From the Pantagraph, respected McLean County Administrator John Zeunik will take advantate of early retirement.

This is a loss for the county; and his successor will have big shoes to fill.

More later on what Mr. Zeunik has dealt with over his past 20 years at the county’s helm.

Teflon Normal, may be losing some of it’s Teflon coating.  Normal’s spending spree was bound to catch up with them. 

Looks like it’s starting:

Normal headed towards more spending cuts

Peterson said the council is looking at several options to increase the amount of money coming into the budget. Among them:

– Charging a fee when a vehicle is towed after someone is arrested for driving under the influence;

– Charging to unlock a vehicle;

– Increasing the home rule use tax by a quarter percent. Residents pay this fee when purchasing a vehicle;

– Creating a business license fee;

– Charging a fee for liquor license holders who opt to pay their license fee in two installments;

– Increasing admission to the Children’s Discovery Museum by $2, from $4 to $6;

– Increasing fees at Ironwood Golf Course by $1.

This is an interesting statement by City Manager Mark Petersen:

The belt tightening won’t affect the uptown redevelopment project because most of the significant costs have already occurred, Peterson said.

GOP Chairman Andy McKenna, in Bloomington this morning to a packed house of area Republicans, spoke about the tough races that were won in Illinois; and what the future might bring for 2010 campaigns.

Congressman Mark Kirk (Waukegan) won a tough battle most thought he would lose in the Obama-mania in Illinois.  Will he be the GOP white knight for the Governor’s race in 2010?  It will take almost a miracle to win any state-wide seats in this climate in Illinois, especially if they are running for Governor against Lisa Madigan.  I can’t picture her going to Washington yet, how about you?

Whomever is picked to replace Obama in the Senate, (I first leaned Tammy Duckworth’s way, but now I’d put money on Jesse Jackson, Jr.); will have to run in two years.  Republican Christine Radogno seems to be getting a lot of face-time around the state.  She’s be a good candidate against Jackson; but picture this.  The Chicago black vote, who came out huge for Obama, will certainly do likewise for Jesse, Jr.; and don’t you imagine new President Obama will come in for a fundraiser for Jr.?  You betcha.

It’s an uphill climb for Republicans in 2010; no doubt about it.

TOP HEADLINES

Monday, November 17, 2008

States face deeper and deeper cuts to balance budgets

Iraq’s government approves security pact with US

Crisis Lets Dems Push Old Agenda - Amity Shlaes, New York Post
How Obama Will Handle His People - Noam Scheiber, The New Republic
Obama’s Tough Call on Torture - Stuart Taylor, Newsweek
George W. Hoover? - William Kristol, New York Times
Obama and the Entrenched White Majority - Les Payne, Newsday
Mind the Gaps: How Obama Won His Victory - Karlyn Bowman, Forbes
Lessons Spoke to Nation’s Mood - Larry Sabato, Richmond Times-Dispatch
Year of the Woman Turned Out Badly - Amanda Fortini, NY Magazine
Where’s Obama’s ‘Mandate’? - Ralph Reiland, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
A Giddy Sense of Boosterism in the Media - Howard Kurtz, Washington Post
The Death of Planet Finance - Niall Ferguson, Vanity Fair
Recession Less Damaging Without Bailouts - Kevin Hassett, Bloomberg
Why a Big 3 Bail Out is Essential - Jeffrey Sachs, Washington Post
Bankruptcy Is the Best Option for GM - Michael Levine, Wall St. Journal
Do Mideast Reformers Have Friend in Obama? - Jackson Diehl, Wash Post
Dealing With Pakistan is Risky Business - Lee Hamilton, Indianapolis Star
Who’ll Cause Obama’s First 3 a.m. Call? - RealClearWorld

I’m still suffering from election lag; after all the articles; posting comments; it’s rather like the end of  campaigns I’ve worked on.  You wake up the next morning after election day, and think “now what do I do?” So my apologies for the lack of postings.  Our local news is interesting, if not compelling like a Presidential race; and of course, Illinois never lacks for interest.

We wonder don’t we, here in Illinois, what’s around the corner?  The budget is a mess, closings have been announced, and they will have to begin sometime soon we are told.  In Bloomington, the David Davis Mansion got a short reprieve, this from the Chicago Tribune:

 BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - One of more than two-dozen state historical sites and parks due to close at the end of the month is getting a reprieve.

The Illinois Historic Preservation Agency has agreed to let the David Davis Mansion Foundation pay to keep the 1870s mansion in Bloomington open through February.

