April 7 Election Day, Looking to Fill Quigley’s Seat

I just returned from a trip to Israel and I’ve certainly come back at an interesting time!  The awaited culmination to the IL-5 race to replace Rahm Emanuel is here (along with many interesting local races).  Plus, it’s the start of baseball season, which during the week of Passover and Easter, is truly the sign that spring and rebirth is upon us.

Source: Chicago Tribune

Thanks to Progress Illinois, and other local bloggers, I’ve been kept in the loop on what is happening in the IL-5 race and who might replace Mike Quigley on the Cook County Board assuming he wins today.

Greg Hinz at Crain’s goes down the list of potential appointees, who local Democratic Committeemen will be choosing among as Quigley’s successor this coming weekend.

While there are some very good candidates on that list, I’m struck at the centralized authority given to the local Democratic Machine to choose who they want on the County Board.  The Board’s reputation is not exactly squeaky clean, with reformers, independents and good governance board members few and far between.  That being said, I hardly see the committeemen choosing who they want to fill the Board opening with someone that will be best for the Board and County residents and not best for local committeemen’s interests.

I know this is the process and to change the process will be a herculean task unto itself.  But, we may be able to start somewhere.  If not in this appointment, then in similar situations arising in the future.  We can start by simply having a member of the community create a poll or website where residents can register their name and zip code and select amongst a list of known contenders.  People’s identities can be protected and only the results could be published.  This would provide a benchmark to measure local residents’ sentiment as to who they want to see in open government seats and to at least begin to start holding those tasked with appointments accountable.

I think this will be a good basis to not only let committeemen know who voters want to see appointed, but for voters to see that when committeemen are placing people in office who will do what they say at the detriment to what voters want, they have the first step in holding them accountable.  Hopefully, that accountability will be a good starting point to getting local voters agitated enough to create a more transparent process than leaving filling vacant seats up to the local Machine.

Progressives Looking for Leadership

David Sirota, Senior Editor at In These Times, published an article yesterday looking back on IL-5 candidate Tom Geoghegan’s campaign. Sirota argues that progressives’ efforts and donations were not all for naught, despite the seventh place showing in the polls.  Sirota writes:

Geoghegan backers helped build a support system for future progressive projects and campaigns. Such a culture of participation and engagement is necessary to let other progressives know that that they can count on the movement’s rank and file when they decide to risk a run for office, even if they aren’t a frontrunner or a career politician.

The question is, if progressives are to actually believe their efforts in supporting Geoghegan were not done in the vacuum of the campaign, but rather for the movement as a whole that will result in getting more progressives elected.  Sirota’s argument is correct in theory yet independent from what is occurring in reality.

I’ve reported that post-March 3rd, Geoghegan’s communication to the thousands of supporters in the Chicago-area and many thousands more nationwide have been essentially non-existent.  His Twitter status has yet to be updated since the election.  His Facebook too.  And his website has yet to be transformed into a post-election progressive information hub.

Josh Kalven at Progress Illinois reports on a new effort led by progressives called A New Way Forward.  Leaders of the movement are calling for an end to government bailouts of banks and failed corporations and instead want to see the federal government nationalize, reorganize and decentralize those institutions.  The Chicago rally, within a series of nationwide rallies all taking place on April 11, is not yet confirmed.

It occurred to me, with this April date looming so close and the issues put forth by A New Way Forward exactly what Tom Geoghegan called for in his congressional campaign, where is Geoghegan taking the leadership on this in his hometown?

In other words, for Geoghegan to be a progressive leader, his political campaign has to continue past the congressional bid for office.  There’s lots of issues that he focused on as a candidate and that he focuses on in his professional life.  The opportunities are there for him to take the lead – especially in Chicago.  It’s not like Geoghegan is stepping into a chorus of leaders and well-known figures.  The progressive movement in Chicago is still pretty new and without a clearly identifiable leader recognized outside of progressive circles.

