Pulse: Will Democrats, GOP debate who’s the flip-flopper
July 22, 2012 9:04PM
Will County Republicans had planned against "Chicago-style" politics this week outside the Will County Courthouse to take advantage of the large media presence for the Drew Peterson trial. The rally was called off. | Sun-Times Media file photo
Updated: August 24, 2012 6:03AM
Democratic Party Chairman Scott Pyles criticized Republican Party Chairman Ed Ronkowski last week for flip flopping on voter choice. Pyles said Ronkowski argued in favor of voter choice when he criticized the appointments of state Sen. Pat McGuire, D-Joliet, and state Rep. Larry Walsh Jr., D-Elwood, to office this year after the primary election.
But now Ronkowski is arguing that eight Democrats running for county board should be kicked off the November ballot because they weren’t appointed properly.
“To me, it seems to be an inconsistent position,” Pyles said of Ronkowski.
Ronkowski responded that the Democrats would not be in jeopardy if they had run in the primary.
Rally postponed
The Will County Republican Party was going to try to tap into the media frenzy surrounding the Drew Peterson murder trial this week by holding a rally where candidates would sign a “declaration of independence from Chicago-style politics.”
The rally would have been held on Wednesday right in front of a courthouse teeming with reporters assigned to cover the trial. Ronkowski said someone suggested hooking into the Peterson trial during a party meeting and he recognized a good idea when he heard it.
But last week, Ronkowski canceled the rally because he said there wasn’t enough time to organize such a large event.
City hall connections
A Joliet official called it an “innocent mistake” when a fundraiser for Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow was posted on the city’s Facebook page. Opponent Dave Carlson, however, suggested there may have been a connection to Mayor Thomas Giarrante, noting in a news release that Giarrante is featured in a photo on Glasgow’s campaign Web site.
Giarrante said he had nothing to do with the posting and is not active in Glasgow’s campaign, although he did say he is a supporter and planned to go to the fundraiser that was advertised.
Meanwhile, Carlson has his own connections on the Joliet City Council. Councilman Larry Hug is the media manager for his campaign. Councilman Robert O’Dekirk is Carlson’s law partner.
You’re invited
Local child care providers want to be proactive this time.
For the last two years, the state has threatened to stall funds used to help low-income parents pay for day care, only to reinstate them after a hard push by child care providers claiming they could close without the support.
A group called Advocates United last week sent invitations to all elected officials representing Joliet in any way — local, state and federal — to a program to be held 5-6 p.m. on Aug. 23 at the Harvey Brooks Foundation in Joliet.
“We’re really going to express the importance of investing in your children,” said Amy Emerson, assistant director at Joliet-based Child Care Resource and Referral.
Cindy Wojdyla Cain and Bob Okon contributed to Pulse.
