Danville

Today's News-Gazette:

The city tax on gasoline will increase from its current level of 1 cent per gallon to 5 cents a gallon, and diesel will be taxed at a rate of 2 cents a gallon.

In addition, starting in 2009, the city's gas tax will automatically increase every year at a rate equal to 2 percent of the state's motor-fuel use tax. If the 5-cent gas tax had started last year, for example, the tax rate this year would be 5.32 cents per gallon.

Public Works Director Doug Ahrens said the fuel taxes would generate about $1 million a year for the repair and resurfacing of city streets, and related projects.

And:

Mayor Scott Eisenhauer said he receives calls every day from people complaining about the poor condition of city streets. He said citizens have told him that they do not mind a gas tax increase if the money is guaranteed for road repairs.

"The only way to begin to answer their requests is to find a dedicated revenue source," Eisenhauer said. "I'm glad the council and the citizens recognize that."

Discuss.

Todd Lee, the former Vermilion County Board Chairman and currently the regional manager for Gov. Rod Blagojevich's Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and the Opportunity Returns program, is leaving state government to work at Vermilion Advantage:

Starting next week, Todd Lee will be pursuing economic development from a new office.

Lee confirmed Friday that he has resigned his position as East Central Region manager for Gov. Rod Blagojevich's Opportunity Returns program to take a job with Vermilion Advantage.

Lee had been in the state position, which is part of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, for four years, and his resignation took effect at 5 p.m. Friday. Before joining the state, Lee served as Vermilion County Board chairman.

He'd been rumored as a possible Democratic candidate for a number of offices, most recently the 104th State House seat being vacated by the retiring Rep. Bill Black.  Congratulations to Mr. Lee, and good luck in his new position.

Shocking.

Because of delayed income tax payments from the state, the city may take out a $650,000 loan to help make payroll.

The city council public works committee voted to seek bids from area banks in order to borrow up to $650,000 as needed. The money would be paid back before April.

City Comptroller Gayle Brandon told committee members that the city has yet to receive state income tax money from October and November, and Brandon said the city has already been warned that December's tax payment won't be on time, either.

I have a great idea!  Let's put these people in charge of paying for everyone's health care!

Capital Fax is reporting that Danville Mayor Scott Eisenhauer has announced that he will run as a Republican for State Representative in the 104th District, seeking to replace retiring State Rep. Bill Black.  I've not yet heard any local media coverage of an announcement, but I'll try to keep you posted.

Eisenhauer has competition in the Republican Primary.  Danville Alderman Terry Baldwin has announced that he's running.  Black is supporting Eisenhauer.

As far as I know, no Democrats have yet announced in the 104th.

UPDATE:  I missed this story from the NG:

Eisenhauer's decision to run for state representative is "a logical step," Black said, citing the mayor's political experience.

"I think he shares my passion for downstate interest, rural Illinois and education," Black said. "I think he'll stand up to the Chicago interest."

Black said that he and Eisenhauer have discussed Eisenhauer's potential candidacy.

"I was pretty sure" he would announce, "I just wasn't sure when," Black said. "I'm really happy he has made the decision. I know it wasn't easy."

Eisenhauer will face vice-mayor Terry Baldwin for the Republican nomination. Baldwin announced his candidacy in August.

Baldwin said the mayor did not tell him about his intentions to run.

"I look forward to the primary," he said. "I think being opponents will not affect the progress the city council will make."

Cut me some slack - I'll get back up to speed this week.  :-)

ANOTHER UPDATE:  Tom Kacich posted Eisenhauer's press release.

ANOTHER UPDATE:  An email informs me that WDWS has been running this story since early this morning.  Sorry about that - I can't listen at home, so I missed it.  As I said, I'll get back up to speed at some point.  :-)

I agree with Gamera.

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.

Gaming expansion bills are always hit-or-miss propositions in the General Assembly, but both State Rep. Bill Black and Sen. Mike Frerichs seem to think a new casino in Danville is a possibility:

In his letter, Black said a Danville boat would derive more than half of its money from Indiana residents, drawing gamblers from Lafayette, Indianapolis, Bloomington and Terre Haute to boost Vermilion County's economy.

"You tell me where else I can find 750 to 1,000 jobs, not all minimum wage, $50 million plus in construction and put $15 million to $20 million in tax revenue in the city and the county," he asked.

State Sen. Mike Frerichs, D-Gifford, said Black made some very good points in his letter.

"I personally have been opposed to an expansion of gambling, but I've been contacted by many people in Danville and throughout Vermilion County asking me to support this," Frerichs said. "I think my job as their elected senator is to represent the people of my district and what they want. Right now it seems to be the will of my constituents to have a boat in Danville."

I question whether gaming is a positive economic development for depressed areas.  It certainly hasn't done much for East St. Louis (which is much more depressed than Danville) or Metropolis, two other areas of the state which have casinos and in which I've worked.  The gaming companies and the State keep generating a bunches or profits/revenues, though.

There's more on the prospects of a gaming expansion bill here.

Here's the News-Gazette's article about Gov. Blagojevich being in Champaign yesterday:

Champaign County Chamber of Commerce President Laura Weis heard Gov. Rod Blagojevich was in town Thursday, but she didn't get a chance to challenge him in person about his gross receipts tax plan that is so reviled by Illinois businesses.

"I wasn't invited," Weis said after Blagojevich sandwiched an unplanned visit to Christie Clinic in Champaign late Thursday afternoon between planned bus tour stops in Decatur and Danville.

Weis said the governor's office had attempted to line up Champaign County businesses to meet with him when the bus tour was being planned, but there weren't any takers.

And their story about his stop in Danville:

Gov. Rod Blagojevich spoke about Jesus. He spoke about the golden rule.

To the couple hundred people who attended his visit at Laura Lee Fellowship Hall on Thursday night, he said, "This is the Armageddon, and we are on the side of the Lord."

Blagojevich's stop in Danville was the end to a weeklong tour across the state to promote his $7.6 billion gross receipts tax plan. The tax would create a health care plan for adults and generate more money for schools, government pensions and property tax relief. Businesses grossing $2 million or more in sales would be required to pay the tax. When he proposed the tax during his combined State of the State speech and budget message to legislators, he called his plan a moral imperative.

"Some who believe in Christ follow the ... golden rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you," Blagojevich said Thursday. "We need to put a little more love in our policy and think about others."

He does like campaigning against villians, even if they're only of his own creation.  I can't believe the anti-employer rhetoric that is being tossed around.  If you're a business thinking about locating in Illinois, how would you feel about the State's Governor portraying you as being on the side opposing the Lord?

I've seen nothing mentioned locally, but according to ArchPundit, Senator Barack Obama will be hosting a pair of town hall meetings in East Central Illinois:

Thursday, August 18, 2005
CHAMPAIGN:
Time: 12:45 P.M.
Location: Illinois Terminal, 4th Floor, 45 E. University

DANVILLE:
Time: 2:45 P.M.
Location: Danville Area Community College, Vermilion Hall Room 306, 200
East Main Street

Given the schedule, I'd bet each event will last roughly an hour. I wonder if the Champaign County Health Care Consumers will pack the room like they did to Congressman Tim Johnson on Monday?