• Blagojevich Attack Ad Shot in Public School Against Ethics Policy
• Topinka Selects McFadden to Lead Campaign
• Dem Treasurer Candidate Attempts to Explain Loan Scandal
• PI FYI: 49th Senate District
• Editorial of the Week - Rockford Register Star - Lawmakers Want a Raise

Blagojevich Attack Ad Shot in Public School Against Ethics Policy

Saturday after the March primary, Governor Blagojevich sat in Waters Elementary School, near his Chicago home, to tape an attack ad against his opponent, Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka.  The Blagojevich campaign claims that the event was not political but actually a town-hall meeting set up for the Governor to seek input on issues for the up-coming general election.

The Chicago Public School system, however, has an ethics code that appears to prohibit such events.  The code states: "Employees shall not intentionally misappropriate any board property or resources by engaging in any prohibited political activity for the benefit of any campaign for elective office or any political organization."   Peter Cunningham, spokesperson for CPS, said that the Blagojevich event was seen as "skirting the ethics rules."

The event was not open to the public or media.  The Blagojevich campaign hand-picked the 50 or so attendees and shot footage for a future campaign commercial.

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Topinka Selects McFadden to Lead Campaign

A veteran political operative joined Judy Baar Topinka's gubernatorial campaign last week.  Brian McFadden, who served as Senate Republican Leader Frank Watson's Chief of Staff, was named Topinka's campaign manager.  Terry Barnich managed Topinka's primary campaign but left shortly after March 21 to return to his consulting business.

McFadden has worked in politics his entire career learning the trade from respected political consultant Carter Hendren.  McFadden managed the Loleta Didrickson campaign for Comptroller in 1994 as well as Karen Hasara's campaign for Mayor of Springfield in 1995.  McFadden went on to serve as Mayor Hasara's Chief of Staff until 2003 when he moved over to the State Senate.

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Dem Treasurer Candidate Attempts to Explain Loan Scandal

Alexi Giannoulias, the Democratic candidate for State Treasurer has ducked charges and questions that his family's bank, Broadway Bank in Chicago, loaned millions of dollars to individuals with criminal histories.  Last week, Giannoulias finally began speaking about the loans and admitting that he "should have taken more time to look at their background."

Giannoulias is vice president and senior loan officer for the bank which loaned about $2.5 million to Michael "Jaws" Giorango and Demitri Stavropoulos.  Giorango and Stavropoulos have both been convicted on several federal charges in the past.  During the primary, Giannoulias brushed aside charges that Broadway Bank should not have provided loans to Giorango and Stavropoulos.  Last week, he tried to downplay the issue by saying, "What they did was wrong. I should have said it then. I'm saying it now."

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PI FYI: 49th Senate District

Background:  The 49^th Senate District is the best shot that Senate Republicans have of picking up a new seat this fall.  While they will mostly be on the defensive around the state, SRCC likes the numbers they see in this downstate district.

Vince Demuzio held the district for over twenty years.  Sen. Vince Demuzio died in 2004, and his wife Deanna was appointed to the seat.  She did not receive any opposition in November of 2004, her first run.

The district includes all or part of Christian, Montgomery, Macoupin, Morgan, Greene, Pike, Jersey, Calhoun, Madison, Fayette, and Shelby Counties in west central Illinois.  Rod Blagojevich's approval rating is extremely low in this area, and his primary opponent pulled at least 35% of the vote in six of the district's counties.

District voting patterns:

George W. Bush beat Al Gore in 2000 by 3,000 votes

Blagojevich won in 2002 by 2,000 votes

The district is represented by one Democrat and one Republican.

Candidate Profiles:

Sen. Deanna Demuzio (D-Carlinville)

The Demuzio name is very strong in this part of the state.  Senator Vince Demuzio represented the area for many years, was liked, and was well known for getting things done.  His wife Deanna certainly benefits from Vince's legacy.  She faces her first opposition since being appointed in 2004.

Democrats know that this district is being targeted, and have made sure the Sen. Deanna Demuzio carries legislation that will resonate with voters and maintains a strong media presence.  She has supported several initiatives of Governor Blagojevich, including two votes in support of what would have amounted to the largest business income tax increase in state history.

Website:   http://www.senatedem.state.il.us/demuzio/index.html

Jeff Richey (R-Taylorville)

Jeff Richey is a Republican living in the Democrat side of the 49^th District.  He was elected to the Taylorville City Council in 2003 with 72% of the vote.  He currently works for Dominion Energy at their Kincaid Power Station as a process manager, and was a twenty-year member of the IBEW before that.  Republicans believe these factors will help Richey cut into the Democrat base.

With Blagojevich's polling and primary numbers doing poorly in this district, an anti-Chicago and anti-Blagojevich campaign could be very effective.  Richey has pointed to state budgets which Sen. Demuzio has supported that cut funding for downstate programs while increasing money for Chicago initiatives.  He is running on a platform of a "Choice for Change".

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Editorial of the Week - Rockford Register Star - Lawmakers Want a Raise

We're sure all the hardworking people of Illinois would love to have the ability to give themselves pay raises without their bosses' permission. If any of us gave ourselves a raise, we'd probably be in the unemployment line the next day.  But that's not the way it works in government. Elected officials have the ability to raise their pay without fear of losing their jobs until terms are over. They sometimes forget that we the taxpayers are their bosses.

Last week we heard about a proposal for Winnebago County Board members to increase their pay 140 percent. This week, the fate of a "modest" 12 percent increase for members of the Illinois General Assembly will be in the hands of the Illinois Senate.  When was the last time you received a double-digit pay raise?  Read the whole thing...

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