The udder side of race to replace Hastert
John Laesch isn't running against Jim Oberweis -- at least not yet. While the Democrats are battling Democrats and the Republicans are battling Republicans to seek their party's nomination Feb. 5 in the 14th Congressional District race, Democrat Laesch reached far across the aisle this week to scold Republican Oberweis for his "anti-immigrant" ad campaign.
Oberweis, who is more focused on his race against fellow GOP frontrunner Chris Lauzen than a possible race against Laesch in November, blew off Laesch's comments as "political posturing by a liberal Democrat."
But for Laesch the fight wasn't merely political: It was personal. Turns out Oberweis Dairy bought out Bloomington-based Laesch Dairy nearly a decade ago. The small home delivery company belonged to relatives of Laesch. Oberweis lemonade is actually Laesch Dairy lemonade, Laesch pointed out as a kind of an aside after his news conference and on the progressive blog Daily Kos.
Giving thanks for TV
Geneva Mayor Kevin Burns released his first TV commercial for his 14th Congressional District campaign on Thanksgiving. The 30-second ad, which will run throughout the holiday weekend, touts Burns' governing experience and ability to build consensus.
"I have lowered taxes … created jobs … and made government smaller and more efficient," the Republican says in the ad.
The ad will run on ESPN, the Food Network, Hallmark, HGTV, Lifetime, USA , TBS and TNT.
Dilger hearing continued
The Illinois State Board of Elections hearing officer is expected to decide Tuesday whether GOP congressional candidate Michael Dilger can stay on the ballot. Local conservative political operative Jon Zahm, a volunteer on Lauzen's campaign, was one of the two objectors to claim that many of the signatures on Dilger's petition are invalid, putting the Evanston resident below the minimum amount needed to run for the 14th Congressional District. Zahm made that argument Monday at the Thompson Center in Chicago, a meeting the mysterious Dilger attended by conference call. Dilger then called the objections "bogus" in a written response filed Wednesday.
Zahm and the other objector have until Monday to file a response to Dilger's response.
Judicial race objection
Also pending is an objection against Democrat Jim Murphy in the race for judge in the Aurora subcircuit of the 16th Judicial Circuit. Ralph Cervantes, the brother-in-law of Murphy foe Paul Greviskes, claims that many of the signatures on Murphy's petitions are invalid because Murphy notarized some pages himself. Cervantes also objects to the fact that Murphy filed under the name Jim Murphy instead of James Robert Murphy, the name registered with the Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission.
A hearing is scheduled at 1 p.m. Monday.
Murphy, the Aurora Township supervisor, said he doesn't think the "outlandish objections" will hold up in court because neither are "fatal flaws" as Greviskes, a Kane County Board member, claimed them to be.