Davis was a friend and political supporter of Abraham Lincoln. The 200th anniversary of Lincoln’s birth is in February, and interest is high in sites tied to the former president.

Preservation agency spokesman Dave Blanchette says the mansion costs $10,000 a month to run. He says it could stay open through June if the private group raises enough money.

 And of course today, President Elect Barack Obama said good-bye to Illinois.  The Junior Senator, with less than 4 years on the job; moves on as President of the United States.

One interesting thing to watch here in Illinois is who replaces Obama in his Senate seat.  Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, the WORST Governor in the nation, makes the decision (ya, right); and there are some big names wanting the spot.

Jesse Jackson, Jr. really wants it; and probably, along with his dad, thinks he should get it; but my money is on Illinois Veterans Affairs Director, Iraq war veteran, Tammy Duckworth, however, she may have even larger aspirations and possibilities ahead of her.   What do you think?

It seems like the best way to humble an American these days is to elect a black president.  That way the people who thought that this country was the best place in the world with the best people would certainly find out otherwise and the people who thought they would never lose (they would never have a black president) would find otherwise.

Yes, probably as expected, the racist idiots are coming out in droves from coast to coast and they are bearing their burning crosses and they are hanging effigies of what should be a step up in American history–the first black elected president.  Not just adults are getting in the game either.  Everyone from second graders to adults are trying to take advantage of free speech by saying racial and violent comments and threats (the latter two of which are not a right of free speech).  And what else is going on?  California is on fire!  Los Angeles is about to lose power.  I was born in 1968 but from what I have researched about that era this is quite similar to the tensions that occurred in those tumultuous times, except now the “hippies” can’t go to California because it’s on fire.

My, my…All this and Obama hasn’t even taken office yet.  There are places that have bets and pools on when he will be assassinated.  No president-elect has ever had so many death threats in the history of the United States.  With young children shouting “Assassinate Obama!” and cross burnings and the like, it makes a person wonder about his country and countrymen.  I guess I can’t say I’m surprised.  Some of the things I read on some blogs makes some of the stuff I see on this one seem like Dr. Suess.  Anyway, fasten your seatbelts and powder your nose because the world is watching and is caring–a lot!

Commentary:

The GOP locally, state and nation-wide, needs a fresh look on recruiting candidates.

Photo by Terry Farmer

What worked for years in Illinois, because the GOP controlled the state up through and including Republican Governor Jim Edgar, doesn’t work now.  Precinct Committeemen, Party Chairman and other GOP Party leaders, simply had to throw a nice party and hand out some literature; that’s all it took to hold on to all top spots in the state; and even locally.  Since 1969 (Richard Ogilvie); until Democrat Rod Blagojevich was elected in 2004; there has been only one other Democrat Governor; Dan Walker.  That all changed in 2005 when Republican Governor George Ryan was indicted.  It was downhill for the GOP from there on.

There were other factors other than the GOP Governor going to jail. 

Chicago, largely Democrat, has become nearly a Democrat state unto itself; and it’s difficult if not impossible now, to overcome that vote state-wide.  In the 2006 Governor’s race between then State Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka (R); and current Governor Rod Blagojevich (D); Topinka carried over 70 of Illinois’ 102 counties, but she lost big in Cook County where the African American vote came out in huge numbers and smothered her.

She also went through a brutal Primary where a lot of money she needed for the General was spent; and thus was vastly outspent by Blagojevich who knocked her out early with the effective “what was she thinking?” ads; and as a moderate Republican; she had little to no support from the conservative wing of the GOP.

But back to the subject at hand; self-funded GOP candidates.  This past election showed one thing clearly - self-funded candidates didn’t win.   The GOP needs to reach out to quality candidates and THEN help them raise the money to win; not look for the rich guys and gals so they don’t have to do any fundraising. . . that’s a lot like work; and few are used to having to or are willing, to do that. It’s easier to find a person with his or her own money, and work out whether they are qualified, effective candidates later.  It should be the reverse.

Times have changed in Illinois; and there needs to be a new approach to finding Republican candidates who can win. 

Illinois GOP Chairman Andy McKenna is in Bloomington Monday morning speaking at the monthly Republican breakfast. Maybe he’ll have the answers.

