A statement from former Congressman Joe Walsh:

This morning former Congressman Joe Walsh released a statement in regards to the current state of the Illinois Republican Party and its chairman.

“Two weeks ago, I publicly called on Pat Brady to step down as Chairman of the Illinois Republican Party.

“Pat is a good guy, but as he has still not retracted his public statements on same sex marriage, again, I call on him to step down.

“He can’t, in his position as Chairman of the Party, publicly refute a major piece of our Party’s Platform. It was a slap at all Republicans who believe in traditional marriage.

“The Republican Party is a big tent and welcomes all viewpoints.

“Pat can have his own individual positions, but the Chairman of the Party must publicly support the Platform and be one of its most ardent spokespersons.

“Pat Brady is no longer in a position to be that spokesperson. For the good of the Party, he should step down.”

Former Congressman Joe Walsh

A press release from the Illinois Republican Party:

On Tuesday, the Illinois Republican Party announced David Rogers of Bloomingdale, IL as the lucky winner of its contest to hear Tammy Duckworth speak this Thursday, September 27.

Mr. Rogers will fly to California tomorrow, enjoy a one night’s stay and dinner, then have the rare chance to hear Tammy Duckworth speak Thursday at Santa Monica College.

“We’re thrilled that a lucky 8th district resident will finally have a chance to hear Tammy Duckworth in person and potentially ask her a question,” said Illinois Republican Party Chairman Pat Brady.

“We wish more voters from the 8th District could enjoy this exclusive opportunity to hear Tammy Duckworth. The people from

• Trinity Lutheran in Roselle, Rainbow Academy in Carol Stream, and
• the League of Women Voters

would have had this same opportunity, but Duckworth declined to address those organizations when her and Walsh were extended invitations.”

“Tammy Duckworth is free to chose the voters of California over those in the 8th District,” Brady continued.

“But if she’s going to claim she will represent the people of the 8th better than Congressman Walsh, she should spend more time in the district publicly addressing the concerns of voters. Hopefully she can get a fresh start when Dave Rogers of Bloomingdale makes the trek to California to finally have a chance to hear her speak and ask a question.”

Contest winner Dave Rogers stated, “I’m excited to finally have the chance to hear Tammy Duckworth.

“She hardly comes into the district, and when she does it comes with little public notice for people to attend.

“I hope I can finally get the chance to ask her a question about where she is on the issues since I’ve heard so little up to this point. I also won’t mind enjoying Los Angeles for a day.”

The following BGA piece, first published in the Chicago Sun-Times on June 1st, is reprinted with permission of the Better Government Association.

Local Government Has Obesity Problem

Public agencies need a crash diet, with unnecessary units of government eliminated and duplicative functions consolidated.

The Land of Lincoln still has about 7,000 units of government, more than any other state. Cook County alone has 50 library districts, 38 fire prevention districts, 30 townships of dubious value and four mosquito abatement districts. If I’m a mosquito I’m flattered by so much attention, but if I’m a taxpayer I’m fuming at the wasteful overlap.

Illinois also has more than 300 boards and commissions, including the Human Rights Commission, which lavishes a dozen politically-connected members with generous pensions, low-cost health care and salaries of nearly $50,000 a year for — hold on to your wallets — 12 hours of work each month!

The state also has nearly 900 public school districts but nearly a third of them have — you guessed it — only one school. Gov. Pat Quinn and a few reform-minded lawmakers have been promising a major downsizing but so far it’s been mostly talk. Like most diet plans. So maybe it’s time for a 12-step program that works.

The Biggest Losers?

Technically, all 177 seats in the General Assembly are up for grabs this fall. The reality’s a different story.

Roughly 40 Democrats ran unopposed in the March primary and don’t have Republican opponents in the Nov. 6 general election, the BGA found.

Several dozen Republicans had the same luck.

And, collectively, nearly 40 Republicans and Democrats had primary opponents but now have no general election foes.

That means more than 60 percent of the seats in the Legislature are basically already won — so long as nothing changes.

For instance, there is a window in early June for the two parties to file a candidate in uncontested races and third-party candidates can file later in June. Pat Brady, chairman of the Illinois Republican Party, said he plans to file roughly 18 candidates in uncontested races while Democrats wouldn’t say what their plans are.

