• TRIB CONFIRMS MEEKS' POLITICS SHAPED EDUCATION PLAN
• BLAGOJEVICH-TOPINKA SPAR DURING FIRST DEBATE
• TOP TIER RACES: 44th House District
• POLITICAL INSIDER- FYI-DEMUZIO ENJOYING POLITICAL PERKS OF A TARGETED RACE
• PI UPDATE: COOK COUNTY BOARD PRESIDENT'S RACE
• EDITORIAL OF THE WEEK: Chicago Tribune, "Selling the People's Assets...(...for a Haphazard Plan)"

TRIB CONFIRMS MEEKS' POLITICS SHAPED EDUCATION PLAN

With the prospect of a third party candidacy threatening his re-election bid, Governor Blagojevich conversed several times with his potential opponent, Sen. James Meeks, in the weeks prior to unveiling his new education proposal.  Following those meeting, Meeks abandoned his plans to run for Governor saying his talks with Blagojevich had been fruitful.  Word that this plan is purely political have been downplayed by administration and Blagojevich campaign spokespersons.  However, it was revealed this morning that there is a very real possibility that Blagojevich's campaign recently ran a poll regarding Meeks' potential candidacy and included policy questions such as selling the lottery.

Political pundits, editorial pages and gubernatorial critics were quick to blast the idea as short-sighted, lacking in details and politically expedient.  GOP candidate Judy Baar Topinka labeled the plan "lottery shell game part two".  State Rep. Roger Eddy, who is also a school superintendent, also questioned the timing of the plan saying, "If the governor was serious about reforming funding for education and wanted to do it in a meaningful way, we'd be calling people together and figuring out an equitable plan.  You have to be suspect of a plan that is thrown together almost as a reaction to a threat."

The administration, citing internal analysis, believes such a move would generate $10 billion.  Blagojevich's plan would be to use $4 billion in the first four years to undertake a series of steps including improving infrastructure, updating textbooks and increasing state control of failing schools and/or districts.  The remaining $6 billion would be tapped over the ensuing years for the $600 million a year the lottery produces for education currently.  The entire $10 billion would be depleted by 2024.

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BLAGOJEVICH-TOPINKA SPAR DURING FIRST DEBATE

Veteran political reporter Dick Kay had the honor of hosting the first 2006 gubernatorial debate as part of his final "City Desk" show.  Blagojevich and Topinka came out swinging and didn't look back for the entire debate.  Topinka referred to the Governor as the "new George Ryan" and Blagojevich charged the Treasurer a "hypocrite" and attacked her ethics.

Kay asked some pointed questions but by-and-large allowed the two candidates to openly spar with one another.  At one point, Topinka said it was not "if but when" the current administration would face indictments.  Blagojevich repeatedly defended his administration saying that not one person had been indicted as a result of the many on-going investigations.  Topinka was unrelenting in her criticism and at one point, in referring to the Governor, said, "I still have a name - you're Public Official A."

Watch the entire video here.

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TOP TIER RACES: 44th House District

Background:  This district is part of a northwest suburb strategy that Democrats are targeting in 2006.  They believe that changing demographics make this area ripe for Democrat candidates. 

After months of searching, and being turned down by many people, House Dems settled on Fred Crespo.  Crespo has been involved in Republican Party politics for several years, and his switching to the Democrat Party has left the GOP upset, and local Democrats weary.

The district includes Hoffman Estates, Streamwood, Hanover Park, and parts of Elgin and Schaumburg.

District voting patterns:

George W. Bush lost this district in 2000 and 2004.

Jim Ryan won it by 512 votes in 2002.

Parke won his last contested race in 2002 with 61% of the vote.  He was unopposed in 2004.

Candidate Profiles:

Terry Parke (R-Hoffman Estates)

Parke has served in the Illinois House since 1985.  He is a solid pro-business legislator with numerous awards from employer groups, including the Illinois Chamber's "Champion of Free Enterprise Award". 

Parke is a retired insurance agent, and has been involved in local Republican politics for over 25 years.  He has geared up his campaign organization for this election, is walking precincts, raising money, and attending numerous events.  He raised an impressive $100,000 in the last six months of 2005.

Website:   www.terryparke.com

Fred Crespo (D-Hoffman Estates)

Fred Crespo was elected to the non-partisan Hoffman Estates Board of Trustees in 2005.  Although a non-partisan position, Crespo received support from the Republican township organization, and became the first Hispanic elected to the Board.

After months of searching for a candidate, and promising hundreds of thousands of dollars to assist a campaign, House Democrats got Crespo to switch parties and file nominating petitions.

Website:  NA

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POLITICAL INSIDER- FYI-DEMUZIO ENJOYING POLITICAL PERKS OF A TARGETED RACE

Senate Democrats are giving Sen. Deanna Demuzio the full incumbency protection plan during this election year.  Her district is competitive, and Blagojevich's polling numbers are terrible in this area of the state.

After three years in office, supporting all of the Governor's budgets (which included $700 million in yearly road fund diversions), Demuzio announced $48 million for Corridor 67 last week.  The Corridor is a major highway project in the district.  Only $4 million is actually in the budget for this year.  The rest is an I.O.U. from the Governor.

Coincidently, or not, the announcement was timed for the same day her opponent Jeff Richey was holding a major fundraiser in Jacksonville.  Noting the evident timing between the announcement and his fundraiser, Richey quipped, "If I can be this effective as a candidate, imagine what I can accomplish as a legislator!"  Over 100 people attended Richey's Jacksonville fundraiser... an impressive number considering Morgan County is not Richey's base.

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PI UPDATE: COOK COUNTY BOARD PRESIDENT'S RACE

Days before the March 21^st primary, Cook County Board President John Stroger suffered a major stroke.  Stroger managed to eek out a victory over Forest Claypool but since the stroke has been receiving intense medical care and has not been seen in public.  A number of names have been floated in the Democratic party to take the reigns of the Cook County Board.  To date, however, party leaders are waiting to see if Stroger will recover.

Cook County Board member Tony Peraica is the GOP nominee for the presidency of the nation's second largest county.  Last week, Peraica called for a "verifiable, objective message" that Stroger is well enough to continue as President.  Stroger's family continues to say that the County Board President is the one who will make the decision if he can function and continue in this elected role.

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EDITORIAL OF THE WEEK: Chicago Tribune, "Selling the People's Assets...(...for a Haphazard Plan)"

"Politicians generally don't get re-elected by being frugal. Instead, they lure votes by spending like there's no tomorrow. When they build roads or fund popular programs, they give us something tangible in return for the tax dollars we've sent them.

But suppose pols want to spend even more than we've sent them. Well, if they want to risk voters' wrath, they can increase taxes. Or, as Gov. Rod Blagojevich's plan to unload the state lottery attests, they can sell or lease public assets and spend that money on projects we'll like.

Blagojevich wants to spend more on schools, but he's nervous about raising taxes. He could stop right there, figuring he can't spend what he doesn't have. Instead, the governor's lottery proposal is the latest example of an accelerating trend as state and local governments across the U.S. look for allegedly painless ways to raise money."  Read the whole thing...

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