I apologize if this blog has been to focued on Katrina lately. Partly it's because I've been so distracted by the storm and aftermath, and partyly it's that the silence on the local political front is deafening. Other than the Winkel/Frerichs news, there have been precious few rumors and announcements about local offices.
Petitions can be circulated beginning in late September. Things I/we still don't know:
- Republican candidate for State Senator in the 52nd District
- Republican candidate for State House in the 103rd District (which I think is unlikely, at this point)
- Democrat candidate for County Clerk
- Democrat candidate for Sheriff
- Democrat candidate for Treasurer
- Challengers for any County Board seat
I suspect that an upcoming announcement by State Rep. Bill Black regarding his 2006 plans will get things moving. If he runs, many of the local offices fall into place. If he doesn't run, then there will be serious scrambling on both sides of the aisle, as people step up to State Senate, and others step up to run for those offices that are suddenly open.
On the other hand, there's plenty happening around here:
- Savoy will almost certainly create their own Mass Transit District today
- The Champaign County GOP Precinct Committeemen are meeting as a group for the first time in at least eight months on Thursday
- The Champaign City Council will have a lively smoking-ban study session on September 13
So there's lot to talk about, even if we've almost exhaustively covered some of it. I'll try to return to spending more time on local issues.
Naomi will get a pass?
"an upcoming announcement from Bill Black"....
Does he have something scheduled?
Is he in the hospital again? I can't keep track.
Bill Black will not run. Local GOPs need to gin up their machines and get to work.
I hope Naomi doesn't get a pass.
Lilian Falconer for Sheriff! (That's a very old reference to the Champaign County Dems of yesteryear).
“an upcoming announcement from Bill Black””¦.
Does he have something scheduled?
Not that I'm aware of, but I'm sure he's going to have an announcement one way or the other, and I've been told it will be relatively soon.
Black's not running..........that's-that!
We'll see. I think it's 50/50 at this point.
IP,
Seriously, he's not going to run.
Seriously, he's not going to run.
OK. I'll still wait to hear from him, unless you're willing to back up your information with sources better than the ones I've talked to who say he's still considering it.
he's more than considering it. i love these people saying that they know he is not going to run...they have no source or facts to back that up
I don't think there is any chance in hell of Black running. But that is just one 250-year-old woman's view.
I have not seen any posting regarding the Katrina storm. I am very sorry for the people of New Orleans, however, will any one hold the people that decided to stay during the storm responsible? My heart goes out to all of the women, children and men as well as their animals. But folks, they choose to stay! I realize that the government failed in their attempts to remove people in a timley manner with all of the flooding, above their heads in some places. Can't for the life of me figure out HOW those people that stayed could get out reasonably. How many lives have been put in jeopardy trying to save lives? I don't think that the Bush camp is trying to stop the questions. I do believe that the flood waters entered into the city on Tuesday morning. The local governing body did nothing to help the people that were trapped. The President called the Governor 2 days before the storm hit and told the people in charge to vacate their citizens. Then the Mayor placed a mandatory vacate! What more can be done to get people out. There were school buses available, Mass Transit buses available to remove the people. The people choose to stay. Then come the flood waters and it is the Federal Governments fault that there were people stuck? Wait a minute! We need to get off the the defense and start on the offense. Ms. Pelosie (spelling?) thinks that the Republican President failed this country? This disaster will affect the Republican Party in a big way. We need to gear up for a huge political battle locally, state wide and across the country. The democrats are angry that they lost. The dems will do what ever it takes to get more dems in office. The Republicans won. We won big! What is this party going to do? The people have spoken across this great nation. Do we want Hillary for president? Speak up and out, stop worry about Edgar running for office. We have several good canidates that are currently in the run mode. Let's support who we have and move forward. Let's put our efforts in helping our President. Let's stand behind our party, our elected officials and let's get moving. Katrina will affect us all and we have to be prepared for the fall out!
I am very sorry for the people of New Orleans, however, will any one hold the people that decided to stay during the storm responsible?
No.
My heart goes out to all of the women, children and men as well as their animals. But folks, they choose to stay!
Many are claiming that those who stayed had no means to evacuate. But clearly some of them could have left, and didn't. And clearly the City had a plan and some responsibility for those who had no access to transportation. But the city began the evacuation much too late, and so those people were shunted off to the Superdome or left at home.
To: "Bill Blacks Mother"
You're a real ace-hole, his mother has been dead for decades......
To: "Bill Black fan"
You don't have a clue so shut it.....
Who is Bill Black?
Hi Ralph he's your next senator. Who said you had to have a clue on a message board or I guess a blog. Does anyone know if Bill Black has been to Yale?