Waukegan and Shields Townships Host IL-10 GOP Debate Tonight

I am remiss in not plugging this event earlier, but a great opportunity to meet the GOP candidates for IL-10 is being hosted by the Waukegan and Shields Township Republican Organizations. The event will begin at 7:00 at the Greenbelt Cultural Center, 1215 Green Bay Road, North Chicago, IL.

The event is open to all interested voters. There is no admission fee, but donations to PADS Crisis Center will be accepted. Requested items from PADS include: disposable razors, deodorant, dry laundry soap, reams of 20# paper, postage stamps, and new socks.

For more information, please contact David Pfeifer at 847.309.5573 or email WaukeganGOP @comcast.net.


I also wanted to pass along an open letter from my friend David Barkhausen, who is a Lake Bluff Trustee, and happens to be a Beth Coulson fan, but urges all interested voters to attend the event regardless of who your favorite candidate is. If you have not yet made up your mind, all the more reason for you to attend so you can make an informed decision:

Hi, Everyone –

This is to inform some of you, and remind others, of the 10th District Republican Congressional candidates forum taking place tonight (from 7:00 to 8:30) just up Green Bay Road at the Green Belt Forest Preserve “Cultural Center”. This is a very roomy and attractive meeting facility in what, in better weather, is also a very nice forest preserve site. This forum is hosted by the Waukegan Township Republican Organization with some assistance from our Shields Republican group.

This Congressional contest, of course, is the primary contest to replace Mark Kirk, as Mark is now running in the primary for the U.S. Senate.

There are at least five good and serious candidates in the race – State Representative Beth Coulson from Glenview, businessmen Bob Dold and Dick Green and attorney Bill Cadigan all from the New Trier area, and Dr. Ari Friedman from Highland Park. While Beth, a highly respected legislator who has repeatedly been re-elected in a heavily Democrat-leaning district, is my preference from the standpoints of both qualifications and electability, these are all very good and qualified candidates who deserve consideration and whom we want to stay involved in Republican politics regardless of the outcome of this race.

Given the ridiculously early primary date of February 2nd (first Tuesday in February) set by the Democrats in the Legislature to help Pres. Obama in the Illinois primary two years ago (and not changed back to March thereafter), the election will be nearly upon us when the holiday season ends.

Furthermore, there is one additional opportunity to vote early this year. In addition to “Early Voting” that begins (at Lake Forest City Hall) the Monday three weeks before primary election day (January 11th), voters now also have the option of requesting a ballot by mail from the county clerk’s office for any reason up to 40 days before the election. That means that the voting process can begin as early as Christmas Eve – in two and a half weeks!!

For those of us who are precinct committeemen and committeemen candidates, that means we need to be getting the word out early and more than once about all candidates in these races (this race, the governor’s race, etc.) and the opportunities to vote early. Requesting a ballot by mail will be especially important for family members who will just be home for the holidays. I will be glad to help with the drafting of letters to voters in our precincts.

Anyway, I hope to see you tonight. The Green Belt Forest Preserve Cultural Center is easy to reach and to find. It’s on the east side of Green Bay between the stoplights at 14th street (Pulaski Drive) on the south and 10th street on the north. It’s no more than a 5 minute drive north of the 176-Green Bay Road intersection.

Many thanks for your interest. Please forward this to others who might be interested.

David

Dan Sugrue Nabs Vernon Township GOP Endorsement for 59th District; Dold Wins Vernon's IL-10 Endorsement (UPDATED)

GOP candidate and attorney Dan Sugrue of Green Oaks handily won the endorsement of the Vernon Township GOP organization last night.

The vote was 11-2-1, with two votes going to Vernon Hills Trustee Cindy Hebda, and one vote going to Mohan Manian.

Hebda is being backed by Vernon Hills mayor Roger Byrne and State Representative Ed Sullivan Jr., among others, but is battling a petition challenge brought against her by the Democrats. The hearing officer's decision went against Hebda, and the State Board of Elections is expected to rule this week.

