Government, Ill. County

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Cao Responds to Kelly Accusations of Links to Topinka/Paid Blogger Claim

January 27, 2010 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

There’s been a swirl of charges and counter charges with some of the operatives of several different campaigns here that we’ve only had a few posts about — mostly because I think these charges are tangential to the actual issues. It basically concerns charges made by the William Kelly for Comptroller campaign that operatives of the Dodge campaign are actually working for Topinka in a sort of typical Chicago dirty tricks campaign effort. These charges have been returned by the Dodge folks that it is in reality Kelly who is the false front candidate.

On Jan. 25 I posted D2s Prove Jim Dodge Dirty Tricks in IL Comptroller Race written by Tom Mannis of Chicago News Bench because it was a pretty good summation of the charges from his camp (he’s a Kelly man). Right after that 62nd District candidate Paul Mitchel responded to the claims. I posted that address the very same day.

Lynn has also responded to the Kelly camp’s claims (she’s a Dodge supporter) on her blog, Cao’s Blog and I think her voice should also be heard here. Among other things, she disputes that she makes money from Jack Roeser and that she’s a “paid blogger.”
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Cao Responds to Kelly Accusations of Links to Topinka/Paid Blogger Claim”

Business - Chicago - Communism - Cook County - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Elections - Free Trade - Illinois - Jobs - Journalism - Liberals - Newspapers - Pensions - Socialism - State Government - Taxes - Unions - Warner Todd Huston

Chgo Trib: Who Will Smack Down the Unions?

January 27, 2010 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Dennis Byrne, a columnist with the Chicago Tribune, has a great piece asking the seminal question: what politician will take on the public employees unions?

This is, of course, the question we’ve been asking here for years! Who will stop these union thugs that have bought for themselves a bevy of compliant politicians at the state and federal level who will do their bidding against the best interests of the voters? What politician will step up and cut these thug’s illicit power down for the good of the people?

Seeing as how he is an Illinois columnist, Byrne centers his discussion on the $80 billion shortfall that Illinois’ public pensions are saddled with, but he can just as easily be talking about California, Oregon, Wisconsin, New York or any other state in the Union.

To quantify the $80 billion, Byrne tries to put it in context:
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Chgo Trib: Who Will Smack Down the Unions?”

Chicago - Cook County - Elections - GOP - Government - Illinois - Republicans - State Government - States - Warner Todd Huston

Andrzejewski is Top Favorite of Illinois Tea Party Organizers Gets Support of Polish President

January 26, 2010 by

On top of the fact that Lech Walesa hopped a flight from Warsaw, Poland to do some stumping for Adam and has announced his support of his gubernatorial campaign, Adam has picked up the support of some of the tea party groups. From the Adam Andrzejewski for Governor campaign…

Elmhurst, Illinois – Since announcing his candidacy in March of 2009, Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Adam Andrzejewski (And-GEE-EFF-Ski) has led his opponents in grassroots efforts throughout Illinois, having gone from being an unknown outsider to a virtual household name. Indicative of the expansive grassroots support Andrzejewski has received, the Illinois Tea Party reported earlier today in a press release that “a straw poll involving the Tea Party Organizers across the State shows results that strongly favor Adam Andrzejewski for Governor…” Straw poll results reveal overwhelming support for Andrzejewski at 93%.
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Andrzejewski is Top Favorite of Illinois Tea Party Organizers Gets Support of Polish President”

Chicago - Cook County - Elections - GOP - Illinois - Radio - Republicans - State Government - States - TV News - Warner Todd Huston

Republican Gubernatorial Candidates Debate on WLS-AM & WTTW-TV

January 26, 2010 by

A note from ChicagolandRadioAndMedia.com, the great Chicago radio message board and entertainment news site.

