Edgar backs Giuliani
Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani has won the backing of another former Illinois governor. Giuliani's campaign says former Gov. Jim Edgar is endorsing the New York Republican. Giuliani had two campaign appearances in the Chicago area Tuesday afternoon. A fiscal conservative and social moderate, Edgar joins fellow former Republican Gov. Jim Thompson in backing Giuliani. The former New York City mayor, who leads the GOP presidential field in national polls, is known for his moderate views on some issues. Those parallel policy views make Edgar's endorsement of Giuliani a logical one, says Mike Lawrence, a one-time Edgar press secretary and policy adviser who now directs the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute at Southern Illinois University. "Giuliani (among Republican candidates) seems closest to the governor on social issues," Lawrence said in a phone interview Tuesday. "Edgar is pro-choice and was in favor of anti-discrimination legislation with gays. It's probably a good fit for him philosophically." Although Edgar is eight years removed from office, Lawrence believes the former governor's continued popularity among state Republicans means that his endorsement will carry weight with some Illinois voters. "If the Republican nomination is still in play at the time of the Illinois primary," Lawrence said, "I think it would have a positive impact."
Compliance officer hired
Hiring and personnel practices in the city of Chicago have long been under the microscope, and now a new pair of eyes will be watching. Chicago Mayor Richard Daley appointed a new executive this morning whose work will include oversight of city compliance with court decisions. That includes a court-ordered blueprint to end political hiring at city hall. Anthony Boswell is the city's new compliance executive, and he says a judge will determine his office's specific role in that case. Boswell's office consolidates the functions of other city departments and will oversee how the city follows its own policies as well as federal, state and local laws.
Daley weighs in on transit
Chicago Mayor Richard Daley says there have been so many special sessions on mass transit that "you hope that one takes." Gov. Rod Blagojevich wants lawmakers back in Springfield on Nov. 28 to break the logjam before service cuts and fare increases happen. One option is to redirect state sales tax revenue on gasoline purchases in Cook and the collar counties to mass transit. Daley says the problem then is how to replace that money in the state budget. Another proposal is a regional sales tax increase. Daley says elected leaders need to do "heavy lifting." The city council recently backed Daley's tax and fee increases.