Mayor’s Row………..by Ned Mitchell
I once had a Dalmatian dog. I was a volunteer fireman in Sesser at the time and thought it would be great to have my own firehouse dog. Somehow the dog got loose and ended up having a litter of puppies. Of course they were a mixed breed of sorts but cute anyhow. I was amazed when I went to check on the mother and pups one day and to my utter disbelief discovered she had ate the puppies! Despite being told by dog experts reasons why a mother would devour her own puppies I thought it was disgusting and decided that any dog that would eat their own young needed to go. I gave the dog away and got another breed.
Just about the time I think I can ease up on my fellow democrats along they come and eat their own young politicians. In the mail last week I received a rather demeaning direct mail campaign brochure. It had to do with the state treasurer’s race between democrats Alexi Giannoulias, a banker, and Paul Mangieri, a state’s attorney from Knox County. The brochure was downright nasty toward Giannoulias. Fortunately in Illinois when campaign material is mailed out it has to disclose who paid for the material. In the bottom right corner of this piece of garbage reveals it was paid for by the Democratic Party of Illinois. Our good friend Mike Madigan, Speaker of the House is chairman of the Democratic Party of Illinois.
I immediately had a flashback to some of my earlier campaigns. Once I ran for political office as State Representative as a democrat. Low and behold I discover Mike Madigan and his cronies were dumping thousands of dollars in campaign cash into my opponent’s campaign. I complained long and loud that they were spending Democratic Party money against a fellow democrat. Not only were they spending money against me, they were nasty in making personal attacks. Their explanation was I had the audacity to run against an incumbent, I should know better. Okay, fine, have it your way. Fast forward a few years later and I get appointed to the State Senate. I am running in a primary election and I have a challenger. Now follow me here, I am the incumbent and a challenger is running against me. Surely, I thought, Mike Madigan and the Democratic Party would stay out of this one. After all, I was the incumbent, a sitting Senator. Wrong! Here comes Madigan and his cronies again dumping thousands of dollars in cash in my opponent’s campaign coffers. Again I complained long and loud that I am the incumbent and you guys should be backing me not my opponent. That all fell on silent ears and the Democratic Party continued to fund money to defeat another democrat. Folks that is just plain wrong. It should not be that way and I’ll continue to tell the story.
I was indeed saddened that Speaker Madigan and his cronies once again are taking Democratic Party money and spending it against a fellow democrat. Giannoulias made the decision to run for state treasurer. He has some very strong backing in Senator Obama and Representative Jesse Jackson, Jr. The brochure ends up saying “Illinois can’t afford another politician like Alexi Giannoulias”. To Speaker Madigan and his cronies I say, Illinois can’t afford any more politicians like you guys. I mean, after all, look at Illinois that the democrats control completely now and you tell me how grand things are. We are not exactly living in the land of milk and honey and yes, you do remind me of my Dalmatian dog. You all need run off and hopefully Alexi Giannoulias can start that!
Since the election is next Tuesday and I have been blabbing about it for months here I thought we might as well let the whole world know about Old Ned’s favorites.
For Governor, guess what? Rod Blagojevich has not earned the right to another term. If you live in Franklin County in particular and vote for him, you have a big old rock where your brain should be. Unless of course you have a big bucks state job with the governor or hold a state contract. If you do, I excuse you for your loyalty. I can think of no good reason from Franklin County to vote for this man. We do have a choice in Edwin Eisendrath. Eisendrath has ran a stealth campaign but he did spend two days in Franklin County and has some great ideas. On top of all that he is honest which beats the pants off the other guy. Blagojevich skipped coming to Franklin County where all the democrats are. Instead he had another love fest with Marion Mayor Bob Butler and all the republicans in Williamson County. Wonder why that is?
For State Treasurer I back Alexi Giannoulias. He is exactly what we should be looking for as Illinois democrats, new blood! Alexi is a successful banker with a law degree and is the kind of candidate that can win this office back for democrats in the fall. We need more candidates like Giannoulias, now less. He gets a very big nod on this one.
Congressman Jerry Costello in my estimation is the absolute best Congressman in Washington. He is head and shoulders above the rest and proves that you can have a conscience on family matters and still be a democrat. I am impressed by him and his attention to detail. We need Congressman Costello and I wholeheartedly support him.
Locally we have very good candidates running for offices on the democrat side and really we will be well served with either candidate who wins. Life is all about choices though and I have looked them over and made mine. Here they are.
For Sheriff, incumbent Bill Wilson is being challenged by retired state trooper and business owner Scott Choisser. I pick Bill Wilson for a variety of reasons. He has been a good Sheriff and has been fair with us over in Sesser. He is on the job and needs the job. We don’t need to retire Bill this time.
For Regional Superintendent of Schools. Are you stupid or what? I pick Matt Donkin, a nice young democrat over incumbent Barry Kohl. This should not even be a race and Kohl needs to be sent out to pasture. Donkin is an experienced educator and someone we can all be proud of. No question, Donkin is the best pick here by far.
For County Board in District one. I am backing former Royalton Mayor Christy Brower over Six Mile Township Supervisor Rannie Snider. I was part of a group of several democrats over here that have been urging Christy to run for County Board for over a year now. That decision was made before Snider talked about running. Brower has a proven track record of success in Royalton and we would be well served by having a woman’s perspective on the Franklin County Board. The boys seem to have done a great job of really messing that agency up so let’s put a woman on for a change.
My strong support for Circuit Judge goes to Melissa Drew for many reasons. First, Melissa is extremely qualified and will add greatly to our judicial bench with her experience in working with poor clients at Land of Lincoln and trial appearances. She is a former employee of mine as a Senate staffer, she is a loving wife and mother, she is honest as the day is long and she is from FRANKLIN COUNTY. Get the message? FRANKLIN COUNTY has a chance to get this seat back after losing it to Jefferson County several years ago. Get off your tail and support Melissa Drew!
The Appellate Court race, Bruce Stewart gets the nod from me. Stewart is very qualified for this job and will make us a very good candidate in the fall.
You have it from the horse’s big mouth now it is up to you. I don’t wish to tell you how to vote, but I do wish you would go vote. Whether you are democrat, republican, or independent, get out Tuesday March 21 and cast your vote!
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