Tomorrow afternoon will be a special airing of the Roe & Cisco Show on WLS-AM 890. The show will not be coming from within WLS’ studio walls, but instead will be broadcast live from the Chase Bank Auditorium. This is because WLS will be hosting an Illinois Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Debate, moderated by Roe Conn & Cisco Cotto. The debate will begin at 4:00pm and will feature five of the six Republican candidates for Governor: Adam Andrzejewski, Bill Brady, Kirk Dillard, Dan Proft and Jim Ryan. (Andy McKenna has chosen to not do any debates this week.) This debate is open to the public for all who wish to be there — no tickets or reservations needed. The Chase Bank Auditorium is located in Downtown Chicago at 10 S. Dearborn.

Before tomorrow afternoon’s debate, the same five out of six Republican candidates will take part in a one-hour forum on WTTW Channel 11’s “Chicago Tonight” program this evening. The live show will not have a studio audience and will be more subdued in comparison. The forum begins tonight at 7:00pm. (“Chicago Tonight” had the Democratic Candidates for IL Governor on last night.)

Chicago - Children - Cook County - Education - Government - Illinois Policy Institute - Warner Todd Huston

Ill. Policy Institute: Vouchers and the Future of Education in Illinois

January 26, 2010 by

Public schools in Chicago are failing, and sadly, they’re not alone—across the country, inner-city schools are languishing and leaving students behind.

Many cities have experimented with the policy of school vouchers, which can give low-income parents the ability to send their children to private schools. The idea is now being considered in Illinois, led by a proposal from state senator James Meeks.
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Ill. Policy Institute: Vouchers and the Future of Education in Illinois”

Chicago - Cook County - Elections - GOP - Government - Illinois - Republicans - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

Edgar: Stop the Negative Ads

January 26, 2010 by

From the Kirk Dillard for Governor campaign…..

Calls it “Silly Season” on Campaign Trail

Former Governor Jim Edgar today said he was disappointed in the negative tone of the governor’s race, and urged candidates to talk about the issues. “There’s a lot at stake in this year’s election,” Edgar said at a joint news conference with Republican hopeful Kirk Dillard. “I think the voters deserve better.”
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Edgar: Stop the Negative Ads”

Chicago - Conservatives - Cook County - Elections - GOP - Illinois - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

5th District: Illinois Conservatives: Stand and Deliver

January 26, 2010 by

From the David Ratowitz for Congress campaign…

“It is time – past time – for our state to pull its weight, and the lever, for liberty.”

By U.S. House candidate David Ratowitz

We 82nd Airborne paratroopers have a motto: “All the Way!” Coming into the February 2 Primary Election, Illinois conservatives have every reason for confidence that core Republican values will be reflected in our party’s nominations next Tuesday. We are secure in knowing that voters – through nationwide grassroots tea parties and recent high-profile elections – are resoundingly demanding the steadfast over the status quo, principled over the pay-to-play, and yes, ideology over expediency. Out on the street, the hue and cry is for an immediate end to the beyond-reckless overborrowing and overspending; it’s conservative “All the Way!”
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5th District: Illinois Conservatives: Stand and Deliver”

Chicago - Cook County - GOP - Government - Illinois - State Government - States - Warner Todd Huston

McKenna Slammed in Party Ethics Investigation

January 25, 2010 by 1 Comment

-By Warner Todd Huston

Early this month Illinois Republican Party Chairman Pat Brady revealed that the state party decided to officially reprimand former GOP Chairman Andy McKenna for misuse of party funds and ethics violations.

Despite his ethics violations as chairman, McKenna went ahead and launched his bid to become our next Illinois Governor anyway. Should McKenna win office we’ll have gone from one ethically ignorant Governor (George Ryan), to a second (Rod Blagojevich) to a third (McKenna). Illinois is already a laughing stock of corruption, why vote for McKenna and make it worse?
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McKenna Slammed in Party Ethics Investigation”

Budget - Chicago - Cook County - Economy/Finances - Government - Illinois Alliance For Growth - Illinois Policy Institute - Warner Todd Huston

Illinois Alliance for Growth Begins Challenges to Think Tanks Claims on Pension Borrowing Scheme

January 25, 2010 by

From the Illinois Alliance for Growth

Will the State Republican legislators and candidates who want to borrow nearly $20 billion for pensions please come forward?