While this blog endorses Sugrue, Hebda is a worthy candidate, and the Dems ought to butt out of the Republican primary, IMHO. Let the Republican primary voters decide who their candidate should be, thank you.

Other Vernon Township endorsements include Adam Andrzejewski for governor (no endorsement for Lt. Governor, but it was between White and Murphy); Bob Dold for 10th Congressional District, Dodge for Comptroller, and Patrick Hughes for U.S. Senate.

I understand that Hughes just barely got 60% (required for the endorsement) in a contentious voting session, and the Vernon Township Chairman, Don Castella, is very conservative and a declared Hughes supporter, so the shock here is that Hughes struggled that much to win the endorsement. Hughes won't do so well in neighboring Libertyville Township's endorsements this coming weekend, if I guess correctly (not to mention that I have a vote in that one...)

UPDATED: Don Castella, Vernon Township Chairman, sent me a press release that sets forth all of the endorsements from the Vernon endorsement session last night. But I take issue with Don's suggestion that Kirk was surprised by the endorsement of his opponent, Pat Hughes. I think Kirk thought his chances in Vernon with Castella running the show were slim, so the real surprise was that it took Hughes three rounds of votes to get the endorsement, which he got by a bare minimum margin. The way the press release reads ("Kirk lost the Senate endorsement outright") makes it sound to me like Kirk got crushed on the first vote. Not so.

Complete Vernon Township Endorsement Session Results

Lincolnshire, IL Dec 8, 2009: Vernon Township's Monday evening GOP endorsement session surprised local incumbents Congressman Mark Kirk (R-IL 10) and IL State Senator Matt Murphy (R-27), who both failed to garner the nod in their respective state-wide races for US Senate and Lt. Governor. Kirk lost the US Senate endorsement outright to Hinsdale Businessman Patrick Hughes who grabbed the Vernon endorsement with 64.3% of the committeeman vote. Senator Matt Murphy finished ahead of Pastor Randy White in the Vernon Lt. Governor endorsement voting with 57.1%, but failed to garner the requisite 60% for the endorsement.

Businessman Robert Dold scored an impressive 85.7% -14.3% victory over second-place finisher State Rep. Beth Coulson in the IL Tenth Congressional District Vernon GOP endorsement race. No other candidate received a vote in this important contest.

In the GOP Governor endorsement contest, businessman outsider Adam Andrzejewski of Hinsdale, scored a first-round victory with 64.3% of the vote. State Senator Kirk Dillard and Dan Proft of Wheaton each garnered 14.3% of the Vernon vote for governor.

The only other gubernatorial candidate to receive votes was former Attorney General Jim Ryan, who got 7.2%. Bill Brady, Bob Schillerstrom, and Andy McKenna were all shut out.

In the other contested statewide race, Orland Park businessman, Jim Dodge, scored a first-round victory with 64.3% of the Vernon GOP endorsement vote for Illinois Comptroller.

TV personality William Kelly finished second with 21.4% and former Illinois Treasurer, Judy Baar Topinka, finished third with 14.3%.

Running unopposed, Attorney General candidate Steve Kim, Secretary of State candidate Robert Enriquez, and Treasurer candidate Dan Rutherford all received endorsements.

Second District Appellate Court Justice Ann Jorgenson sailed to a 100% - 0% endorsement shutout of challenger Kenneth Moy in her contested race for the Second District Appellate Court Vernon GOP endorsement.

Second District Appellate Court Justice Mary Schostok received 100% of the votes for the other Second District Appellate Court Vernon GOP endorsement.

Running unopposed, Lake County Clerk, Willard Helander, Lake County Treasurer, Robert Skidmore, Lake County Sheriff, Mark Curran, and Regional Superintendent of Schools, Roycealee Wood, all received endorsements.

