As requested here are my choices for this race. (Mmm, think I’m gonna go vote early today. Skip the lines on election day.)
Federal
President – Obama/Biden – C’mon, if you are reading my blog to figure out who to vote for for president, you have real issues. But since you are here, I’ll give you my number one reason. I truly fear the transition from a petro energy economy to a post petro economy. Obama seems to understand the problem infinitely better than the Drill, Baby, Drill crowd. He seems to be able to do basic math. 20 billion barrels of oil of proven reserves in the US. We use 10 billion barrels of oil a year. Yes we need to drill, no it will not solve anything. (And the Trib endorsed him!!)
For congress and senate, I am pissed at our current members for giving into Bush’s fear-mongering (especially on this most recent financial crisis). I also seem to be having a general distaste for the established power structure. Because of this I present, the green party. At least they will back alternative energy funding, without any need for pork to help it down. Update: Shakowsky wrote me back explaining her position (in I assume a form letter) and I feel a bit better about it. I’m feeling a bit more generous to her today than I was when I first wrote this right after the vote. Take these opinions with a grain of salt, as I might change my mind before I get to the polls.
Senator – Cummings. No way she will beat Durbin, it’s just a message. Though I have to say everything I have been able to find about her indicates that her concerns closely match my own. I am especially pleased with her energy stance and, interestingly since it doesn’t really have anything to do with the green party, her stance on the supremacy of the constitution.
Congresscritter – Shanfield. He’s basically running to stop the war. He will lose to Shakowski, but I am so disappointed in her recent complete lack of spine (as well as the rest of the democratic party I suppose) that I can’t bring myself to vote for her.
State
State Senator – Silverstein (only) State Rep – Lang (only) Why no competition for the state reps? I guess I’ll list them for completeness sake. Still annoys me.
Metro
Metro Water – Meany (inc., been there forever), Avila (inc., likes poop), Santos (inc., married to govt worker). I actually think the current metro water has done an incredible job. Thus for this one I change my normal for this election and go with the incumbents. The sun times swaps Meany for Bopp, the green candidate, who they feel is a good addition. I might actually vote that way too on a little further consideration.
County
The trib has a great quote from their endorsements:
Yes, we know you’re eager to oust Cook County Board President Todd Stroger and the 10 board members whose sales-tax increase is hurting local consumers and employers. That crowd won’t be on the ballot until 2010. This autumn, though, voters are choosing five other county officials.
But what is on the ballot (out with the old in with the new Stroger memorial edition):
State’s Attorney – Alvarez. I think Peraica would have been an excellent Cook County president. I think he would be a terrible state’s attorney. He has a tendency to attack before thinking. Good for trimming a bloated government and taxes. Bad for a prosecutor. This is the one place where I go against my out with the old in with the new. Alvarez has been on the county payroll for too long to be considered new.
Court Clerk – Shapiro. She’s an ex Dem who got fed up with the Democratic system in Chicago. That seems like a great reason to leave the party. And it means that she is probably someone that actually agrees with most of my thinking. Also, she wasn’t party to the current county government.
Recorder of Deeds – Goldstein. This is another out with the old, in with the new recommendation. Moore is simply not doing his job properly. I preferred Smith in the primary and now I prefer Goldstein. He is currently a customer of the office and will hopefully bring an understanding of what needs to be fixed.
Board of Review (2nd Dist) – Not Berrios. He is a Stroger stooge, so I can’t vote for him. Problem is I have no idea who the other candidates are. The sad thing is how important this position is. Now that I am a home owner, I realize how much power the ability to review assessments and that kind of thing gives, and how easy it is to abuse that power. This is one of the places where the pain from the taxes comes from. Give out lots of revaluations to politically connected people, and everyone else pays more. I’m voting for the opposition, if for no other reason than to send a message to Stroger et. al.
Courts
For the empty positions on the courts, there is only one choice for all of them?! I wonder why that is. Fortunately the bar associations seem to like them all, marking them as qualified or highly qualified.
And THE MOST IMPORTANT SECTION, judicial retention if you aren’t going to bother, at least mark them all NO. If you are going to bother, mark them all yes with the following exceptions:
Appellate: Both appellate judges are recommended to be retained by all 10 reporting bar associations.
Circuit: Multiple bar associations don’t like Brosnahan (209), Pietrucha (171), McCarthy (165), Hayes (149), Hopkins (151), Garcia (145) and Lewis (221). Mark all them no.
The Chicago Council of Lawyers doesn’t like Bender (127), Clay (133) or McGury (121), Turner (239).
The Cook County Bar Association doesn’t like Fabri (141).
The Gay Bar Association doesn’t like Stuart (185) or James Riley (179).
Questions
Question: Should we be able to recall the governor? I’m not actually sure what I think about this one. On the one hand, it seems like it is necessary at times. On the other hand it seems like it shifts the balance of power considerably and I could easily see it getting in the way of the operation of the government. Besides, given the number of ex governors who have spent time in jail, I’m not worried about justice not being served.
Question: Should we have a constitutional convention? I think yes. Ed to add: um… NO I MEAN NO!!! One thing among many that I forgot to take into account was how expensive this thing is going to be. Over $100 million is a bit much to see if we decide that we need to make some changes. Especially given the current economy. And I am allowed to sleep on the bed tonight. We need another referendum before any changes are approved, and the convention might decide that no changes are needed. But the opportunity for a review won’t happen if we vote no. The Trib says yes though the Sun Times strongly disagrees.