Illinois Alliance for Growth President Greg Blankenship today called on Republican legislators, gubernatorial candidates and candidates for other state offices to come forward if they are truly interested in a state pension reform scheme that borrows nearly $20 billion today in exchange for 35 years of state government living on a “…strict diet…” of spending.
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Illinois Alliance for Growth Begins Challenges to Think Tanks Claims on Pension Borrowing Scheme”

Chicago - Cook County - Elections - GOP - Government - House of Representatives - Illinois - Republicans - Society/Culture - Warner Todd Huston

Republican Dirk Beveridge Soars to the Top of the List

January 25, 2010 by

From the Dirk Beveridge for Congress campaign…

The 8th Congressional Candidate Scores a New Endorsement

(Barrington, Ill.) January 25, 2010…This weekend, 8th Congressional District Republican candidate Dirk Beveridge further differentiated himself as the leader. On Sunday, Dirk Beveridge earned the endorsement of the Daily Herald and significantly over-achieved the Republican field in fundraising as revealed in federal Election Commission financial reporting.
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Republican Dirk Beveridge Soars to the Top of the List”

Chicago - Congress - Cook County - Elections - GOP - Government - Illinois - Republicans - Senate - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

US Senate: Arrington Challenges Mark Kirk To Debate‏

January 25, 2010 by

From the John Arrington for Senate campaign…

U.S. Senate candidate John Arrington has challenged front runner Mark Kirk to a serious debate to discuss critical issues facing Illinois and the nation. “Mark Kirk has not participated in one debate to discuss challenges facing Illinois residents and this is unacceptable” stated Arrington. Arrington strongly believes that a debate focusing on the serious issues of job creation, revitalizing our economy, stances on education, health care, corporate bailouts, and taxes is vital. Without a fair and balanced debate for candidates to discuss their platform and express their differences, Illinois voters will once again be kept in the dark and uninformed on the critical issues facing our nation. Mr. Kirk has thus far has not been involved in a single debate with any other candidates, and John Arrington feels this is an offensive breach of the electoral process.

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US Senate: Arrington Challenges Mark Kirk To Debate‏”

Chicago - Cook County - Elections - GOP - House of Representatives - Illinois - Republicans - State Government - States - Warner Todd Huston

Candidate Paul Mitchell Responds to Kelly’s Claims of ‘Dirty Tricks’

January 25, 2010 by 1 Comment

Paul Mitchell is one of the parties mentioned in accusations made by the William Kelly campaign that the Jim Dodge campaign is involved in some classic Chicago-styled “dirty tricks” campaign tactics. Mitchell has responded to these accusations that have descended upon his camaign. Mitchell is a State Rep candidate for the 62nd District whose website can be seen at paulfor62.com.

There are some accusations flying around that I’d like to clear up.

On his blog, William Kelly wrote, “A $5,000 contribution from Jack Roeser’s Renaissance PAC to Committee to Elect Paul Mitchell. Mitchell’s campaign manager, Lynn Thomas, pens a blog that has been deeply involved in the smear campaign against Kelly’s campaign.”

It’s truth time, Bill!
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Candidate Paul Mitchell Responds to Kelly’s Claims of ‘Dirty Tricks’”

Chicago - Cook County - Elections - Illinois - Republicans - Warner Todd Huston

D2s Prove Jim Dodge Dirty Tricks in IL Comptroller Race

January 25, 2010 by 1 Comment

-By Tom Mannis, Chicago News Bench

(Editor’s note: This is some very interesting stuff. I am a Dodge supporter, but I am also as interested in having all the pertinent news reported. So, here is my friend Tom Mannis’ post From Chicago News Bench from the Kelly campaign perspective. To be sure Mr. Mannis writes in an impassioned style, so be aware of that, and he has endorsed William Kelly.)

