CapitolFax.com - Latest Comments in Another possible “vote-buying” episode?

Re: Another possible “vote-buying” episode?

Evripides — Fri, 18 May 2007 23:31:02 -0000

Nice

Re: Another possible “vote-buying” episode?

Buck Towner — Fri, 13 Apr 2007 01:02:39 -0000

Observer,

You are typical of the liars supporting Ted. The then Republican Committeeman of the 32nd Ward admitted that Matlak funding a gay-bashing mailer sent out against Lorna Brett. Be brave enough to post your e-mail address and I'll be happy to send you the article.

Buh-bye Ted. You're history.

Re: Another possible “vote-buying” episode?

daChicagoWay — Thu, 12 Apr 2007 20:58:05 -0000

50th Ward action was not addressed in this post, but can someone confirm that as of yesterday (Wed., April 11th) Daley had pulled Mike Noonan (as well as the Machine's election army) from Bernie Stone's campaign?

Re: Another possible “vote-buying” episode?

West Rogers Park Resident — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 14:08:48 -0000

50th Ward checking in here...

IÃ¢â‚¬â„¢ve had enough. To the political whores and hacks who have contributed to Ald. StoneÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s campaign via the First C.D. Victory PAC and other financial vehicles/companies Ã¢â‚¬â€œ will you hang around and contribute to clean up and improve our community should Stone win? I doubt it. To the aldermen and their support groups who gave money and manpower to Stone-will you have some police cars re-deployed from your ward to ours when it slides even further in decline with the gangs and other crimes? I think not...

Mayor Daley has made it abundantly clear that keeping Alderman Stone and his foul-mouthed, rude chief of staff (daughter Illana) (with whatever political capital that means to him) in office overrides any needs or desires of the residents of the 50th Ward. Regardless of the state of decline that the ward is in, courtesy of Alderman StoneÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s lack of leadership, planning, and advocating for us, Mayor Daley wants him re-elected. IÃ¢â‚¬â„¢ve been approached on the street twice now by people from other wards sent by other aldermen to help Stone. When I asked them about StoneÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s plans for the ward and why he is the better candidate I got, Ã¢â‚¬Å“HeÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s for safetyÃ¢â‚¬Â¦.umm, better schools, things like thatÃ¢â‚¬Â¦can you tell me where Touhy is?Ã¢â‚¬Â Articulate they are not. And StoneÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s recent mail piece about safety and cameras is garbage when he could have used the funds from the aldermanic menu to purchase them (available beginning this year) and chose not to.

It would appear that Ms. Dolar is up against a mayor who cares only about the make-up of his city council; an alderman and his campaign manager who are not above using intimidation, dirty tricks, vandalism and worse to stay in office; and fellow aldermen who must owe Stone something to send bodies up here to help him. So hereÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s my idea Ã¢â‚¬â€œ if you think Naisy Dolar deserves a fair shot at beating Ald. Stone Ã¢â‚¬â€œ call her office at 773-508-6248 or go online www.naisydolar.com to help volunteer during this final week before the election and be sure to pass this on to your friends. Veteran campaigners who think a very well-qualified woman deserves a chance at taking on the Machine in its worst form should come join her team. Nonpartisan groups like the League of Women Voters and others should send in plenty of poll watchers on Election Day to ensure that voters are allowed to vote for the candidate of their choice without any intervention, intimidation, or Ã¢â‚¬Å“helpÃ¢â‚¬Â from unscrupulous people, be they election judges, poll watchers, and other Machine-related personnel.

As a resident of the 50th ward, while well aware that Chicago elections are less than pristine examples of democracy in action, I am disgusted by both the number of outsiders and the Mayor and other aldermen who seek to unfairly alter the outcome of this race with their money, clout, and manpower in spite of the well-documented need for change, revitalization, and new leadership in the ward. Please help Ms. Dolar and level the playing field Ã¢â‚¬â€œ if not completely Ã¢â‚¬â€œ at least more so than it is now.