Local progressive leaders should be knocking down Geoghegan’s door and telling him that there is too many important issues happening post-March 3 that call for his leadership.  For Sirota’s argument to hold and for progressives to feel like Geoghegan’s promise is kept, he must get back to leading and using his communication tools so carefully built over the campaign to reach supporters and new audiences.  That is the prescription needed to for Geoghegan supporters to feel their contributions go well beyond March 3rd.

IL-5 Democrats’ Post Election Twitter Hangover

Post March 3rd, my life hasn’t been the same.  Maybe my inbox isn’t full of candidates’ emails.  Maybe I’m not getting Facebook event invites at the same rate.  Or maybe my Twitter feed isn’t filled with election talk.

I guess I missed the quick-hitting and breaking news nature of Twitter.  So, I took a closer look at what the leading Democrats’ of the IL-5 race have been up to on Twitter post-March 3rd.

The answer is not much.  And I’m surprised quite frankly.

Democratic nominee Mike Quigley had a slew of Tweets on March 4th (I chalk that up to election win high), three updates on March 5th and one update on March 8th.  Quigley still has a general election to win!  I understand that his Republican and Green Party opponents have a one in a million shot at upsetting him, but Quigley still needs to keep his 1,000+ plus Twitter followers engaged and motivated.  If not, an even lower turnout in the general election will put Quigley at a disadvantage when everyone knows the Republican and Green strategies are about turning out voters to capitalize on voter apathy.  Plus, Quigley should be the district’s next congressman and I think he should have practice Tweeting updates to followers who want to stay informed about what their elected official is doing and thinking.

I saw that Sara Feigenholtz has not posted any updates since the day after the primary election.  She’s also got over 1,000 followers and even though I remember her having a Twitter profile as a state representative (seperate from her congressional Twitter profile), I did not see her revert back to that profile.  That leaves a lot of people who supported her hanging with no outlet to stay connected.  The election was an avenue leaving Feigenholtz with a higher profile for herself and she could continue that upward trending leadership role with additional communications via Twitter to constituents.  Plus, given the rumors that she is interested in Quigley’s Cook County Board seat, it might be nice to get some popular support behind her from Twitter followers.

John Fritchey’s Twitter snooze is a similar story.  No updates post March 3rd and no invitation to the 100 plus followers of his congressional campaign to join his other profile (as a state representative).  After all, Fritchey’s congressional Twitter profile should be deleted at some point soon, but not before he invites those followers to his normal Twitter page.

A closer look at Fritchey’s regular profile shows that he protects his updates!  For crying out loud, isn’t Twitter’s purpose to broadcast messages to anyone who will listen?!?!  He should change that ASAP.  I mean, in the age of Blago and Burris, people are expecting some transparency from their elected officials…especially if they’re on Twitter.

The biggest surprise though is Tom Geoghegan.  I’m not sure that he is thinking he has a political future post March 3rd, but I think a lot of other people think he does.  Geoghegan was arguably the candidate with the greatest national following, given his popularity with the netroots and mentions from major national publications and journalists.  Yet, his Twitter profile also doesn’t have any updates post March 3rd.  If Geoghegan was interested in running for office at some point in the future, it’s important that he pick up his Twitter game and start communicating.  And if he has decided not to pursue political office again, well I think he has an obligation to let his public know that as well.

As I’ve said on this blog before, Twitter is not nearly as effective when thought of using it as part of a campaign than taking a long term view.  That’s really what is needed for people to feel loyal and trusting of political leaders, and I would argue is necessary for long term support.

IL-5 Cost Per Vote and What the District Dems Need to Do

Three days after the IL-5 election won by Mike Quigley, what else could there be to talk about?

Photo Credit: Flickr User melfeasance

Well, one big issue, but I’ll get to that in a moment.