January 25, 2010 – I will have much more about this in the coming days, but for now I just want to get the word out. William J. Kelly, Republican candidate for Comptroller, released what may be his most important press release to date, because it gives proof to Kelly’s claim that his opponent, Jim Dodge, has been operating a campaign of lies and smears. The release, reproduced below, is titled “D-2 ELECTION DISCLOSURES REVEAL TRUTH ABOUT TOPINKA-DODGE SMEAR CAMPAIGN AGAINST KELLY.”

Jim Dodge’s campaign has been using the worst of Saul Alinsky-style tactics against conservative William J. Kelly.
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D2s Prove Jim Dodge Dirty Tricks in IL Comptroller Race”

Chicago - Cook County - Elections - GOP - House of Representatives - Illinois - Liberals - Republicans - State Government - Taxes - Tea Party - Warner Todd Huston

Anatomy Of A Tea Party Pooping Endorsement

January 25, 2010 by 8 Comments

-By Warner Todd Huston

I have come to the conclusion that the Palatine Tea Party group (www.teapartypalatine.com) made a hasty decision in picking Joe Walsh for its Illinois 8th Congressional District candidate, hasty and perhaps misguided. In fact, this choice of Joe Walsh sort of shows the pitfalls that the Tea Party movement in general can fall into.

The field of candidates in the 8th District is wide, indeed. There are currently six Republicans running to snag the nomination of the Party and the differences between them are not too great when one looks over their issue statements. On the surface it would seem that throwing a dart would be just as legitimate a way as any other to make an endorsement in the 8th. But surface gloss can be deceiving and in this case, I believe that the gloss of Joe Walsh’s current campaign has blinded the good folks of the Palatine Tea Party group to a certain reality.

As I said there are six candidates for the 8th District nomination. Alphabetically they are:

What’s Wrong With the Palatine Endorsement?

From the information that I have been able to ascertain, it seems that one of the reasons that the Palatine Tea Party folks made their late December endorsement is because he won the poll that they hosted on their website. This poll was not scientific nor without controversy, however. The poll had surged overnight at one point with hundreds of votes each for candidates Walsh and rival Dirk Beveridge. This happened because of a technical flaw in the website. Apparently the poll did not record cookies so the same i.p. address could game the poll by hosting repeated votes. It seems that campaign operatives both for Beveridge and Walsh found out about this flaw and flooded the poll with multiple votes for their candidate.
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Anatomy Of A Tea Party Pooping Endorsement”

Chicago - Cook County - Elections - GOP - Illinois - Republicans - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

Illinois Conservative FaceBook Group Switches Comptroller Endorsement

January 24, 2010 by

The new FaceBook Group called Illinois Conservatives has switched their endorsement for the Comptroller’s race. Initially they picked William Kelly for Comptroller, but now they are switching to Jim Dodge.

This from the Rockford, Ill. based group:

The Illinois Conservatives Facebook group would like to announce a change in endorsement for the office of Comptroller in the 2010 Primary Election. Instead of endorsing William J. Kelly, we have collaboratively voted to switch our endorsement to Jim Dodge of Orland Park, Illinois.

Jim’s service in the National Guard as a Sergeant in the 178th Infantry Battalion and 44th RAOC from 1988-1998 shows his love for his country and that is one of many qualities we admire about Jim. His experience in marketing research, consulting, and technology shows he has interest in the people of Illinois aiming all of his efforts to pleasing them. Jim is a family man and his values are rooted deep within his family. There is no doubt that Jim Dodge is a candidate we would endorse.

The comptroller office is the one responsible for Illinois’ checkbook. This office is in charge of the state budget information, which includes state revenues, expenditures, and vendor payments. We want Jim Dodge in this office because he cares about our money here in Illinois. He will make sure that our money will be spent correctly as he says:

“Illinois needs a strong leader with the right business skills to accurately keep track of the state’s finances and call to task the legislature and governor when they inappropriately spend your money. One of my goals is to make sure that you, the residents of Illinois, have the facts about what is happening to your money because it is your money.”