Green Oaks attorney Dan Sugrue scored an easy endorsement victory in the Illinois 59th House District contest, garnering 82% of the Vernon GOP endorsement vote over Vernon Hills teacher, Cynthia Hebda, and Libertyville businessman, Mohan Manian, who each received 9%.

Running unopposed, State Representatives Ed Sullivan, Jr. (R-51) and Sidney Mathias (R-53) were also endorsed.

Running unopposed, 19th Circuit, 4th Sub-circuit Judge Wallace Dunn was endorsed.

Running unopposed, Lake County Board members Aaron Lawlor, Ann Maine, and Susan Loving Gravenhorst were all endorsed.

Democrats Julie Hamos and Dan Seals Stake Out Their Positions in IL-10; But Who Can Forget Dan Seals and "The Side of Peace"

The Chicago Tribune's Clout Street blog has an in-depth look at the two top contenders for the Dem nomination for IL-10 to succeed Congressman Mark Kirk, who is running for U.S. Senate.

On the one hand, we have perennial candidate Dan Seals, who is now in his fifth (at least) year of running for this seat. TA has no knowledge of any other accomplishments Seals has achieved in those five years that would indicate why anyone would want to support him. I guess maybe Dan Seals is the Dem answer to GOP contender Patrick Hughes (who has never been elected to anything either), an "issues" candidate whose pitch is, 'vote for me because I promise I will think like you when I'm in office,' as opposed to, 'vote for me because I've shown by my deeds and experience (not just words) what I can do for you.'

Seals has positioned himself as the most anti-war candidate, coming out against Obama's surge plan, but given Obama's lack of previous support for Seals (Obama has never done anything more for Seals than be caught in one joint photo and cut a last minute radio ad that got no play), that's probably not much of a risk for him, unlike the position Alexi Giannoulias finds himself in.

Yet, Seals also wants us to believe that, although he's a peacenik (and who has lost his biggest issue since Iraq is now over), he would be the strongest supporter of Israel, even more so than his primary opponent Julie Hamos, who is Jewish and happens to be the daughter of Holocaust survivors.

Well, for anyone new to Dan Seals, you might want to recall the famous video (about 5 minutes in), in which, when asked what "side" you come down in the event of a conflict between Israel and Iran, he answered that "you come down on the side of peace." Oof.

Julie Hamos, on the other hand, thinks that the President made the right decision, especially with regard to setting a timetable for withdrawl, which rankles most Republicans, even those that think Obama made the right decision with respect to the Afghan surge.

The good news is that this war seems to be heating up quite nicely -- even Ellen of the Tenth has had to come in to try to rescue her hero, Dan, from Big Bad Julie. Good luck with that.

Bob Dold States He's Against Transfer of Terror Suspects to Thomson Prison (UPDATED)

Contrary to a Chicago Tribune report that 10th Congressional candidate Robert "Bob" Dold had split with the viewpoint of Congressman Mark Kirk and did not oppose the White House plan (supported by Governor Pat Quinn and U.S. Senator Dick Durbin) to ship former Guantanamo Bay terrorist suspects to the Thomson Illinois prison, Dold sent out a press release today denying that such was his position.

Here's the Dold press release:


Dold: Keep Terrorists out of Illinois Prisons

Republican Robert Dold (R-10) for Congress, is staunchly opposed to the White House’s proposal to transfer terrorists housed at Guantanamo Bay to an Illinois prison.

“I’m opposed to closing Guantanamo Bay—the U.S. spent $200 million on the facility and many of its initial issues have been corrected,” Dold said. “I, in no way, support the transfer of terrorists to a prison in Illinois.”

Dold continued, “My concern is not about terrorists escaping the maximum security facility, but about them receiving medical treatment at the North Chicago Military VA hospital, which is in the 10th Congressional District. I’m also concerned that relatives or acquaintances who visit them in prison could potentially become a security threat to our community.”