Given the short election and the abysmal turnout, it’s interesting to think about the amount of money raised in this race and what kind of spending it took to win or be competitive.  It seems the amount of money raised and the number of donors to each campaign had no correlation to voters’ motivation level to get out and vote.  A 20 percent turnout in the 5th seems to defy conventional thought as why so much money is needed to win over so few voters.

As I’ve said previously, I understand what the Illinois Board of Elections spokesperson called “voter fatigue” and the diminished motivation due to Blago and Burris.  Still 20 percent seems awfully small for choosing your member of congress.

Inspired by Progress Illinois’ number crunching during the election, here’s the approximate cost per vote from the top three finishers:

Candidate Feigenholtz      Fritchey          Quigley

Amount Raised $801,244         $605,813       $402,380

Total Votes 8,730                 9,209                 11,41

Cost Per Vote $92                        $66                    $35

As you can see, those cost per vote numbers are pretty staggering.  It makes me think back my marketing courses where they taught the 80/20 rule and that the voice of a few advocates are louder than the many.  In other words, some people were politically-interested that live in the district and others still payed attention from outside the district.  Those people were highly organized and motivated to fundraise, volunteer, advocate and  in some cases vote.  These voices though greatly outweighed and skewed my perception on the actual level of interest in this race.

Now, the big issue I wanted to mention is not so much what happened in the primary but what needs to happen as this congressional race moves closer to the general election on April 7.  Yesterday’s comment from Evan sums up the post-primary situation perfectly:

What we need to do now is make sure that the Dems come out in the general election. I don’t know which of the opponents is scarier…Rosanna Pulido who runs on pro-gun and anti-immigration (even though she’s Hispanic) or Matthew Reichel who wants to “end the apartheid in Israel” and was living in Paris and not knowing if he’d ever return to the U.S. only 2 years ago. SCARY!!! We must all come out and vote for Quigley regardless of whom we supported in the primary.

I couldn’t have said it better myself.

IL-5 Wrap Up and Election Night Party

Congratulations Mike Quigley.

In a close race with terrible turnout, Quigley won the Democratic primary with about 22 percent of the vote, followed by John Fritchey and Sara Feigenholtz with 19 percent and 17 percent respectively.

It’s  no surprise to anyone who’s read this blog that I favored Sara Feigenholtz in this race.  I thought she was the most honest, sensible and gutsy candidate in this field who I knew would stand up and fight for issues – like healthcare reform – that we badly need to fix.  Though that being said, I respect other candidates in the field who were also smart, capable and would make good members of congress as well.

The good news is we still have Sara Feigenholtz in the Illinois General Assembly and G-d knows we need all the capable and sane minds in that government turned circus of late.

I attended the Feigenholtz election night party at the Metro across from Wrigley Field.  Despite the disappointment in the election results, I think I speak for many people when I say that her supporters felt that there’s a ton of work to be done with Sara as a State Representative and that in no way does the election result say anything about the campaign she ran and the person she is.

Fellow State Rep. Susanan Mendoza, representing the SW Side of Chicago, came out on stage to greet the supporters.  She’s an absolutely talented legislator who is sharp as a whip.  If you have not seen her interview on Chicago Tonight from two weeks ago, I strongly suggest you watch it.  She possesses the type of no-nonsense and down to earth style that is so unusual yet needed in our elected officials.

State Comptroller and Sara Feigenholtz endorser Dan Hynes came out next to say a few words and introduce Sara.  He played the consummate veteran and respectable elected official role.

Sara’s message to the audience was classic Sara Feigenholtz – classy, hopeful and witty.  She encouraged everyone to support Mike Quigley and pledged to work with him as a congressman.  Furthermore, she looked forward to going back to Springfield to represent her district to fight the good fight.  She kept saying how much she loved the district she represents and I think that feeling is mutual.

One final thought…I understand that “election fatigue” effected voter turnout.  I understand that a special election is not as attractive as a presidential race.  I understand that voters are pissed from Blagojevich and Burris…But come on people!  Voting is the ultimate Democratic tool.  We as citizens must exercise our right to vote.  Getting to the polls and casting votes is a small sacrafice to pay for participating in our country’s governance.  Let’s remember that.

