I doubt that Terry Baldwin, Danville Alderman, will be the only Republican candidate running in the 104th. Nevertheless, he's announcing again first, so he'll get the most coverage:
Danville Alderman and Urbana High School teacher Terry Baldwin plans to announce this morning in downtown Danville his candidacy for state representative of the 104th district.
Last week, state Rep. Bill Black announced that he plans to retire at the end of his current term in January 2009 after 22 years in the office.
The announcement has spurred speculation about who may run to replace Black in the November 2008 election.
Baldwin is the first person to announce his candidacy officially.
The news conference was scheduled for 10 a.m. at the Deluxe Restaurant in downtown Danville.
Of course, Baldwin had already announced, on August 3, his intentions to run in the 104th before Rep. Bill Black had announced his retirement. Baldwin ran for re-election as Danville Alderman in April, and won by 19 votes.
i think i had Terry Baldwin as a teacher during my UHS days! Excited that he is now in the race!
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Robert Dunn
Ex-Leftist, Born-Again Conservative American
You think he was one of your teachers? What were you doing back in your leftist days?
C-U resident,1982-1988, married a townie, and still interested in local issues there...
omg, he was one of my teachers, your bringing up my politics has nothing whatsoever to do with the issue at hand. He was a science teacher and a very good one too. I think he would be a great candidate for state rep for the 104th district.
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Robert Dunn
Ex-Leftist, Born-Again Conservative American
On August 16th, 2007 at 10:48 AM, Robert Dunn said: "omg, he was one of my teachers, your bringing up my politics has nothing whatsoever to do with the issue at hand. He was a science teacher and a very good one too. I think he would be a great candidate for state rep for the 104th district."
first, please check your sarcasm detector, it may be faulty...
second, since this thread is about a (semi-) local individual running for a vacant seat, politics (yours, mine, gomez's, everyone's) is actually directly dealing with the issue at hand.
third, saying "he...was a very good one [teacher]" and "I think he would be a great candidate..." without any further explanation leads me to believe you think his best qualification for State Rep. is that he was your teacher; thus opening yourself up to questions (see gomez's sarcastic post) about your politics and political beliefs.
HG
I've never met Terry Baldwin, but as a life long Republican, admirer of Bill Black and someone that wants to see this seat stay Republican, why do you have to be so negative in your post about Mr. Baldwin running?
First off, read your own hyperlink as it says nothing about him announcing. He just confirmed that he picked up a packet from the IEC - that doesn't mean the man is running. Do some real reporting and look into it more - hell he picked up a packet a few years ago for state senator and didn't run then now did he?
Secondly, why be so snide about the election numbers. Yes, he won by only 19 votes. How about giving some background on those numbers such as the facts that it was one of the lowest ward turnouts in an overall low turnout consolidated election cycle. He won 75-56. Don't try to make it sound like he can barely win.
I just don't understand why some people can't be more excited about the fact that there was at least one person caught with his pants ON when Bill announced his retirement and ready and willing to work hard to keep this seat in Republican hands. Instead we get snide and sarcastic reporting.
"I've never met Terry Baldwin, but as a life long Republican, admirer of Bill Black and someone that wants to see this seat stay Republican, why do you have to be so negative in your post about Mr. Baldwin running?"
I didn't see any negativity there at all. I think you are making stuff up. And there was nothing "snide" in the statement about his re-election as alderman. It was a simple statement of fact, without any commentary, adornment, or embellishment.
As far as I can tell, anything negative in those statements is something you brought to the table and read into it yourself, rather than what IP actually said. Why do you have such a big chip on your shoulder?
"I've never met Terry Baldwin, but as a life long Republican, admirer of Bill Black and someone that wants to see this seat stay Republican, why do you have to be so negative in your post about Mr. Baldwin running?
First off, read your own hyperlink as it says nothing about him announcing. He just confirmed that he picked up a packet from the IEC - that doesn't mean the man is running. Do some real reporting and look into it more - hell he picked up a packet a few years ago for state senator and didn't run then now did he?
Secondly, why be so snide about the election numbers. Yes, he won by only 19 votes. How about giving some background on those numbers such as the facts that it was one of the lowest ward turnouts in an overall low turnout consolidated election cycle. He won 75-56. Don't try to make it sound like he can barely win.
I just don't understand why some people can't be more excited about the fact that there was at least one person caught with his pants ON when Bill announced his retirement and ready and willing to work hard to keep this seat in Republican hands. Instead we get snide and sarcastic reporting."
Boggle.
(Thanks for the defense, Kevin.)
Then I misinterpreted it and I apologize. The first read through just seemed as though it was a little facetious with the crossing out of "again." I like this blog and I'll take your word on it. I was in a bad mood yesterday anyway. It wasn't a chip on my shoulder but actually a genuine concern for finding someone to keep this seat Republican. It makes me nervous and there are some people out there talking that are being snide about Mr. Baldwin and I just think it says a lot when you're not the establishment and you say "hey, I'm here and I'm running." It takes some guts and some people don't see that and it aggrivates me. With that said, I retreat and again apologize. (Something you don't see on blogs nearly enough).
"It wasn't a chip on my shoulder but actually a genuine concern for finding someone to keep this seat Republican."
I also want, as badly as anyone, to keep the seat Republican.
"It makes me nervous and there are some people out there talking that are being snide about Mr. Baldwin and I just think it says a lot when you're not the establishment and you say "hey, I'm here and I'm running.""
I would have much preferred had Mr. Baldwin approached GOP leaders in the District and said, "Hey, I'm here and I'm interested in running. Please let me know what you think." Instead, even before Rep. Black's retirement, Baldwin was running. You're right that it takes guts, but I would have preferred a more consultative approach.
"It takes some guts and some people don't see that and it aggrivates me. With that said, I retreat and again apologize. (Something you don't see on blogs nearly enough)."
No apology necessary. I hope you work hard for Mr. Baldwin, or whomever the GOP nominee is.