My stance on this issue has been consistent since it came to light, and is posted on the Chicago Tribune Editorial Board questionnaire:

http://elections.apps.chicagotribune.com/editorial/robert-dold/

###

UPDATED: Backyard Conservative has a statement from 10th District candidate Dr. Arie Friedman (which appears to have been written before Dold sent out his press release above -- in fact, it may have helped prompt it, as you will see):

Arie Friedman stands firm against transferring GITMO prisoners to Illinois

Highland Park, IL - Candidate for Congress in the 10th District and former Naval Officer Arie Friedman today strongly rebuked his fellow candidates, Bob Dold and Dick Green, for telling the Chicago Tribune that housing jihadists in Illinois was not a problem. "I don't fear that they're going to escape from a maximum security, a super-max facility. That's not my concern," said Dold. "The choice to move prisoners to Illinois would be 'a reasonable approach to due process'" according to Green. Stated Friedman: "I am stunned and disappointed that my fellow Republicans can't see the bulls eye that will be placed on Chicago and the northern suburbs if Al-Qaida suspects are housed in Illinois. Take into account the large Jewish community and abundance of synagogues in the area - this would be a no-brainer target for Al-Qaida."

In an earlier statement Friedman expanded upon the issue: "Like Congressmen Manzullo and Kirk, I find it unacceptable for the federal government to bring these dangerous prisoners to our region. Additionally, I find it difficult to comprehend that our own governor would even consider the possibility that housing Gitmo prisoners in Illinois would represent a meaningful job creation opportunity. Bringing these enemy combatants to the region would not enhance our national interests or international standing. Rather, it would put the Thompson Correctional Center directly in the sights of terrorists the world over. Worse, the targeted communities would not be strictly limited to the immediate area around the prison. As far as the world is concerned, the Thompson prison is located in Chicagoland and all of us would be possible targets. Lastly, as a member of the Jewish community, I am surprised and disappointed that Governor Quinn does not understand that our synagogues and religious schools will be the specific targets of terrorists wanting to make an international statement. We do not need terrorists in the 10th District's backyard."

Alexi Giannoulias Sticks With Obama's Troop Surge Plan: A Down Payment On An Endorsement? (UPDATED x4)

As we noted a few days ago, the presumed front-runner for the Dem nomination for U.S. Senate, current State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias, has a problem coming up in his rear-view mirror, and his name is David Hoffman, former Asst. U.S. Attorney and recent Chicago Inspector General.

Just like GOP candidates must be wary of the right-wing of their own party, Dem candidates can't neglect their left-wing base, at least in the primary. President Obama's recent (and at least a good step in the right direction (UPDATED: Karl Rove seems to agree) decision to send his generals most of what they asked for to support the war in Afghanistan presents a problem for many fairly moderate Dems that road Obama's coattails into office, but now a face a choice between supporting their dear leader, or going it alone to please the left wing base of their party.

Today, Politico looks at this issue and notes that the conundrum has reached the U.S. Senate race as Alexi finds himself to the right of his two chief adversaries (and in general agreement with his presumed GOP rival, Congressman Mark Kirk):

In Illinois, former Chicago Inspector General David Hoffman and Chicago Urban League President Cheryle Jackson – two outsider candidates waging uphill bids in the battle for Obama’s old Senate seat – have staked out positions to the left of frontrunner Alexi Giannoulias, the cash-flush state treasurer who supports the president’s plan.

What Politico doesn't note is that Alexi doesn't really have much choice here -- about the only way he's going to have a chance in the general election against Mark Kirk is to have the White House come in, and come in big.

Let's leave aside the well-known issue that Alexi was not the White House's first choice for this race, nothwithstanding Alexi's basketball relationship with the Prez. Per the New York Times a few days ago:

Mr. Axelrod concedes that he and Mr. Obama failed to persuade Attorney General Lisa Madigan to run for the Senate seat vacated by Mr. Obama. “She would have walked into the seat,” Mr. Axelrod says. White House qualms about the Democratic frontrunner, Alexi Giannoulias, the Illinois treasurer, are self-evident, with worry that the Republican challenger, Representative Mark Kirk, will be needlessly formidable.