The Illinois Conservatives Facebook Group wants Jim Dodge for Comptroller 2010. We urge you to exercise your right to vote on February 2, 2010.

Chicago - Cook County - Elections - GOP - Illinois - Republicans - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

Video: Birkett’s Endorsement of Jim Ryan

January 24, 2010 by

Former State’s Attorney Joe Birkett endorsed Jim Ryan for Governor saying that he thinks we need a man like Ryan who has a “prosecutor’s” attitude in the office.

In the video, though, Birkett slams Andy McKenna for his misuse of Republican Party funds when he, McKenna was the GOP Chairman.

Well, I can’t say I agree with Birkett’s choice of the anti-Constitution Ryan, but I whole heartedly agree with his assessment of McKenna. I sad as much myself last month.

Barack Obama - Chicago - Cook County - Crime - Democrats/Leftists - Education - House of Representatives - Illinois - Liberals - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

A Chicago Politician’s Arrogance

January 23, 2010 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Long time Chicago Democratic Politician Monique Davis is the poster child for arrogance. Davis is a State Rep that has been involved in many flaps centered around her assumption of personal imperviousness, her assumption that her office is a shield used to excuse just any activity at all on her part. She is above the law, beyond the reach of decency and responsibility as far as she is concerned and the Chicago Sun-Times has given us yet another example of her hubris.

You’ll recall that only last month the Tribune had a report that Davis hadn’t paid the rent for her offices… for almost eight years. Why should she? Do you KNOW who she is?

Well, we can add yet another bit of arrogance on the part of Davis. She’s decided that she should take possession of someone else’s work of art. You know. Just because she’s Monique Davis, and all.

The Sun-Times is reporting that Monique Davis decided that it was her right to take possession of a 400 pound statue of a slave woman so that she might have some proper I’m-a-Proud-black-woman sort of decoration for her office in Chicago. Only one problem… she doesn’t own the statue. Chicago State University owns it.
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A Chicago Politician’s Arrogance”

Chicago - Congress - Cook County - Elections - GOP - Illinois - Republicans - Senate - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

U.S. Senate: Arrington Defends Educational Choice

January 23, 2010 by

From the John Arrington for Senate campaign…

John Arrington, Republican candidate for US Senate (IL), supports the rights of parents to make educational choices for their children, be it through public, private, charter, or home schools. With a varied background that includes private and public school teaching and Illinois certification in educational administration with a superintendent of schools certification, John Arrington has a unique perspective among the senatorial candidates. He deems the choice of educational venue to be the right of parents—the first and foremost educators of their children.
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U.S. Senate: Arrington Defends Educational Choice”

Chicago - Cook County - Elections - GOP - Illinois - Republicans - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

Crain’s Chicago Business Endorses Dillard

January 23, 2010 by

From the Kirk Dillard for Governor campaign…

“Best Qualified” to be Governor

Crain’s Chicago Business, Illinois’ leading business newspaper, is endorsing Senator Kirk Dillard in the Republican nomination for Illinois Governor.

“Illinois’ next governor must have the determination and know-how to restore fiscal order to a state facing financial Armageddon,” writes Crain’s. “Among the Republican gubernatorial candidates, state Sen. Kirk Dillard is best-qualified for that daunting job, and he gets Crain’s endorsement in the Feb. 2 GOP primary.”
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Crain’s Chicago Business Endorses Dillard”

Chicago - Cook County - Elections - GOP - Illinois - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

8th District: Statement from Joe Walsh in Response to Vendor Lawsuit

January 23, 2010 by 2 Comments

From the Joe Walsh for Congress campaign…

We must be doing something right.