Either way, it appears many legislators still will have no competition. And that poses a problem.

“The more competition you have . . . the more you engage voters,” said Kent Redfield, a retired professor of political science at University of Illinois at Springfield.

And an apolitical redistricting process would increase the competition, which is why incumbent politicians oppose it.

= = = = = =
This column, a weekly feature in the Chicago Sun-Times called “Public Eye,” was written and reported by the BGA’s Andy Shaw, Patrick Rehkamp and Andrew Schroedter. To reach them, email  prehkamp@bettergov.org or call (312) 386-9201.

That could have been the campaign theme against Democratic Party State Rep. Jack Franks this year if the McHenry County Republican Party had fielded a candidate.

Playing into what is going to be a campaign to demonize Democratic House Speaker Mike Madigan is a front page story on the Northwest Herald that has his picture and the negative things said about him by Illinois Republican Party Chairman Pat Brady Congressman Joe Walsh.

See “Auditioning at the State GOP Convention for Illinois Scott Walker” for more detail about what Brady and Walsh said than is in the NWH Associated Press story.

AP quotes Brady thusly,

“The message we’re going to drive home is that a vote for any Democrat is a vote for Michael Madigan.”

That’s pretty much what was in my article, “Every Democrat Is a Vote for Mike Madigan for House Speaker.”

If the Republican Party had put up a candidate for State Representative against Jack Franks, the NWH might have called Tonya Franklin (the only person who offered to run against “Chainsaw Jack”) and she could have said,

“That’s exactly why I am running.  If we can get rid of Jack Franks, we can get rid of Mike Madigan.”

But, no, the McHenry County GOP acted like a doggy in need of some loving.

It rolled over on its back and awaits the Marengo Democrat to run its tummy.

Exhibit A in the case that Precinct Committeemen can make a difference for the candidates they endorse is Fox River Grove’s Andrew Gasser. Turnout was up substantially.

The high space expert (see Tea Party in Space) was elected Republican Precinct Committeeman in Fox River Grove.

Compare the results in Gasser’s Algonquin Township Precinct 4 with the countywide results:

• Gaffney – 35 vs. 35% in McHenry County
• McSweeney – 34% vs. 40% in McHenry County
• Rowe – 31% vs 25% in McHenry County

Now Gasser has strongly endorsed McSweeney over expected Independent candidate Dee Beaubien.

“At the time of this post I cannot find an official website for Mrs. Beaubien, but this is what I do know: Mrs. Beaubien is not a conservative like Mr. McSweeney.

“There have been several blog posts about Mrs. Beaubien that are quite revealing about who she really is and what she really stands for.”

Gasser thinks this article on McHenry County Blog is significant.

He adds,

“When you have allies of President Obama supporting a candidate, that is a giant red flag for me personally.

“We simply cannot have weak conservatives in Springfield.

Joe Walsh and Andrew Gasser after Walsh's audition to be the Scott Walker of Illinois.

“It is my humble opinion that Mrs. Beaubien does not represent our values here in our 4th precinct in Algonquin Township, or Fox River Grove.”

Gasser has another article about the State Convention. I like the part about “the star of the convention,” Joe Walsh. It says, “…perhaps Congressman Bobby Schilling said it best, ‘What, I have to follow Joe?’”

He describes Walsh’s 2010 victory over Melissa Bean:

“It is important to note that Congressman Joe Walsh was elected to congress without ANY help from the national or state Republican organizations.

“He defeated Melissa Bean utilizing the Illinois Tea Party grassroots organization and conservatives who were just sick and tired of Bean.”

At the state convention, Party Chairman Pat Brady admitted that Walsh received no party help in his introduction of Walsh. Walsh got a standing ovation as he entered.

That’s what I heard Illinois Republican Party Chairman Pat Brady say on WBBM radio the Monday after the State Convention in Tinley Park.

I went searching for the exact words on Chicago News 780, but couldn’t find it.

Even so, that message is consistent that given last Saturday by Brady. See “Auditioning at the State Convention to be Illinois’ Scott Walker.”

Brady pointed out that 5,000 more votes placed strategically in districts Republican House members barely lost would have flipped control of the Illinois House to the GOP.