The Best of IL-5

It’s been a lot of fun blogging about the Democratic Primary for the 5th District Congressional seat.  We’ve seen a lot in the 10 weeks or so that the campaign has been in full swing.  I thought it would be nice to provide a rundown of the best and worst moments in the primary.

Image Credit: Progress Illinois

Best Coverage

This one is tough.  Capital Fax, Progress Illinois, David Ormsby and  Gapers Block have all provided insightful content into this race.  However, I think Progress Illinois did voters a tremendous service through publishing original and investigative content.  I for one am a more informed voter (though not a 5th District resident) because of the folks at Progress.

Too Many Skeletons in the Closet

By far, John Fritchey was put on the defensive more often than any other candidate.  This is a pol whose uncle-in-law and brother-in-law have been linked to some unsavory dealings, to say the least.  Furthermore, given his connections to the ward bosses and seeking their endorsement did  not do anything to alter the image that he’s the Machine candidate in this race…more so than even Patrick O’Connor.  Given the Blagojevich scandal and the Burris embarrassment, Fritchey seemed all too vulnerable in this race.  Rich Miller reports on just the last few days of Fritchey’s problems.

Where the Hell is this Guy?

Speaking of Patrick O’Connor, I’m confused as to why he even stayed in the race.  He didn’t show up to the first and probably best attended and covered candidates’ forum at DePaul University, citing that he had better voter reach going to various Super Bowl parties.  His website was not even up and running until about two-and-a-half weeks before the election and his biggest selling point is that he’s Richard Daley’s floor leader.  Not exactly a compelling argument to put him in Congress.

Most Impressive Campaign Operation

Sara Feigenholtz started campaigning in mid-December, before anyone else and never looked back.  She put together a top-notch group of staffers, whose outreach to the public was always respectful.  She was the first to open a second campaign office.  She received the biggest endorsement of the race – in terms of money and people to hit the streets – in the SEIU.  And, she demonstrated message consistency in a race with a lot of mudslinging that kept voters knowing she is about health care reform above all else.  Yes, that could mean she’s disciplined and a good campaigner.  But I also give a lot of credit to her staff for keeping the ship on course.

What the F*%k was He Thinking?

Victor Forys comparing Mike Quigley to the Nazi “Big Lie” theory:

The Minister of Propaganda for Germany in World War II, said “If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it.”

“Commissioner Mike Quigley is telling a big lie, and he is repeating it over and over and over,” said Dr. Victor Forys, M.D. “That is what you can expect from a career, recycled, politician like Cook County Commissioner Mike Quigley,” said Dr. Victor Forys.

Bad taste, and low, Victor.  By the way, do you remember the Polish Chicago man who desecrated the Jewish cemetery on the Northwest Side?  Hello?!

Best Ads Barely Anyone Saw

I was super-impressed with Charlie Wheelan’s three TV ads – Underwater, Upside Down and the Dark Knight.  Those ads showed a level of creativity and uniqueness that I have never seen in a political advertisement.

The ironic thing is that few people saw them.  The Wheelan campaign just didn’t have enough money to buy any kind of airtime to get traction and their online promotion fell somewhat flat.  I think if this race was longer and they had a chance to raise more money, the viewership would have been a different story.  Still, I think campaigns will be influenced in the future to create ads that don’t always follow a formulaic method.  That’s a good thing.

Big Ideas and Netroots Champion

This goes to, of course, Tom Geoghegan.  Disagree with him or not, I have never heard a better, clearer explanation of single payer health care before.  Tom brought huge amounts of energy to really enhance the substantive debate about issues in this campaign.  I don’t think he’ll win, but I would bet he’ll be the one person who gathers a nice following after the race that could put him in office one day.  Thank you, Tom Geoghegan for challenging traditional thinking and making political leadership about improving lives and the health of our country.