Twelve days before the election, our grassroots movement has all the momentum in the world and we’re on the verge of winning because most people in the 8th district feel the exact same way as I do – we want to put an end to all this government spending and growth. Our internal-polling confirms this and shows me the front-runner.
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8th District: Statement from Joe Walsh in Response to Vendor Lawsuit”

Chicago - Cook County - Democrats/Leftists - Elections - Illinois - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

Dan Hynes With A Classic Chicago Dirty Political Trick Commercial

January 22, 2010 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Current State Comptroller Dan Hynes is running for the Democrat Party nomination for governor. He’s been struggling a bit in the polls to incumbent accidental Governor Pat Quinn, so in a classic Chicago dirty trick styled TV ad, Dan Hynes broke out the big guns intended to undercut Pat Quinn’s support in the black community… and he’s reached back over 20 years to do it.

Remember Chicago Mayor Harold Washington…

Boy does that bring back memories. And did Harold have a way with words, er what? We’ve had three recent mayors that have known how to turn a phrase. Mayor Daley Senior with his “the police aren’t here to create disorder, they’re here to preserve disorder,” Mayor Washington with his “that’s hubris,” and junior Daly with…. well, anything the goofball says.

Anyway, back to Hynes. This is a classic Chicago hardball maneuver. Hauling Mayor Washington back from the dead to lambaste Pat Quinn is just classic.

But what is most amazing is the chutzpah that Hynes is showing. After all, when Harold Washington became Mayor of Chicago in 1983 Dan Hynes’ father Thomas was so peeved that a black guy won the big chair that when Harold came up for reelection Hynes quit the Democrat Party and tried to start a new party (the Chicago First Party) in order to oust Harold from office. And here is son of Hynes using Harold as a personal flak!

That there’s some major Chicaga balls, them is.
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Dan Hynes With A Classic Chicago Dirty Political Trick Commercial”

Budget - Business - Chicago - Cook County - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Illinois - Illinois Policy Institute - Pensions - State Government - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Illinois Policy Institute: About Those Attacks on Our Pension Idea

January 22, 2010 by 1 Comment

This week, we released our Pension Funding and Fairness proposal, which offers a groundbreaking solution to our state’s growing pension funding crisis. Our proposal provides a path to fund the system, which now faces a whopping $83 billion in unfunded liabilities, without breaking the bank.

Our plan has received considerable media attention—and some criticism. Greg Hinz of Crain’s Chicago Business summed it up well. The Institute “rolled out its vision of how to close an $80-billion-plus gap in Illinois’ employee pension plans,” he wrote, “and, though portions will offend just about everybody, it’s worth a look…This is a serious report that offers a good starting point for some much needed discussion.”
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Illinois Policy Institute: About Those Attacks on Our Pension Idea”

Chicago - Cook County - Elections - GOP - Illinois - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

One Down, Bob Schillerstrom Drops Bid for Gov.

January 22, 2010 by

The worst of the candidates for Illinois Governor has announced that he is dropping his bid for the office. Bob Schillerstrom has quit the race and is throwing his support behind Jim Ryan.

On his campaign website, Schilerstrom has a thank you letter to his supporters and says that Jim Ryan “stands out as a man of integrity” which is why he is supporting Ryan for Governor.

If you ask me, Ryan should leave the race right along with Schillerstrom. They are both against the Constitution. While they are at it, they should take McKenna with ’em.

Bob Schillerstrom ran as a fiscal conservative, but he is an abortion supporter and is against our Second Amendment rights. The sooner this guy disappears from the political scene the better.

This leaves too many still vying for the nomination, though.

Adam Andrzejewski – adamforillinois.com
Bill Brady – bradyforillinois.com
Kirk Dillard – dillardforgovernor.com
Andy McKenna – mckennagov.com
Dan Proft – proft2010.com
Jim Ryan – www.jimryan2010.com

Chicago - Cook County - Cook County Board - Elections - GOP - Illinois - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

Cook County Board President: Garrido and Keats Debate

January 21, 2010 by

ABC TV has the video of the recent debate between the two Republican candidates for Cook County Board President. Appearing was John Garrido and Roger Keats.

Here are the links to all three parts:

Here are the candidate’s websites:
John Garrido – Policeman and lawyer – garrido2010.com
Roger Keats – Securities Industry – www.keatsforcook.com