“The Blago saga will hang heavy over our politics, and that’s what Kirk’s banking on,” Mr. Axelrod says.

Well, Alexi's need to set up Obama's strong support later in the general election pretty much boxes him in to sinking or swimming with the President now.

Will this wedge issue be enough for Hoffman to pull it out? It's still too early to tell, even though there's basically only two months until the primary. But Obama's decision has handed Alexi his first big foreign policy decision, and he's come down on the side of his likely opponent -- Mark Kirk -- in the event he makes it to the general.

I still think Alexi's going to win (the primary). But his road just got a little tougher.

UPDATED 9:35 a.m.: Here's an AP article .

UPDATED x2 9:55 a.m.: Senator Dick Durbin doesn't know what to think. Better take a poll, pal, or wait until you see what it does to Alexi, I guess. Sheesh, you're not even up for election and you have about a zillion dollars in your campaign account. How about a little leadership on the issue? Or are you a little gunshy in the wake of your disastrous push of the Great Lakes Gitmo?

UPDATED x3 11:35 a.m.: Will the left even show up to the general mid-term election at this rate?

UPDATED x4 12:20 p.m.: Popular opinion appears to be solidifying that GOP contender Pat Hughes' bid to usurp Mark Kirk as the presumed GOP nominee for U.S. Senate has simply not gotten far enough, fast enough, to have any real chance of winning. It's a good thing, too, considering that Alexi is up with a new commercial and the comments over at Capitol Fax Blog suggest that it's a winner. Check it out. As they say downtown, you can't fight somebody with nobody, so it's good that Illinois is not Florida.

Dick Green Spends Some (Green) in IL-10 Cable Ad Buy

CQ Politics is reporting that 10th Congressional District GOP hopeful Dick Green is going up on cable TV with a campaign ad, the first Republican of the race to do so. CQ reports that Green will spend $100,000 over three weeks on the ad.

As we previously reported, Green lagged other GOP primary candidates in Q3 fundraising but has the personal ability to pump a lot of coin into the race, and while (to TA's knowledge) he has not publicly stated a dollar amount he'd be personally willing to spend, he has stated something to the effect that he would have whatever resources he needed to compete and win.

Catching Up With Congressman Mark Kirk and the U.S. Senate Race

I spoke with the Kirk for Senate campaign in the past couple of days and they remain highly confident that Congressman Kirk will win the primary to battle the Dem nominee, who still looks like it will be Alexi Giannoulias, but prosecutor David Hoffman does look like he's coming up in the rear view mirror. Alexi's gaffe the other day in branding his million dollar+ inheritance from his family banking interests as "minimal" sparked a video from the Hoffman camp that won't be doing Alexi any favors if it gets some play:



(h/t Capitol Fax Blog)

So, what's Mark Kirk been up to? First, he's still taking shots at the Dem health care plan, in case you've forgotten about that beast:



He's also working towards his redemption on the Cap and Trade vote, which annoyed conservatives to no end and even confused Team America at the time. The timing on this is good, considering that Climate Gate threatens to finally expose the misrepresentation of global warming data that many had suspected, but now appear to have some solid proof - so solid, in fact, that the latest news is that the head of the Climatic Research Unit in the United Kingdom is going to step down while an investigation is underway. Just in time for Obama's appearance at the upcoming Copenhagen climate conference. Sweet.

Meanwhile, in the 10th Congressional District, while the GOP contenders keep duking it out, I am wondering how things look on the Dem side. Someone reported to me that they saw their first Julie Hamos sign west of I-94 the other day, but the Dan Seals v. Julie Hamos sign war has been going strong for weeks in Dem bastions like Wilmette, where they take their primaries as seriously as a range war between the sheepherders and the cattlemen. You can decide which side is which in that analogy.