Jason Barickman was unanimously re-elected as Chairman of the Champaign County Republican Party tonight.
Anybody have any updates from the Democrats' Convention?
UPDATE: Congratulations as well to Tony Fabri on being unanimously re-elected as Democratic Party Chair.
Tony Fabri was re-elected unanimously as well.
Tony Fabri I suppose if that's the best you got. :-) No congratulations to Jason and the leaders of both parties good luck (more to Jason of course).
Fabri was "unanimously" re-elected as Democratic Chair? By what nebulous "unanimous" group decided this? Matt, Ralph, Kevin...can any of you share exactly how this election took place? I thought the Precinct Committeeman were to vote? I've asked around and no Democrats I've spoken to seem to have heard about an election or re-election for their party's chair. I think the blogger has it wrong.
Congrats to Jason
"Matt, Ralph, Kevin...can any of you share exactly how this election took place? I thought the Precinct Committeeman were to vote?"
I can tell you that State law required a County Democratic Party convention to be held last night, and for elected PC to vote for officers at that meeting, which has been posted on the County Dems online calendar located on their website for a while. The date and procedures are set by state statute.
On Wednesday night, Tony Fabri was unanimously re-elected chair. The other officers for the party were also unanimously elected.
-Ruth Wyman
Precinct Committeeperson, Cunningham 8
Ruth Wyman is talented, effective, beautiful, and makes urbana dems proud. I know and respect Barickman, but I'm terrified of how effective he can be, and how in comparison, Fabri seems unstable and ineffective. I hope he proves me wrong.
Wouldn't it be great if the local dems found a bright, talented, engaged person like Wyman to take over for the vacant Naomi? Naomi is a nice lady, but we deserve better representation.
My only criticism of Wyman is that her lack of personal ambition has the effect of leaving the people of champaign urbana without the best possible representation in the state house. She owes it to herself, and to the people to either take over the local party so we have someone as bright and effective as Barickman (arguably moreso) or to challenge Naomi in a primary.
In a community with this many brilliant progressives, the only explanation for Naomi still having her job is that Michael Madigan wants a rep in this seat that he can control. That doesn't serve the U of I, it doesn't serve the community and it doesn't serve the state.
Step up Ruth.
In a community with this many brilliant progressives
(Insert Soviet joke here)
:-)
That said, I happen to agree. I am sure there are a number of Democrats in town who could "bring a bit more to the table" than Naomi.
The Greens elected Susan Rodgers chair and Tracy Nectoux as secretary at their central committee meetings.
Green internal governance is much different than the other two parties. The GP makes every effort to devolve decision making to the membership (in accordance with the values of Decentralization and Grassroots Democracy), so really our central committee is subservient to the wishes of our membership and the chair is really just a spokesperson rather than a "leader." All GP members are equally empowered to be leaders :)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – MARCH 12, 2008
CHAMPAIGN COUNTY GREEN CENTRAL COMMITTEE ELECTS OFFICERS
CONTACT:
Tom Abram
Press Officer, Prairie Greens
847-814-6947
tom.abram@ilgp.org
URBANA, IL - The elected Green precinct committee persons of Champaign County met and selected their officers on March 5th. Susan Rodgers was elected chair, Tracy Nectoux was elected secretary, and Joe Futrelle was elected delegate to the state convention. The Central Committee also passed bylaws that bound them to the decisions of the Illinois Green Party members in the county.
In 2006, the Green Party achieved established party status in Illinois, allowing them to hold a primary, elect precinct committee persons, and slate candidates. The Green Central Committee can slate candidates in races where no Green nominee was on the primary ballot. Green candidates that appeared on the February 5th primary ballot are Walter Pituc and Kostas Yfantis for Champaign County Board District 7 and Joe Futrelle for Champaign County Board District 8. The Green Party is looking for candidates to slate by the deadline of April 5th.
"Established party status puts Greens on a level playing field with the major parties in Champaign County, and that means new opportunities for Greens to run for local offices and for citizens to support our grassroots campaigns," said Susan Rodgers, chair of the Champaign County Green Central Committee.
MORE INFORMATION:
Prairie Greens of East Central Illinois
http://www.prairiegreens.org
Illinois Green Party
http://www.ilgp.org
###
I woudn't vote for Ruth Wyman for dog catcher much less state house. I wish she would find something constructive to do instead of filing lawsuits to deconstruct the local Democratic Party. For heaven's sake!
P.S. I sometimes wonder if Ruth is really a saboteur since she seems bent on destroying the local party. BTW, I am a liberal Democrat.
Augur & Redstate
You have fallen for the same mistaken belief that I did when I made my decision to run against Naomi. I certainly agree with both of you that she is not only vacant or ineffective, but pitiful for this area. So I thought I would run and give the voters another option. Maybe someone that cares about this area and not about just being a State Representative.