CHICAGO — William Cellini of Springfield, one of the biggest behind-the-scenes power brokers in Illinois, pleaded not guilty Friday to charges he plotted to squeeze a firm seeking business with the state for a $1.5 million campaign contribution to Gov. Rod Blagojevich

OTHER NEWS FROM AROUND ILLINOIS

Also from Springfield, (Sangamon County) both Democrats and Republicans talk about gains they made.  But locally, Democrats lost all but one race. General concensus is “Blagojevich is a drag for Democrats”, but the Obama gains makes it hard for Republicans in the future to make any gains statewide.

Will Blagojevich and Illinois be bailed out with federal help as everyone has their hand outstretched?

Finalists for the 10th casino license in Illinois are Des Plaines, Rosemont, and Waukegan.

Who will replace Obama as he leaves his Senate seat?

Illinois gets $45 million in flood aid. 

Hope to get more reports about the financials here; but they are not being covered in the Pantagraph anymore.  Will have to research as my time permits; feel free to send me anything new.  Here’s what WJBC has, or, does anyone even care any longer and we just except it as the financial mess it remains?

Coliseum loses $87 thousand in September
 The US Cellular Coliseum lost money again in September. 11/12/2008 5:54:00 PM
By: Stephanie Pawlowski

 The US Cellular Coliseum lost nearly $87,000 in the month of September. That’s $7,000 more than last month, and nearly twice what was lost a year ago. So far this year, the Coliseum has lost $225,000 which managers say is in line with what was budgeted for the first five months of the fiscal year.

So far this fiscal year, the Bloomington Normal Area Convention and Visitor’s Bureau says the Coliseum has brought $3.5 million to the community. That figure is based on people coming to the Twin Cities, but doesn’t include local residents. The numbers are based on per person spending in the area.

Coliseum managers will make a presentation to the Bloomington City Council next month on the operating costs for the first six months of the year. They say that might be the time to consider any revisions to the budget.

The City of Bloomington, unlike Teflon Normal; who’s spending habits may catch up to them one of these days; hasn’t had the luxury of a Teflon coating; everything seems to stick to Bloomington.  We’ll revisit the (sigh) Coliseum financial losses tomorrow, but let’s look at the Living Wage issue for now.

On the ballot as a non-binding referendum, Bloomington’s Living Wage passed by a shockingly large margin; 65% to 35%; 20,263 yes, 11,003 No.

The wording of the Living Wage referendum on the ballot is in question by the Pantagraph as well as some Aldermen.  (A little late to question it now I think.) If it passes, it would pay a wage of $9.81 an hour; higher than the federal minimum wage of $6.55, going up to $7.25 in 2009; and higher than Illinois’ minimum wage of $7.75 going up to $8.00 an hour in 2009.  If passed, this would give every part-time high schooler $9.81/hour.  Getting the message out about this wage, which didn’t happen before the vote, will be important for Council members wanting to retain their seats; as nearly 70% of EVERY Ward, voted for the Living Wage.  Unbelievable.

As another comparison, California’s minimum wage is $8.00; and New York is $7.15/hour. 

On WJBC’s Forum today, David Stanczak offered a good take on the Living Wage issue.

Searching for duplicity and irrationality in the push for the City of Bloomington to pay its workers and subcontractors a “living” wage is like going to a dog pound looking for fleas.

There is, to begin with, the matter of putting the measure on the ballot. The proponents would have done ACORN proud. Although the petitions to put the measure on the ballot contained well more than the number of signatures legally required, an examination of those signatures resulted in a significant portion of them being ruled invalid; the measure barely had enough valid signatures. Second, there is an inherent inconsistency between the proclaimed need for the measure and who the measure will actually benefit. 

 The CIOP, who pushed the Living Wage on the ballot; thinks they have Mayor Stockton’s vote. . . we’ll see.

Then on March 31, 2005, over 120 CIOP leaders from Bloomington-Normal met with Mayor elect Steve Stockton on the issue. He responded unequivocally in support for Living Wage and further committed to meet with CIOP within 30 days and place Living Wage as a early policy of his administration. Roughly a week afterwards two incumbent City Council supporters of Living Wage were defeated in their re-election bids. CIOP leaders plan to continue to meet with Mayor Stockton regarding Living Wage. Also, leaders anticipate meeting with the two newly elected members of the City Council regarding their position on the issue.

Alderman Judy Stearns had this to say about the living wage in 2007:

Judy Stearns, 306 E. Locust St., said she supports a living wage but if she were elected she would need to know more about the city’s contract with the Coliseum management firm, Central Illinois Arena Management, before she casts her vote.

How the votes might break down?  Who knows?  With 70% of your constituents voting FOR the Living Wage, can you vote against it and retain your seat?