[Update 1/7/2011: I think I’ve been too subtle about my position on the municipal petition challenges and have corrected this in the comments today.] I was able to attend one of the election petition challenge hearings this morning, the one with Corey Kravitz as petitioner and First Ward Alderman Bertrand Simpson as respondent. Mr. Simpson…
Category: Political Campaigns
Re-forming the League of Women Voters Locally
As expressed by many in attendance at the DeKalb Area Women’s Center for the DeKalb County Candidate Debate night, there is interest in re-forming a local League of Women Voters locally. For those who are not already members, please join through: http://www.lwvil.org/ and clicking the Join Us button. There will be a state-wide issues briefing…
NIU Election Judge Report, General Election 2010
As some of you know, I’ve been an election judge for several years at the NIU Recreation Center, which serves four student precincts in one polling place. Let’s start with the student early voting at the Student Center, though. In the papers it said about 300 students voted there across four days in October. That’s…
Friends of Kish College
The referendum PAC called Friends of Kishwaukee College does not actually have many friends, but no worries: they’ve selected well-heeled ones. In its pre-election report, 10 donors contributed $29,950. More contributions of $500+ have continued to roll in, including $10,000 from Demonica Kemper Architects of Chicago, for a grand total greater than $60,000 from about…
Straightforward Explanation of Illinois Budget Complications
Eric Zorn explains why calling for 10% across-the-board cuts in the state budget wouldn’t solve our money problems. I happen to disagree with him about the value/ROI of a forensic audit of state spending, however. Here’s another discussion, including a recap of Adam Andrzjewski’s arguments in support of such an audit, here.
Brady’s Conflicts of Interest
The Chicago Trib reports that Bill Brady, Republican candidate for governor, almost certainly has benefited from votes he’s cast as a state senator. In 2003, the state legislature gave the local government authority to take land for sewers along Curtis Road east of Brady’s property. A final vote to enact the law occurred Nov. 4,…
Brady & His Tax Returns
While the hoo-ha over State Sen. Bill Brady’s reluctance to disclose his tax returns is understandable — we are the transparency crowd here, after all — I also understand his reluctance under the circumstances. Additionally, the actual content of the returns don’t concern me much. We all are careful to pay only what we have…
Williams Architects & DeKalb Park District
Williams Architects Ltd. completed the pool facilities conditions report for the DeKalb Park District that led to the creation of a political action committee (PAC) and a $15 million referendum on a new water park for DeKalb. Because of our experience with ReNew Our Schools PAC’s having obtained contributions from the architect and the bond…
Post-Election Open Thread
For election judges at the NIU Rec Center, here’s how Election Day played out yesterday: From 6 a.m. to 4 p.m., 856 people came in to use the Campus Recreation Center. In the same amount of time, 2 people came to vote. By 6 p.m., the total was up to 3 voters and one more…
Dear Bad Politicians
Dear Bad Politicians, the State of Illinois called. She is changing the locks on February 2. “I spent so many nights thinking how you did me wrong.” “Go on now go walk out the door just turn around now ’cause you’re not welcome anymore.” Message for Bad Politicians