Instead of Mike Madigan’s being House Speaker for the umpty-umpth time, Tom Cross would have presumably have been elected.

Cross is six seats short and surely has targeted them in 2014.

Madigan, of course, knows this and knows that he might lose some.

Reports that his people are helping Dee Beaubien gather signatures for her announced Independent candidacy surfaced on Jon Zahm’s “Dee Beaubien is too Liberal for the 52nd District. Don’t elect Dee Liberal” blog.

In an article entitled, “Dee Beaubien- Auditioning for Madigan’s Caucus,” Zahm reports the Madigan assistance.

Obviously still disturbing me is the McHenry County Republican Party’s deliberate abdication of its responsibility to field a candidate against Democrat Jack Franks.

Three times out of the last four elections.

The 63rd District is a Republican district for all candidates except Jack Franks.

He has worked is assiduously, co-opting many Republicans.

In fact, he makes it a practice to call any new Republican face to make “nice-nice.”

Franks has numerous Republicans on the “Host Committee” of his McHenry County (as opposed to Chicago).

However slim the odds might be to take out Franks, however, having a Republican candidate on the fall ballot is better than putting up no one.

Two Republican County Chairman in a row–Bill LeFew and Mike Tryon–have adopted the same white flag approach.

One even attended a Jack Franks’ fund raiser!

When asked if he wanted to say a few words, took the opportunity to say some nice things about Franks.

Perhaps my idea of what a party is supposed to do is skewed.

Maybe the Chicago Tribune’s John Kass has it right when he writes of “The Combine,” a bi-partisan group of politicians and their supporters who cooperate in order to enrich themselves.

I had thought Kass limited his labeling to the Party in Chicago, Cook County and Illinois.

To the best of my knowledge, Kass has never applied the concept to McHenry County politics.

But, then again, he has never written an article about McHenry County political arena.

John Kass lamented the lack of an Illinois Scott Walker last Thursday.

He certainly is asking the right question:

“Where is Illinois’ Scott Walker?”

I was tempted to prepare a sign to affix to me chest asking.

“Are you the Illinois Scott Walker?”

but didn’t get around to it.

That thought pretty much left my mind until Illinois Republican Party Chairman Pat Brady started throwing red meat to the audience at the Tinley Park Convention.

“Isn’t it nice to see courage rewarded?” Brady asked after explaining his joy at watching Walker beat back the Democrats’ recall effort.

He noted with irony and derision Pat Quinn’s reaction, “Illinois is different.”

“We are under the thumb of a controlling, vindictive, ethically challenged, self-serving leprechaun, and I mean no disrespect to leprechauns, Speaker Mike Madigan,” Brady said, setting the tone of the gathering.

Brady pointed out that a mere 5,000 votes in the right House districts could have made Tom Cross Speaker.

And just 31,000 votes would have meant Bill Brady would have been elected Governor, instead of Quinn.

A pick of six seats in the Senate and six in the House would turn control over to the GOP.

Next came speeches by elected officials.

First up was Peoria’s Aaron Schock, first elected in 2008.

He told of passing federal free trade legislation for Columbia and having received a call from the CEO of Caterpillar Corporation, based in his home town. He was congratulated and told the a new plant would be built that would create 1,400 new jobs.

But, that the plant would not be build in Illinois because of our Workers’ Comp and tort liability laws.

“If we keep the same boneheads in Springfield, we won’t get the benefits,” Schock said.

House Minority Leader Tom Cross was next.

Signaling a line of attack against Democrats outside of Chicago, he pledged opposition to Mike Madigan’s and John Cullerton’s proposal to transfer $20 billion of teacher pension burden from state taxpayers to property taxpayers.

The man whose rant against Madigan’s one-man rule spread throughout television and the internet was introduced next.

“We want Mike! We want Mike!” spread throughout the room.

“If you take one thing out of this, other states don’t have one person that has total power,” Bost emphasized. “That’s a dictatorship!”

Former State Rep. and State Senator Randy Hultgren, elected to Congress in 2010 followed former colleague Bost.

“Illinois is broke.

“Illinois is broken.

“Reduced to a punchline.”

He told of being in Indiana and talked to its Governor, Mitch Daniels.

