November 27, 2019
HAPPENSTANCE HAPPENING IN 2020 COUNTY JUDGEMAKING
The enduring perception surrounding a judge is that he or she is an all-knowing legal oracle who can endlessly dispense wisdom from the bench and ensure justice for all. After all, they must be gifted and special to be where they are. I've been a lawyer for 40 years and it didn't take me more than a decade of practice to realize that the bulk of judges who were wearing black robes was because of a combination of biological (gender) and familial (surname) happenstance, Democratic slating, voter ignorance, ballot positioning, turnout and simple persistence. But there is a cost: an upfront, non-refundable deposit of $40,000 for those who get slated. Here is an analysis of 2020's evolving judgemaking process -- who's running, what happenstance propels them, and who's favored. It's not about the best and the brightest. (A thanks to consultants Frank Calabrese and Mary Kay Dawson for their input.) Full Article...
November 20, 2019
NO "DONE DEAL" DESPITE ARROYO REPLACEMENT PICK
Baseball legend Yogi Berra remarked, "It ain't over 'til it's over." In Mike Madigan's House, it ain't done until the speaker says it's done. It ain't done done in the 3rd Illinois House district, recently vacated by Luis Arroyo, who has been arrested on bribery charges and later resigned his longtime seat. The speaker has promised to expel any pick "tainted" with the 36th Ward/Arroyo weighted-vote. We shall see. Senate President John Cullerton's abrupt resignation raises the question: What's going on? Are the feds involved? Senators Don Harmon and Kimberly Lightford want Cullerton's post, as does Heather Steans. This is not small potatoes. Full Article...
November 13, 2019
MADIGAN TO COMMITTEEMEN: NO ROLE FOR ARROYO IN STATE REP PICK
Toxic and tainted. That describes the expected process to occur on Nov. 15 when ten Democratic committeemen from various parts of the 3rd Illinois House District meet to fill Luis Arroyo's vacancy. One of those ten is Arroyo himself as he is still the 36th Ward committeeman. And therein lies the problem. And now there will be an eleventh man in the room: Speaker Mike Madigan. He sent a Nov. 11 letter to the committeemen stating that any choice made on Nov. 15 which included the 36th Ward's 7,447 weighted-votes, if cast by Arroyo, and/or his participation in any way, would result in that choice not being seated. Message to Madigan: The law says otherwise. Arroyo was arrested on Oct. 25 and charged by the feds with bribing a state senator to vote for a certain sweepstakes gaming bill for which Arroyo was a paid lobbyist of the beneficiary. Full Article...
November 6, 2019
ARROYO'S ARREST, RESIGNATION CREATES PRECKWINKLE PAYBACK OPPORTUNITY
Luis Arroyo's arrest for allegedly bribing a state senator to support a sweepstakes gaming bill, and his Nov. 1 resignation from the Illinois House, has created both opportunities and complications. So what else is new? This is Chicago politics. Ald. Gil Villegas (36th), Mayor Lightfoot's floor leader, wants to replace Arroyo as 36th Ward Democratic committeeman. County party chairman Toni Preckwinkle, who lost to Lightfoot in April, can thwart that. Arroyo won't resign as committeeman until Preckwinkle signs-off on Villegas. In picking Arroyo's House replacement, the 36th Ward has 37% of the weighted-vote. The perceived Preckwinkle candidate is Dave Feller, a Sheriff's employee who wants to be both committeeman and state rep. Preckwinkle on Nov. 4 got her executive committee to ASK both Arroyo and Ed Burke (14th) to resign. Good luck with that. Arroyo won't quit until and unless he get his pick in his House seat. Full Article...
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