• Two Former Gov Staffers Fired Over Patronage Allegations
• State Sen. Meeks to Announce Statewide Slate on May 20
• PI FYI: Top Tier House Races - 92nd House District
• Governor Approves Legislation to Allow for Leasing of Midway
• Top Democratic Lawyer & Fundraiser in a Swirl of Sex Allegations
• Editorial of the Week - Decatur Herald & Review - More of the Same from the State Budget

Two Former Gov Staffers Fired Over Patronage Allegations

On Friday, Governor Blagojevich's administration admitted that two state employees were fired on April 4 for allegedly tampering with civil service test scores which enabled individuals to received state jobs or to be promoted.  The US Attorney's office has been investigating allegations into hiring practices at Central Management Services.  The two state employees have been interviewed by the FBI as part of the ongoing investigation.

Dawn DeFraties and Mark Casey, both of Springfield, while working at CMS allegedly altered or assisted individuals who were taking civil service exams.  DeFraties and Casey contend that they were told by the Governor's Office to assist applicants who had political connections.  The Blagojevich administration claims that they have no tolerance for this type of activity and have hired an outside law firm to further investigate this case.  DeFraties and Casey have appealed their dismissal and their case comes before the Illinois Civil Service Commission this week.

Top

State Sen. Meeks to Announce Statewide Slate on May 20

State Sen. James Meeks has been flirting with an independent run for Governor for weeks.  Under Illinois law, however, an independent campaign must include a candidate for every constitutional office.  Last week Meeks announced that he has slated enough candidates to launch an independent run and he will announce the entire slate on May 20.

Meeks said that his slate and the name of his party will be disclosed on the 20^th and they will begin immediately traveling the state to collect the 25,000 signatures needed to be added to the November 7 ballot.  Meeks recently commissioned a poll which resulted in Meeks receiving 11%, Topinka 40% and Blagojevich with 47%.  However, after a series of push questions, the poll showed Meeks and Topinka tied with Blagojevich 13 points ahead.

Top

PI FYI: Top Tier House Races - 92nd House District

Background:  Republicans picked up a seat last election by defeating Ricca Slone in this Democrat leaning Peoria district.  State Rep. Aaron Schock won a close election, and became the youngest legislator in the Illinois House.  Democrats want this district back and will likely spend a considerable amount of money to do so.  Schock is a hard working candidate, and well liked.

The district encompasses most of the City of Peoria.

District voting patterns:

George W. Bush received 40% in 2000.

Blagojevich took 53.4% in 2002.

Candidate Profiles:

Aaron Schock (R-Peoria)

Aaron Schock ran a strong grassroots campaign in 2004 to defeat an entrenched incumbent.  At 23, he is the youngest legislator and school board president in Illinois.  Schock's political career has been highlighted by vigorous grassroots campaigns that seem to defy political wisdom.  At age 19 he beat the incumbent school board president, as a write-in candidate.  He kept that streak of good luck running by beating the Democrat incumbent state representative in a very Democrat leaning district. 

Schock has been involved in real estate development and renovation.  He has been a strong advocate for pro-jobs issues, and for his district.

Website:   www.aaronschock.com

Bill Spears (D-Peoria)

Spears is a Peoria City Councilman.  He is a salesman for Connor Co. in Peoria, and was formerly a business manager for the local plumbers' union.  He became the consensus candidate of local Democrats. 

Website:  NA

Top

Governor Approves Legislation to Allow for Leasing of Midway

Last week, Governor Blagojevich signed legislation that will allow the City of Chicago to lease Midway Airport to a private management firm.  This legislation follows a move sweeping the country allowing units of government to reap huge cash infusions with long-term leases of public infrastructure.  Chicago has already seen great benefit from the leasing of the Skyway.  Blagojevich has also begun discussions regarding the leasing of the Illinois Tollway system. 

The Midway legislation was supported by Mayor Daley and stipulates that the revenue must be used from infrastructure, maintenance and pension payments.  There is no set time-table for the transition and the City still needs to receive permission from the FAA to proceed.

Top

Top Democratic Lawyer & Fundraiser in a Swirl of Sex Allegations

Lawyer Tom Lakin, one of the St. Louis areas top trial lawyers has become embroiled in a lawsuit with a former employee that alleges drug abuse and sexual misconduct with children.  Lakin has won tens of millions of dollars from a very successful civil suit practice and now finds himself on the other end of a large civil suit.  Lakin left his law firm to enter drug rehab in November and now is being accused of a host of sexual misdeeds with two minor children, a former employee and one of his sons.

Lakin has been a large contributor to Democratic politicians at the national and state level.  In Illinois, Lakin has contributed $45,500 to Blagojevich, $56,600 to Speaker Madigan, $66,000 to Attorney General Lisa Madigan and has contributed more than $250,000 in the last two federal campaign cycles.

Top

Editorial of the Week - Decatur Herald & Review - More of the Same from the State Budget

"More of the same may be the best way to describe the state's fiscal year 2007 budget, which was approved by the legislature last week.

More of the same in that there was no increase in income or property taxes, even though the state plans to spend $1.4 billion more. More of the same in that there are programs that will sound good on the campaign trail but aren't all they claim to be. More of the same in that the state is running the risk of borrowing from the future to pay for today's programs."  Read the whole thing...

Top