“Being Governor in the state next to Illinois is like living next to Homer Simpson.  Anything you do looks good.

“If Wisconsin can do it, Illinois can do it,” Hultgren concluded.

Adam Kinzinger, also elected in 2010, was next up.

“America is the greatest hope for civilization,” the Air Force pilot, now in the Illinois National Guard, started out.

He observed that young folks signing up for the Armed Forces today at age 18 were only 7 on 9-11.

“America is worth defending and I will defend it,” he said movingly.

“The American DNA is a winning DNA.

“The defense of this country also extends here at home.

“We have to beat Mike Madigan.

“We have to build a brick wall in Illinois” so Nancy Pelosi’s prediction that “the route to the [Democratic Party congressional] majority goes through Illinois.,”Kinzinger concluded.

Senate Republican leader Christine Radogno  stepped to the podium.

“We need reinforcements.

“We can’t do it without you.

“You are the grass roots.

“The wave is coming and we’re going to ride it.”

Brady then introduced Congressman Joe Walsh, also in his first term.

He noted that Walsh got no help from the Republican Party in his narrow victory over Democrat Melissa Bean, but “that won’t happen again.”

“There is no person they want to beat more than Joe Walsh.”

Walsh entered to a standing ovation.

He began his speech by relating that he was a naturally smiling Irish Catholic guy.

Then there was the “but.”

“I did not go to Washington last year to smile.

“There’s very little subtle about Joe Walsh.

“When I say the President has not freaking clue what he is doing, I mean every word of it.”

Then Walsh took after Mike Madigan.

“No one person should run a state.

“He is a king.

“He is a dictator.

“He is corrupt.

“He symbolizes everything that is wrong in Illinois.

“Shame on us for not having the courage and the fortitude to say that.”

Moving on to his re-election race against Tammy Duckworth, whose name he did not mention, Walsh said, “This White House and the entire Demcoratic Party has a target on my back.

He explained that he “just goe[es] and say[s] what [he] mean[s].

“Amazing things begin to happen.”

Walsh referenced John Kass’ column:

“Where is Illinois’ Scott Walker?”

[At this point I began wondering if he was standing on the stage.]

“The Republican Party has been compliant.

“We’ve lost our way.

“Every nine minutes somebody move out of this state,” he said emphasizing it was taxpayers moving elsewhere.

“That’s terrible.

“We can’t let that happen.”

Ratcheting up the rhetoric Walsh proclaimed Illinois Republicans “must stand for everything that the Mike Madigans don’t.

“We don’t stand for making everybody dependent on government.

“We stand for the opposite.

“We’re the party of everything else.

“I’m gong to ask you to be responsible for your own life.”

[Hear Joe Walsh's speech, posted by The Prairie State Review, here.]

Another standing ovation occurred after Walsh finished his speech.

Freshman Congressman Bobby Shilling spoke next.

I didn’t get a chance to take notes, but I did get a decent close-up.

After him State Treasurer Dan Rutherford, head of the Mitt Romney effort in Illinois in 2008 and 2012, spoke.

He is widely thought to be laying the groundwork for a campaign for Governor in 2014.

A video greeting from State Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka completed the speeches.

The Chicago Tribune article by Rick Pearson failed to mention that Walsh even spoke, not to mention that he was greeted with a standing ovation and another one after he finished his speech.

He did note the attacks on Mike Madigan.

= = = = =

In the John Kass piece, the columnist mentions Walsh, but not favorably.

“I’m not talking about a Republican who’d scream with veins popping out of his or her neck and a wild angry look in the eye.  If you want someone in your face, you’ve got Republican U.S. Rep. Joe Walsh, and you can have him.  What was compelling about Walker wasn’t his in-you-face personality.  It was his ideas.”

But, as Party Chairman Pat Brady reporting Demcoratic Party Governor as saying, Illinois is different.”

From the crowd’s reaction to Walsh, I think Kass’ take on Walsh was not shared by a large proportion of the Republicans in attendance.

There must be a dam at the Illinois-Wisconsin border.

The water from Wisconsin’s boiling tea kettle didn’t spill over the state border last Saturday when the McHenry County Republican Party decided no candidate against Jack Franks was better than Tea Party activist Tonya Franklin.