Worst Stunt

Several weeks ago Mike Quigley’s campaign launched moretransit.com.  I blogged about it, arguing that stunts can be good thing when they’re thought through.  But this one was not, especially given that a day or so after it was launched the Senate voted on the bailout making the site irrelevant.

Biggest Need for a Twitter Lesson

This one also goes to Mike Quigley’s campaign.  The campaign’s Twitter profile teetered the line between badgering and annoying, prompting many complaints.  I had a conversation with Quigley’s campaign manager about this issue.  In the end, there’s definitely a right way and a wrong way to use Twitter.  At its best, Twitter is a conversational and community building tool that are a real asset to campaigns.  At worst, it’s a tool to stalk, offend and turn people away.

Social Media Champ

If Geoghegan won over bloggers, Feigenholtz was the most popular at engaging people on Facebook and Twitter.  She leads her opponents with the most supporters on Facebook, at nearly a thousand, and as the WindyCitizen’s Twitter Tracker shows, she also is the big leader in conversations about the IL-5 race.

Feel free to add to this list…and make sure to vote tomorrow!

Facebook, Easy Way to GOTV and Stay Top of Mind

I got word last night that Sara Feigenholtz’s campaign is asking supporters to change their Facebook profile picture to an artistic Feigenholtz portrait.

Now Sunday morning, I took a quick runthrough of the other leading candidates’ websites and social networking profiles to see if they were asking supporters to do the same.  Surprisingly, they have not yet.

As a simple way to use social networking and build solidarity for a campaign, changing profile pics days before election day is a great strategy.

I think it proved successful only a few months back when voters went to the polls for election day.  Even more so today, because most everyone I know voted for Barack Obama, I’ve hardly seen monolithic support for one candidate among my network.  Changing Facebook profile pics that would pop up in a newsfeed is that much more important to giving any slight edge in this race.

Plus, the Feigenholtz picture is pretty cool, and maybe it will stimulate word of mouth, the holy grail in marketing communications.

Already more profile pics are popping up in my newsfeed featuring Feigenholtz’s photo.  I’m curious to see if others follow suit.

IL-5 Quigley Trying to Respond to Feigenholtz’s Attack Ad

Going into the weekend preceding Tuesday’s primary election, State Rep. Sara Feigenholtz’s campaign unveiled a new TV ad attacking Cook County Commissioner Mike Quigley.

The ad comes on the heels of the SEIU’s $250,000 effort to buy Feigenholtz more TV advertising air time.  Quigley’s campaign responded last night by posting a response to the Feigenholtz attack ad on YouTube and today held a press conference covered by Progress Illinois.

The advertisement makes three arguments against Quigley.

1. Mike Quigley chose to endorse Todd Stroger in 2006, despite Quigley’s campaign messaging that has positioned him as a Stroger adversary to root out Cook County government waste and corruption
2. Mike Quigley sent his chief of staff to work on Todd Stroger’s 2006 Cook County President campaign
3. Mike Quigley voted for Todd Stroger’s 2007 budget that cut frontline County workers while protecting Stroger friends and family on the County payroll

Today, I asked Quigley for Congress campaign manager Tom Bowen for a response to these questions.  Below is our email exchange:

Hey Tom,

I just started to follow Feigenholtz’s new ad and Quigley’s response on YouTube.  Was hoping you could answer the following questions/accusations from Feigenholtz to put on a blog post:

Why did Quigley chose to endorse Todd Stroger in 2006?

Did Quigley order his chief of staff to work on Stroger’s campaign or did she go on her own free will?

What about Stroger’s 2007 budget that Quigley voter for, given the accusation that it cut jobs for nurses and other frontline workers to make room for Stroger friends and family on the county payroll?

Thanks

Jesse

Jesse,

Please show me the 3rd party source that says Mike Quigley endorsed todd stroger, specifically the word “endorse” or any form of it.

