Pricey primary shaping up in Pankau, Ramey race
Editor's note: Here's the best of our Suburban Political Recount blog. For more, check it out in our blog section.
The Republican primary race in Illinois Senate District 23 between Sen. Carole Pankau and Rep. Randy Ramey continues to grow more expensive with campaign records showing multiple five-figure donations to each side.
Pankau of Itasca has received $40,000 from her husband, John, in recent weeks, as well as $10,000 from Stand for Children, an education group that was largely behind the big school-reform push in Springfield last year.
Ramey of Carol Stream has received a $10,000 donation from the Illinois Federation of Teachers' political committee, as well as a $25,000 contribution from the Illinois Education Association's committee.
Ramey has argued that changes to teachers' retirements are needed to help save the state budget, but with the caveat that teacher unions should be part of the negotiations.
Pankau has said she would back a House Republican plan that would make it more expensive for teachers to keep their current pensions.
Both candidates are using that money to run cable TV ads.
The 23rd Senate District includes parts of Carol Stream, Itasca, Bloomingdale, Villa Park, Addison and Bartlett.
‘It's all sick'Illinois Senate hopeful and state Rep. Chris Nybo of Elmhurst had strong words against gambling during a recent Daily Herald editorial board endorsement session.Both Nybo and his opponent in the GOP primary, state Sen. Kirk Dillard of Hinsdale, were asked about their support of gambling expansion, which some argue would infuse the state with needed cash.While Dillard called himself a #8220;realist#8221; in supporting the addition of a casino to Chicago as well as slot machines at horse racetracks, including Arlington Park, Nybo said he was against gambling in all cases, even online gambling.#8220;I know that's a federal issue and there's federal involvement on that,#8221; Nybo said. #8220;That's a complicated issue, because you've got offshore sources in other countries you're competing with. It's all sick, and it's not something I do.#8221;They're competing in Illinois Senate District 24, which includes York and Milton townships in DuPage County. And speaking of Dillard ...His former boss, former Gov. Jim Edgar, headlined a fundraiser for him Thursday night at the Crowne Plaza hotel in Glen Ellyn. While Dillard often talks about saving jobs in the horse-racing industry, he says he's not a gambler himself. But #8220;anyone who pays attention to politics knows Edgar is a horse-racing fanatic,#8221; the Daily Herald noted back when Edgar was governor.Culture wars?Social issues have frequently taken center stage in the protracted fight for a GOP presidential nominee.U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, a Springfield Democrat, talked this week about the social opinions of his former colleague, onetime Libertyville resident and former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum.#8220;What we are seeing now, as he is trying to bring on the cultural wars to the front and make this part of the campaign, is a real definition of who he was in the United States Senate,#8221; Durbin said on CNN's #8220;Starting Point.#8221; #8220;It was always a cultural war. It was always a battle about sexual preference or a woman's right to choose. For him, that consumed him as a United States senator, and that's what's leading his campaign.#8221;Don't sugarcoat it#8220;It will be awful.#8221;That's Illinois House Republican Leader Tom Cross of Oswego speaking on the House floor this week about what deep state budget cuts could be like in the coming months, particularly as lawmakers look to cut health care services for the poor.A tribute, and a revolving doorWe wanted to mention a tribute state Sen. Dan Kotowski of Park Ridge paid to state Sen. A.J. Wilhelmi of Joliet, a Democratic colleague leaving his post to be a lobbyist with the Illinois Hospital Association. #8220;There are certain people you meet who instantly change your life for the better. Certain people you meet when you shake their hand for the first time, you know they are true, they are honest, they are kind and because of the light they carry, they are going places,#8221; Kotowski said in his speech. #8220;Our natural instinct is that we want to be around these people. Our gut feeling is that we want these people to be on our side.#8221;A lovely tribute, and a reminder that the door to the state Capitol can be a revolving one. State Rep. Roger Eddy #8212; a Republican from downstate Hutsonville and school superintendent we've quoted often in education stories #8212; is also considering leaving the legislature for a position at the Illinois Association of School Boards. Surprise visitU.S. Sen. Mark Kirk's staff had a surprise visitor during its retreat recently in Chicago. Former Mayor Richard M. Daley popped in, reminding the group of the important work they do for the Highland Park Republican on a daily basis, work that is especially important as their boss is recovering from a stroke he suffered in late January. Follow the Suburban Political Recount blog by Kerry Lester and Mike Riopell at http://blogs.dailyherald.com/blog/16mug508736Randy Ramey mug4512081753Chris Nybo 45 542787Kirk Dillard