I can’t help but note what Illinois Republican Party Chairman Pat Brady had to say about Wisconsin Scott Walker’s victory–the only Governor in U.S. history to survive a recall election:

“I enjoyed seeing all of the energy from Illinois Republicans over the past few weeks for Scott Walker and I know that energy will carry over to the Illinois Republican State Convention this weekend and to our elections this fall.

“I look forward to personally congratulating (Republican National Committee Chairman) Reince Priebus on Friday in Tinley Park for all his work in ensuring victory tonight.”

The abdication of the 63rd District seat to 7-time Mike Madigan supporter “Chainsaw Jack” Franks was three days before our state party leader’s praised that same energy.

Some may find some irony in the flat out rejection of the offer to take on a McHenry County GOP Establishment-predicted suicide run from a woman who had the energy to campaign in Wisconsin.

Not to mention for a month volunteering in Florida four years ago helping John McCain try to win the state on her own dime.

Ironically, McHenry County GOP Chairman seems more interested in not losing McHenry County to Barack Obama in 2012 as he did in 2008, than having a chance to beat Democratic Party State Rep. Jack Franks.  (From email discouraging Precinct Committeemen from attending the Special Meeting Saturday at which a crucial step could have been taken that could have led to a Republican opponent to Jack Franks being on the ballot: “We are committed to help elect our Congressmen, our State Senators and Representatives, our County Board candidates and most of all, electing a Republican President.“  Emphasis added.)

On the CNN fall election may last night while the analyst was debating on whether to change the color in Wisconsin from solid blue to pale blue, I noticed Illinois was the brightest of blues.

National commentators don’t share Tryon’s belief that Mitt Romney can carry Illinois this fall.

Carrying McHenry County will, at best, give bragging rights to local Republicans, while beating Jack Franks could make a difference in who controls the Illinois House.

A slim possibility, I will admit, but still a possibility, given what happened north of us.

Above the state line, Tea Party activists–even from Illinois–have been embraced by Republican leadership, including the Chairman of the National Republican Party Reince Priebus: “Thank God for the Tea Party.”

“We’re not in competition with the Conservative Movement. We’re just part of it,” Priebus said in an interview on Breitbart. “We need to have a party about addition and multiplication, not division and subtraction.”

Priebus, a Wisconsin resident, said,

“Courage is on the ballot in Wisconsin.

“We need more people to run for office and govern like they campaigned.”

Can’t help but wonder how he would react to the McHenry County Republican Party’s defeatist attitude.

And, arguably, the Party Leadership’s policy of, how did the National Chairman put it?

“Division and subtraction.”

Kool-Aid in the 63rd District better than Tea?

A perspective from the Left (“The Political Environment, Progressive reporting from Wisconsin and the region. Scott Walker Recall Updated Frequently.”) on the Wisconsin election points out:

“But Walker got to spend and benefit from $35-$50 million, and an advantage over Barrett by something like 7:1 this time, so where’s Walker’s growth? Yes, he won, but not in a landslide.”

We Ask America had the race at 54-44-4, the 4 being undecided, but warned that differential turnout was what the contest was all about.

I was listening to Milwaukee’s WTMJ coming home from a sleep apnea study this morning at Centegra’s Algonquin outpost and heard that no poll had predicted a Walker victory.

I guess, as with the mainstream media’s missing We Ask American’s poll on the Joe Walsh-Melissa Bean 2010 election, the commentator just didn’t look closely enough at this Illinois emerging source of information.

A McCormick Foundation analyst was interviewed.

Commenting on the effect the victory would have nationally, he said, “The political dynamic is certainly different.”

But, as the swim coaches say,

“You can win the race, if you’re not in the pool.”

And, no one in the McHenry County Republican Party leadership will be wearing this sweatshirt at this weekend’s GOP State Convention in Tinley Park:

When a former Assistant U.S. Attorney gets involved in the process of replacing Congressman Tim Johnson, you might expect that the questionnaire would be thorough.

I give the credit to political consultant Jon Zahm, who has had his run-ins with Illinois State Republican Central Committee Chairman Pat Brady, for pointing me to the questionnaire.

Zahm thinks it’s more than a bit intrusive.