Personally, I would not care who it was, be it a Democrat with determination and qualifications or myself or another Republican, as long as the primary effect was to have responsible representation for as important institution as the State has, namely the University of Illinois. Obviously you both believe the same.
Therein lies the rub, because no matter who runs against Naomi, be it a qualified and determined Democrat in the Primary or a Republican in the General Election, the Chicago heads of the Democrat party will fund Naomi to the max, because they want her in this downstate position because she votes as they want her to vote. They certainly do not want a responsible Representative who votes for downstate issues or University of Illinois issues, they want a Representative who will vote as they direct, in return for campaign financing.
The last thing the Chicago Democrats want to happen is for Naomi to not be here, she is just another vote for their issues. Hells Bells, she voted to Raid the contributions to the Pension Fund, she voted to bail out the CTA, including a part of the bill that said if person is employed there for 3 years them and their family have health insurance FOR LIFE. She has repeatedly voted for their Bills inspite of no funding for Lincoln Hall.
The Governor funds the Secretary of States office from the gasoline tax funds, while our downstate Interstates and Roads are a shamble. My god, the big accident which killed a truck driver and closed I-74 was caused by his truck hitting a pot hole and breaking an axle. But Naomi only cares about being a Representative and not this area, IDOT District 5 and 3 are woefully underfunded, and we are paying for it with our cars and lives.
So you see, you suffer from the same misbelief as I, namely that people who care or want to help serve, can do so because of downstate votes. Nope, trust me, if Ruth or any other qualified Democrat like Ralph L. chose to run against Naomi, Madigan would give Naomi what ever campaign contributions necessary to defeat that challenger, and I mean probably $500,000 or more, just to make sure they have her vote with them.
Additionally, because of some growth issues, if the Democrat Party controls the next redistricting, look for the eastern boundary of the 103rd to come West along Washington Street to probably Kinch, South to Florida and West to Philo Road then South to the existing boundary. That is the same philosophy that protects Naomi from the University workers vote in Southwest Champaign. Usually the voters in recent developments are not supportative of Naomi, or Chicago Democrats.
Madigan wants this 103rd District vote for Chicago, and he will NEVER support any Democrat who has any kind of feeling for responsibility for this area.
Sad but true.
To that end, I am, and shall always remain;
Rex Bradfield
Rex,
You are absolutely correct, Naomi who is a good person by nature is absoltuly bound to Madigan and the Chicago power strucuture. She used to be a strong independent democract, but now is a puppet for the Speaker. Or course this is not much different than Frerichs who is an absolutle puppet for Emit Jones and the Chicago mafia. Frerichs made himself out to be the"small town an indpendent" candidate. Unforutunaently Freirichs is a puppet of Jones. Any questions on this subject - just go to the Norht 40 saloon in Gifford and they will tell you what a joke Frerichs is.
From the state of your typing, it looks like you may have had a few there yourself before you composed your comment. ;-)
No campaign contribution from Madigan or Jones, comes without puppeteer strings.
Accept them and you compromise your political life forever.
I always had a saying which I adhere to concerning any of my professional or political obligations
If I compromise my integrity, I can never regain it. Someone will always have a "chip" in the big game and never hesitate to play it.
The Bell never unrings, and the compromise never dies.
To that end, I am, and shall always remain;
Rex Bradfield
Give me Jakobsson over Frerichs any day. But not both, for pity's sake.
Kevin,
LOL...a pretty funny comment on Anonymous' comment, but he/she is right, I stopped into that bar one time during a survey up in that area. I like to think the spelling was a result of sticky keys on the computer.
But in general, I would be very interested in your thoughts on my thoughts. You and your wife always bring good thinking to the table.
Dan
As would I, but that is what happens when the voters vote for D or R and not for the good of the people.
To that end, I am, and shall always remain;
Rex Bradfield
Rex: You are absolutely right that the money changes everything. Unfortunately, given the dynamics of our two party system, it is nigh unto impossible in most districts to run successfully without it. This is clearly an inherent problem with both parties.
The question then becomes how far individual legislators can go in asserting any sort of independence. I haven't studied Naomi's voting record extensively or been involved directly in her campaigns, but I can tell you from personal experience that Mike made clear to Emil well in advance that there were some issues that they were going to have to publicly disagree on, long before he accepted any of the money. Additional issues of disagreement have arisen since the election, and Mike has publicly stood his ground on those, as well.
Because they are all members of the same party, it is to be expected that they will agree on the overwhelming majority of issues. Because they are unique individuals representing different districts, it is also to be expected that they will disagree from time to time. The only true measure of a legislator's independence is how they respond in those particular instances.