Re: Another possible “vote-buying” episode?

Rich Miller — Sun, 08 Apr 2007 17:50:39 -0000

Northside, if Jones doesn't mail that info, it's of no use.

Re: Another possible “vote-buying” episode?

CasteelD — Sun, 08 Apr 2007 16:07:10 -0000

Is matlak crying now?
I guess if you are such a poor alderman for nine years running, don't have anything to stand on, and are benefitting from the Hired truck scandal (Suntimes reported on it over 100 times) and on and on...then Waguspack is right. We'll never really know how many hundreds of millions were lost, but the FEDS don't bust corrupt Chicago guys for nothing. According to the Feds, convicted felon Donald Tomczak and Ted matlak worked together and Ted benefitted. the Feds proved it, not Waguespack.

Re: Another possible “vote-buying” episode?

OnTheNorthside — Sun, 08 Apr 2007 15:58:30 -0000

Ah, how I love the smell of hypocracy in the morning. Just was over at the Jones website, and they've responded with some bios of Brookins donors. http://citizensforleroy.com...

Re: Another possible “vote-buying” episode?

Rich Miller — Sat, 07 Apr 2007 23:00:31 -0000

Actually, Kevin, in Illinois they can use at least part of their dues for political activities.

Re: Another possible “vote-buying” episode?

Kevin — Sat, 07 Apr 2007 21:12:14 -0000

Anonymous: "The Unions" aren't backing Brookins, they are supporting Leroy Jones, an active member of SEIU Local 73. When I called the Brookins campaign for comment Thursday afternoon, they told me that it was a "campaign contribution" from Phil Douglas.

As for "The Unions" raising their dues to pay for any of this election, that's not only a ludicrous assertion, it's also factually incorrect. Union dues don't finance political action, per federal law. All of the labor money behind this election come from political action committees, formed, steered, and funded voluntarily by union members, who vote on where and how to spend that money.

What many of these aldermen find scary isn't the money, (since it is relatively minor compared to what is available out there), but the manpower: having thousands of committed union activists knocking on doors and talking to their friends and neighbors about why they should vote for someone is far more powerful than any plate of hotcakes a McDonald's could serve up.

Re: Another possible “vote-buying” episode?

Observer — Sat, 07 Apr 2007 12:07:36 -0000

Waguespack has little room to speak when he and his supporters cry about "nasty" or "mudslinging" campaigns. I think the record shows that he started it.

First, in January, he took a page from the Claypool-Lechowicz campaigny by sending out mailings trashing Matlak early, smearing him with accusations of "corruption".

Second, apparently not picked many places, Waguespack had an interview published in the gay press (Windy City Times) alleging that Matlak, in his first race, ran a "smear campaign" against Lorna Brett and "attacked the [gay] community". That accusation is completely false, and was itself a smear.

So Waguespack's folks seem free to dish it out, but quite unable to take it.

Re: Another possible “vote-buying” episode?

Observer — Sat, 07 Apr 2007 11:58:51 -0000

Are comments on?

Re: Another possible “vote-buying” episode?

Stuck with Sen. CPA — Sat, 07 Apr 2007 11:51:14 -0000

According to the ISBE site, the IL GOP added $6k to Cole's campaign on April 3, so it's a total of $8,500 now.

Re: Another possible “vote-buying” episode?

Anonymous — Sat, 07 Apr 2007 10:43:19 -0000

I like Brookins mailer, it is time that union workers know what their dues are paying for, including the raise we know have to pay in dues because of their spending on these aldermanic races.

Re: Another possible “vote-buying” episode?

Reddbyrd — Sat, 07 Apr 2007 09:24:09 -0000

With the comments off this little excerpt won't show up until before election day....It is interesting how CandidCole responds to the SIU paper and how TomCross&TheGroomers handle it

"Cole said he did not want to talk about the event, saying he follows Illinois law for campaign disclosure and any information could be found on that site. (A sure shot for open govt)...