Please also note that Sara appears on stroger’s site and in an editorial by the Chicago Tribune as an endorsee.

http://stroger.sitebuilder.completecampaigns.com/sbcc/personalinfo.php?page=biography&seq=5

No he did not order her to do anything.  Feel free to talk to Jen about it.

3. Why mike voted for that budget was answered in the tribune editorial board, don’t have a transcript handy, but you know where to find the link.

The idea that Mike cut frontline workers to make room for Stroger patronage workers is laughable.  Quigley is the one candidate in this race who has proposed hundreds of millions of dollars of reforms to government to cut waste, bureaucracy and patronage.

And I hope you ask these sorts of loaded questions to all the campaigns.

Tom,

These are just the allegations leveled by the Feigenholtz campaign that I wanted to have you weigh in on.

The Sun Times reported in 2006 (Sept. 21) that Jen Koehler was asked to work Stroger’s campaign “with Quigley’s blessing.”

The same article said Quigley “was throwing support” behind Stroger.

I don’t have the transcript of the interview with the Trib in front of me…anyway you or staff could highlight what Quigley said?

Jesse,

With the limited time I have left in this campaign to do things, I don’t want to nor do I have to spend it answering accusations leveled against me without the reporter/blogger doing homework.

It would be like me sending an email to you, “I heard John Fritchey is buying billboards in nebraska” and you then going to john’s campaign for comment.

So you don’t have anything that says Mike endorsed stroger, but you do have things saying sara did.  I think that answers the question about who endorsed him.  Mike didn’t and Sara did.

Also, and don’t feel like this is directed at you, I do this for all reporters.  I’m not going to go through the reported coverage of the campaign for you, I don’t have the time or the staff.  Go to the trib site and watch it, let it load so you can skim through, but they asked him your exact question, “why did you vote for stroger’s budget.”

As you can see from this exchange and the Progress Illinois post, it does not seem that the Quigley campaign is coming out and direclty answering these points raised by the Feigenholtz campaign.

After a little digging on Lexis Nexus, I found the following segment from the Chicago Sun Times (Sept. 21, 2006) showing that Quigley supported Todd Stroger’s Cook County Presidency bid and lent his chief of staff to Stroger’s campaign:

It was with some surprise — oh, let’s be honest and say our jaws dropped — to read that Mike Quigley, the reformer on the Cook County Board, the man who always questioned the way former president John Stroger did business, was throwing support to Stroger’s son, Todd, in his bid to become the next County Board president.

Sun-Times political columnist Carol Marin detailed the whole business in her column on Wednesday, noting that Quigley’s chief of staff, Jennifer Koehler, is being seconded to work for Stroger’s campaign. With Quigley’s blessings.

“Would this be the same Mike Quigley who, beginning with his election in 1998, was the loneliest commissioner on the whole board?” Marin asked. “The guy crying for reform from a back bench? The lone vote for the longest time on cutting the bloated budget and confronting the endless corruption?”

Yes, indeed. One wonders about Quigley’s motives, particularly when he tells Marin he would look “ridiculous”directly endorsing Stroger so he has sent him “the best and brightest” of his staff. Quigley says he needs to help

Democrat Stroger, because the race for Cook County Board president has become a “grim choice” between Stroger and Republican Commissioner Tony Peraica. He adds that he hopes Stroger is being honest about wanting reform. Amen.

It can only be said that politics makes strange bedfellows.

And in reference to Quigley’s support of Stroger’s 2007 budget, the Chicago Tribune quoted Quigley endorser and fellow Cook County Board member Forrest Claypool  on Feb. 27, 2007:

“I’m disappointed that four commissioners who publicly committed to cut deeply in the patronage bureaucracy in this government abandoned that pledge in a backroom on the eve of the vote,” Claypool said.

Maybe the reason Quigley’s camp is being so evasive is because Feigenholtz’s points are indefensible?

IL-5 Race Goes National

The race for Rahm Emanuel’s open seat is starting to get national attention just five days before election day.