Kevin,
She has not missed a vote siding with Chicago, as far back as when I was campaigning.
I have not checked Mike's record.
To that end, I am, and shall always remain;
Rex Bradfield
Rex, your sour grapes are turning to vinegar. You couldn't beat Naomi if you out spent her 4 to 1. It takes votes, Rex. She got them and you didn't.
You got my vote but I only vote for Republicans. I fugure the doofus from our team is better than anyone from their team. Sometimes it's a dumb vote, but I always vote for the Republican team. I would have voted for Oberweis. I'll vote for George Ryan against a Democrat if he shows up on a ballot of mine. I'll always vote against Naomi.
Not all people see things that way, and you didn't get their votes. Naomi swamped you 59% to 29.5%. Tom Abram the Green candidate took 11.5%, some apparently from you and some apparently from Naomi. In 2004 she beat Deb Frank Feinen 62% to 35%.
My point is that it is a waste of time to run anyone against Naomi. Chairman Barickman should spend the assets, limited as they are, on races that can be won, and not on a Quixotic fantasy. Losing one of the county office without gaining a county office would be disasterous.
just my 2 cents
Not sour grapes.
They would have been sour had I not ran for office and realized the error of my analysis of the District and other political issues that only running for office exposes.
I like many perceived this district to be the University of Illinois District, when nothing could be farther from the truth and I have said that repeatedly after seeing the Votes and where they occurred. Because I perceived it was a University District, I perceived issues would the the deciding factor. Again, a misperception on my part. The State Dems have cleverly configured the District to be not only one of the smallest in area, but also one of the lowest income Districts in the State.
Voters in the 103rd District are primarily "Pick and Shovel" workers living paycheck to paycheck and don't care about the University of Illinois Pension fund or that Tuition and Fees are being increased to operate the University of Illinois. The 103rd District only cares about free government programs and utility rates, for instance. Even though they are shooting themselves in the foot at the delight of the Chicago Democrats, it is very hard for hand to mouth voters to understand what ultimate impact their votes are having on the future of their families.
Naomi was sponsoring a continuing rate freeze right before the election and although it did not have a chance of passing, it was attractive to the 103rd District because their rates were going up and they were not going to be able to pay for the increases. Naomi got their votes and they got their rate increase for their vote.
Growing up very poor and without a father and my Mom's income was NEVER over $1,600/year, I knew my only out was to get a college education, but now because Naomi and not gotten any real new funding for the University of Illinois, the cost of college is a rich man's perk and the kids of the pick and shovel voters in the 103rd District cannot afford to go to college, be in debt $100,000 to $175,000 when they get out and make a living. So they are dooming their kids to an extended life of pick and shovel work. And she doesn't care.
The Chicago Dems could give a Rats A_s about those facts, all they wanted is for Naomi to vote with them in return for being a State Representative. As a result the poor are getting poorer and the affluent are remaining so.
Because of the type of District the Chicago Dems have created, Champaign Urbana is not represented to the wishes of the General Public. When you drive West on Kirby Ave in Champaign, realize that approximately 1/2 way between Prospect and Mattis, all the voters on the south side of Kirby are represented by a Representative who lives in Watseka or close by. The reason is if those voters who do work for the U of I and also are teachers were allowed to vote for Naomi, she would not have won and the area would be Represented by someone who cares about the area and not just being a Representative.
I said this repeatedly during my campaign and will say it again. Naomi's most important job is being most important.
You are absolutely correct when you say voters did not see what I saw, because they correctly had their heads down using the pick and shovel to try and make a living for their family. Again, that was my mistake because I was running to help the area, not to be a Representative making false representations and didn'r realize that.
In closing, let me say something that will make politicians cringe but is my nature, I do thank you for your vote, but if you voted for me simply because of the R behind my name, rather than my qualifications, then I am disappointed. If Naomi was the best candidate for this area and you voted for me because of politics the area did not benefit by your vote.
That being said, I assure you that you did not waste your vote, because you voted for someone who truly cares about this area and would have done whatever was necessary to see this area was properly represented to the will of the people.
I choose to write my opinions in this public forum for exactly those reasons, to allow everyone to judge me on my merit, and if those who I oppose do not expose their opinion in a public forum, then the reasons for those non exposures are very clear.
Please remember this about Engineers, we are finders and analyzers of facts and we become a very dangerous adversary to those who have hidden facts from us, thinking they are being clever. For once we understand the rules of the game, we play the game with a fever of which they are unaccustomed. That is exactly why I am fearless about running for Mayor.
Again, thank you for your response and your vote, but there is no vinegar in my words, only my attempt to allow others who were as non aware as I about the evils of politics to maybe be a little more informed.
To that end, I am, and shall always remain;
Rex Bradfield