He asks this good question:

“How can the candidates who submit this information know that their privacy is protected?”

Numbering the questions gets me to 53, but there is more information requested, including one’s Social Security number.
And Zahm’s analysis leads him to ask:

“Why is there not a single issue based question on this survey?”

A campaign needs a candidate, money and issues. At least that’s what I remember from the campaign schools I have attended.

Here are the questions as listed:

1. Have you ever been arrested?
2. Has any member of your family been arrested?
3. Have you ever been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor?
4. Has any member of your family been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor?
5. Have you ever been stopped under suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs? If so, what was the outcome?
6. Have you ever been treated for substance abuse or spent time in a rehabilitation facility?
7. Have you ever received any traffic tickets? If so, please provide a complete listing to the best of your knowledge.
8. What is the status of your driving record and car insurance?
9. Have you ever been denied car insurance or had car insurance cancelled?
10. Have you ever been questioned by state or federal authorities in connection with the alleged commission of a crime? If so, when? If applicable, did you provide testimony or material evidence (testimony or documents) in the case? What was the ultimate disposition of that case?
11. Have you ever testified or been served with a subpoena to testify before a grand jury,
12. trial court, administrative or regulatory agency? If so, provide all details.
13. Have you ever been served with a subpoena to produce records to a grand jury, trial court, administrative or regulatory agency? If so, provide all details.
14. If you are an attorney, please list the type of clients /nature of the cases in which you are involved (corporate, criminal defense, family law, etc.) and any noteworthy cases that could be potentially relevant in a congressional campaign.
15. Have you ever written for or in any newspaper (including op-eds, letters to the editor) magazines or blogs? If so, please elaborate.
16. Have you ever been published in a journal, book or other written publication?
17. Are you currently active on any social networking media? (Facebook, Twitter, etc.)
18. Where is your current residence? Do you lease or own this property?
19. Do you maintain any other residences? If so, where? Do you lease or own these
20. properties? Has your house or any property been foreclosed by court order?
21. Have you ever been delinquent with personal, business or property taxes?
22. Have you ever owned or run a business? If so, please elaborate.
23. If you have owned or run a business, did that business ever outsource any of its production?
24. If you have owned or run a business, did that business ever receive federal funding
25. (grants, contracts, Stimulus funds, earmarks, subsidies, etc.)?
26. Was the business ever sold? If so, to whom?
27. Please list any history / problems with your employees (mass layoffs, illegal immigrants, benefit disputes, etc.)
28. Please list any history / problems with your business partners (litigation, criminal matters, sanctions, etc.)
29. Has there ever been a lien placed on your property or business?
30. Have you or your business ever been investigated by any government agency (EPA, DOL, DOJ, etc)?
31. Have you ever filed for bankruptcy?
32. Has any member of your immediate family filed for bankruptcy?
33. Are your taxes up-to-date?
34. Have you ever been a party in a civil or criminal court case? If so, please elaborate.
35. Has any member of your immediate family been sued?
36. Has the IRS audited you or your business or family business?
37. Have you ever been fined by the IRS?
38. If licensing is required for your profession or business, please list the agencies and indicate if you are current with the licensing authority.
39. Have you ever been delinquent in filing for these licenses?
40. Have you been involved in any disciplinary action with any governing body or licensing organization in your professional career? If so, please elaborate.
41. Have you ever run for elective office? If so, when, and for what office?
42. What year did you register to vote and with what election authority?
43. Is your voter registration current with your current election authority?
44. Have you ever voted in the primary of any political party other than the Republican Party?
45. Have you ever outwardly supported a candidate who was not a Republican Party candidate?
46. Have you ever been fined by the FEC, State Board of Elections, or local election board?
47. Have you ever made campaign contributions to a candidate that was not a Republican or a PAC that did not support Republican candidates/causes? If so, who, for what office and in what year?
48. To what Republican campaigns/organizations have you or your spouse donated in the past 20 years. Please estimate the amounts of the contribution.
49. Are you or have you ever been a registered participant or member of a radical, communist or socialist political party or organization?
50. If you are, or ever have been, an elected official, have you cast any votes that your constituents or this body may consider controversial? If so, please explain.
51. Is there anything in your past that has not been addressed in this questionnaire that may be considered a potential vulnerability in your run for Congress? If so, please elaborate?