It’s taken a few days, but Charlie Wheelan’s Dark Knight political short is gaining headway with the creative professionals community and national marketing insider trade magazine, AdAge.  TimeOut Chicago mentioned it.  But the video has been viewed just over 4,000 times on YouTube – hardly viral.  Can Wheelan do better?

Photo Credit: Liz Bernunzio

Meanwhile, Tom Geoghegan continues to score big outside the district.  He received public support from Washington Post columnist Harold Meyerson, Slate’s Mickey Kraus and a blog post from U.S. News and World Report.  Had this race been run over a normal period, Geoghegan might have seen some of this national popularity manifest into greater contribution levels.  As it is, peering at his last few 48-hour file contributions, most of his contributors are out of state (ActBlue, where most Geoghegan supporters are giving, doesn’t report individuals.  Those records will be made public by the candidate at a later date).

And, Geoghegan wrote an article featured in the nation’s most-read political blog, the Huffington Post.

Glaringly absent from national media coverage was much of a focus on the actual favorites – Sara Feigenholtz, John Fritchey and Mike Quigley.  To me, that says a few things.  First, Wheelan and Geoghegan have done a lot to either take risks or be so different from the rest of the field, that they’re candidacy has become a story.  And second, the national media just doesn’t get Chicago politics, its personalities, supporters and political organizations that will help determine the winner.  I think the answer is a little of both.

Claypool Blasts Quigley for Supporting Stroger Budget

If John Fritchey is running the special election to replace Rahm Emanuel in Congress as the anti-Blagojevich, Mike Quigley has certainly postured himself as the biggest critic of Cook County Commission President Todd Stroger.

Quigley touts the support of fellow Commissioner Forrest Claypool in the race. When Claypool announced his support of Quigley a few weeks ago he highlighted Quigley’s opposition to Stroger. “No one has fought the old, failed politics of Todd Stroger longer or more effectively than Mike Quigley,” Claypool said.

Yeah right, Forrest

Claypool has certainly been consistent in his opposition to Stroger, but Quigley cannot make that claim in good faith.

How do I know? Because Forrest Claypool tells me so. On Claypool’s own website, you can follow this link to a page that blasts Quigley for supporting Stroger’s 2007 budget that cut frontline workers and put a bunch of Stroger’s pals in cushy government jobs.

“Commissioner Claypool along with eleven other commissioners presented an alternative omnibus budget amendment that sought to balance the budget by cutting over 300 highly paid politically connected “paper pushers” (many of whom were responsible for the budget deficit in the first place), and retaining doctors, nurses, prosecutors, and public defenders. Twelve Commissioners, including Forrest, stood up at a press conference with frontline employees in jeopardy of losing their jobs, and endorsed the alternative omnibus budget amendment over President Stroger’s irresponsible budget.

On February 10, Commissioners Quigley, Gorman, Goslin and Silvestri switched sides and voted for President Stroger’s budget, which protected politically connected upper management personnel and sacrificed frontline personnel. These same commissioners then proceeded to vote against the very amendment they publicly supported a week prior, resulting in the defeat of our omnibus budget amendment 10 to 7.

The budget cuts will have the biggest impact on the poor residents of Cook County who can not afford health insurance. County hospitals and clinics are their only alternative. Prior to the 2007 budget debates, the previous Stroger administration claimed that there was a nursing shortage and that overcrowding at Stroger was an acute problem. Now, the new administration is laying-off over 100 nurses and closing clinics, which will only increase already unacceptable wait times and cause more overcrowding at Stroger hospital.”

Don’t try to find this link on Claypool’s homepage, it’s not there. For some strange reason, the link to that page is hidden, and will probably be taken down after this post. For me, this begs two questions: Why is Claypool hiding his ertwhile criticism of Quigley?  And, why have none of the journalists covering this race noted that Quigley’s opposition to Stroger is not the same as he presents it?