David Dring, spokesman for House Majority leader Tom Cross, said the Illinois Republican Party, like the Democrats have been doing for many years, is trying to do a better job of cultivating young GOP politicians. The Illinois Republican Party and U.S. Rep. Ray LaHood also donated $2,500 and $250, respectively, to Cole's campaign.

"We've been trying to do a better job of grooming young talent such as Mayor Cole," Dring said. "If he chooses, we believe he has a bright future."
(Perhaps a bigger brush is needed for Brad)

Re: Another possible “vote-buying” episode?

Reddbyrd — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 16:41:21 -0000

Apparently Cole forgot that he is the pet rock of TomCross&theSockPuppets and a GRyan crony....but knowing Durbin is a sin
Get a life Brad

Re: Another possible “vote-buying” episode?

babs — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 16:17:15 -0000

I remember working a precinct in Uptown, YEARS ago, and as everyone left the polling place, there was someone handing out pints of liquor. Now I know how to make it more up-scale - just like everything else in Lincoln Park. It still smells bad - especially coming from a candidate who promises to clean up city hall.

Re: Another possible “vote-buying” episode?

Anon in 32 — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 16:00:39 -0000

Aldertrack has a transcript of the Matlak/Waguespack appearance on Chicago Tonight. The lawyer mail piece was discussed, and Waguespack had this to say:

"I took the bar exam. I was unsuccssesful, just like Mayor Daley."

I'm sure this will endear him to the Mayor.

I know a lot of people who've been on the fence who are coming home to Matlak - and I'm heading in that direction myself after voting for Waguespack in February.

The longer Waguespack is out there the more it becomes clear that he doesn't have any specific ideas about what he'd do if elected, while Matlak is finally touting his specific accomplishments, which like the guy are not, are substantial, and he knows how to get things done.

One of Waguespack's stump lines is about the waste in the city budget due to corruption. I've now heard him in different forums state it as "millions of dollars", "tens of millions of dollars", and even "hundreds of millions of dollars", yet he never cites a specific example. He's starting to come across as a Joe McCarthy parody, and I think it's turning people off.

Re: Another possible “vote-buying” episode?

NE — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 15:58:44 -0000

Give me a break. Talk about making a mountain out of a mole hill. Sounds like Vi Daley is desperate for an issue to use against Smith. Must be tough running against an ex-prosecutor.

Re: Another possible “vote-buying” episode?

Cook Dem — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 15:45:39 -0000

That will probably determine if Devine's office brings charges or not. Anybody know of any case law?

Re: Another possible “vote-buying” episode?

Squideshi — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 15:39:00 -0000

"Not so fast, said Smith, a former federal prosecutor. While she admits it was a screw-up on the part of a well-intentioned young staffer, she insists she caught the mistake before anything illegal happened. The party went on, but no one was asked to show their voting stubs to buy drinks, she said."

Section 29-1 of the Illinois Election Code (10 ILCS 5/29-1) provides:

"Any person who knowingly gives, lends or PROMISES to give or lend any money or other valuable consideration to any other person to influence such other person to vote or to register to vote ...shall be guilty of a Class 4 felony."

Does the flier constitute a promise?

Re: Another possible “vote-buying” episode?

leigh — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 15:23:20 -0000

I may be wrong on this, but I thought Paul Simon did not support Durbin.

Re: Another possible “vote-buying” episode?

VanillaMan — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 15:06:14 -0000

The Cole complaint is silly. So, Durbin shows up - this is Paul Simon's daughter. If Durbin wouldn't support Paul Simon's daughter and do everything he could to help her win, he wouldn't have been much of a friend to the family.

Now, that said - who wants my vote?

Re: Another possible “vote-buying” episode?

Rich Miller — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 15:04:43 -0000

Excellent point.

Re: Another possible “vote-buying” episode?

OnTheNorthside — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 14:59:27 -0000

How interesting that Brookins is sending out this kind of attack mail right after the Trib story on Herro...