Into my inbox yesterday dropped over a hundred pages of email exchanges between Geneva Mayor Kevin Burns and others.

A combination of official and campaign emails for Burns show up in the following exchange after the campaign learned that Congressman Randy Hultgren was not going to endorse Burns as he expected.

They were from his official email account, the one that says, “mayorburns@geneva.il.us,” just as you see above.

Gathered through a Freedom of Information request, I’m told.

Nothing particularly out of the ordinary about using email to communicate with others.

Except in this case, it’s about Burns’ campaign for Chairman of the Kane County Board against Chris Lauzen.

That might raise some eyebrows.

Let’s look at an email chain that starts on Saturday, January 14th, and ends on Wednesday, January 18th.  With these emails one has to start at the bottom and read up.

It’s from Pat Brady, presumably the Chairman of the Illinois State Republican Central Committee.

He emails Burns at his office address asking him to call because “I want to get this fund raising back on track.”

Since personal or campaign email addresses are sometimes hard to find, while a mayor’s is easy, perhaps one could understand why it was used.

But for Burns to reply using his office email certainly does raise some questions.

Phone numbers are exchanged and one would assume they got together that way.

Then, on the 17th, Brady writes about opponent Lauzen’s shortcomings. “Pound him on this…Nobody more ethically challenged than Chris.”

Burns replies,  “Consider it done!”

Let’s look at Batavia Township Republican Chairman Ellen Nottke’s use of the official email of Mayor Burns.  The chain starts the same day as Brady’s.

The discussion is about how Lauzen is about to hold a press conference on transparency and how to reply.  It veers off in the direction of who could be convinced to criticize Lauzen.  They plan to hand out a Sunshine Report at the press conference.

There is indirect input from current County Board Chairman and State Senate candidate Karen McConnaughay about how people other than candidate Burns needs to be criticizing Lauzen.

Some blacked out adviser emails the official email address saying that McConnaughay suggests a Democrat running for County Board Chairman, Sue Klinkhamer and Bill Wyatt.

Former Kane County Board members Bill Wyatt and Jan Carlosn are mentioned by Nottke.  She also suggests getting Chicago Democrats who “hate lauzen” to sign a letter saying he doesn’t work well with Democrats, that he is known as “sen. no.”

On January 20th, Nottke was still using the Mayor’s official email address to ask whether he had received an internet contribution from Andy Faville.

On February 1st, the official email address is still being used in this discussion of Congressman Randy Hultgren’s unexpected intention to endorse Lauzen for County Board Chairman.

Burns is clearly disappointed.

Using his campaign email address he writes,

“Since the ‘decision’ Sean [McCarthy] has not been able to get in touch w/ Randy.

“Sean did mention that he and Jerry Clarke asked Randy to call me…to date not a god damn word.

“Apparently Randy’s busy @ a Prayer Dinner in D.C.  Won’t he be surprised when he learns there is no god.”

The email exchange about signs below has Nottke using a non-official blackberry email address, but Burns replies using his mayoral email address.

On February 3rd Nottke emails the Daily Herald article about the joint interview of the candidates to Burns’ Blackberry, but Burns replies from his government email account.

On February 4th, Bob Mann sends a congratulatory email to the Mayor’s official email about calling Lauzen out. Burns uses his official email to reply.

The same day, a Saturday, Burns uses the same email to ask that a modified “Bob Mann” letter go out “today.”

Carolyn Zinke also sends a letter of praise for the negative comments about Lauzen in the Daily Herald to the Geneva address. Again, Burns replies using the government email.

On Feb. 6th Burns again uses his government email for political purposes.

Using the same email, Burns and staff try to figure out how to get into the Holmstad, a seniors’ residence.  A “Sue” (Klinghamer?) is involved.

The same day, Burns uses his official email to follow advice from Pat Brady to personally call Michael Donahue, V.P. of Geneva’s Midwest Wind Energy for a $500 contribution.

Feb. 7th same routine. Pat Brady had a letter he wanted put in Patch and there was a discussion of a meeting that night.

Only another Freedom of Information request will determine if Mayor Burns is still using his official email address for political purposes with less than four weeks left in the campaign.