morrison is pretty sleazy:
http://westdeerfield.com/index.html
Louis -
I didn't write off the GOP candidate, I said it will be VERY expensive to win. Simply, that district went heavily for Obama in '08 and will be tough to make a big swing, especially in Obama's home state. The reality is that Presidential coattails in Illinois will continue to be very long.
So now Annette Lidawer is considering jumping in to challenge Julie Morrison. Lidawer is on the HP High School Board, is a New Yorker who worked for one time Congressman Solarz so she's a real Democrat, hard line. Her Mentor is State Senator Jeff Schoenberg. Less and less likely that Gash will enter this race, but with her ego, who knows.
Isn't Lidawer the one who after the resounding defeat of the District 113 bond referendum stated that she wants to put it back on the ballot again in 2012?Very much a classic liberal, apparently.
Julie Morrison is a joke
Let's see if she can actually file in the fall
Hmm. Rich Miller is reporting that Sid Mathias is thinking about running for the 29th (along eith numerous other options). Has anyone else heard this? Is Mathias still a Reoublican?
I would be pretty shocked if Sid tried for Garrett's seat, since, among other reasons, he lives in the new 30, not 29.
Morrison is a very legit candidate. She will have incredible backing throughout the district. GOP is a good question, well see who emerges.
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