Bad news for Koehler
The leading candidate to replace Gambill on the ticket is former Peoria Fire Chief Ernie Russell, a 33-year-member of the Peoria Fire Department for 33 years, including eight as fire chief. He also served as state fire marshal for two under the Gov. George Ryan administration.
It’s gotta be said: Gambill’s candidacy was considered a lost cause against Koehler, who was well-known for his work on the Peoria City Council and as director of the Peoria Area Labor Management Council. Having Shadid’s endorsement also helped a lot.
But Russell’s a popular, well-known guy too. He’s going to be a much tougher opponent for Koehler than Gambill.
Billy Dennis is a former reporter and editor at small daily and weekly newspapers in Illinois and Missouri. He comments on media, news and politics. He also owns and operates 
Too bad for Blair and his family, finally someone with their head/heart in the right place. I hope somebody beats Koehler, as that dude is just plain weird. I’m still wondering why unions members support universal health care (koehler’s pet project), when union members would get a public aid/medicare type plan in it’s place instead of the $5 copays that they have now. Koehler has his hand in everything it seems, most of his $$$ is coming from unions and outside of Peoria, how can this guy for the Peoria area? Plus, Shadid was much more centrist than Koehler. Just my opinion, I’m sure he’s a nice guy, but his politics seem pretty far left of center.
I’m am sure Blair’s skeletons had alot to do with it.
Should be an interesting race now to see how some of the unions shake out. Will they support Koehler or Russell? I’d think that Ernie Russell has a definite in with the Fire Union if they can find peace with supporting a candidate with an “R” behind their name.
My sources say that Russell and Koehler were pretty tight when Russell was Chief and Koehler was a council member. Will this race drive a wedge between them? It should definately be a better race than it was shaping up to be.
Geez this column bends to the right. Russell wasn’t that well liked by the fire union and what politician doesn’t have his/her hands in somebody’s pocket? Also who has a $5 copay? What union is that? What is wrong with a union having decent medical insurance? Russell doesn’t stand a chance and Koehler will smoke him like ham Nothing wrong with being on the left. By the way, and this is just my opinion, but if you get around Mr. Russell, no open flame please.
(in a Ted Kennedy kind of way)
GO ERNIE!!!!!!
Koehler is the wrong guy for the job. Russell is too. Ya have to pick the lesser of two evils in this case, Koehler is the choice. The last thing we need is another glad handing “LaHood” wannbe.
Ummmm….GO ERNIE!
Without having heard either of them take a true position on an issue yet, I’m going to lean toward Russell on this one. What I know of him (both personnally and from acquaintances) leaves me feeling that he’s better equipped for the position of the two.
I have nothing against a private entity determining their own insurance destiny, such as a union. The point I was trying to make is that unions have way better insurance than anything they would in a welfare universal concept, so why is their leadership so in favor of telling everyone else what to do. My bet is that the unions want to get out of the health insurance business and transfer it to the taxpayer. If the members knew what was really going on, they would ask why their dues are going toward an issue that doesn’t directly apply to them, as opposed to issues regarding worker safety, labor law, etc. Lastly, what has Koehler ever done to produce a dollar. It appears that he has made a living off the charity of others–churches, union members, interest groups, etc. How many things is this guy involved with in one time? Now he wants to be a Senator. Sounds like that old adage, “jack of all trades, master of none.”
Dont forget…..Dave Koehler: looks like Lenin. Votes like Lenin.
While I’ve never been a firefighter, I grew up a firefighter’s kid. My father was a working firefighter and a manager in the department. Having known Ernie Russell all my life, all I can say is I NEVER heard a single complaint about Ernie’s character or performance. So I disagree with Emtronics when he says that Ernie wasn’t well liked by the union. Any firefighters want to chime in?
Just curious about the whole unions and health care issue … I thought most unions negotiated with employers regarding health insurance … it wouldn\’t be the unions looking to get out of the health insurance business and transfer it to the taxpayers … but some employers might like that idea … i don\’t think the union thing and health care thing are actually as related here.
Scott…apparently we all have skeletons. Maybe you should let Blair get on with his family and his life and stop the mudslinging. Just not sure that you are in a position to place yourself above nyone in terms of skeletons.
Perhaps Mr Gambill will answer the question why his wife stopped payment on her late father’s funeral check? How much time did he actually spend with his terminally ill father-in-law? Why is he trying to cheat a poor, old widow women out of her late husband’s estate?
Since when has it been wrong to be a charitable person. I have never heard anyone say bad things about others doing the same thing. I think that Dave Koehler is the best choice for this race, not only do the fire fighters support him but so do many other groups. Do you not think that the fire fighters union didn’t realized the choices between the two? I am thinking that they did and if they are going to vote for what is right, then I think more power to them. If they think Koehler is better then I say kudos to them, I don’t support any party, I support people. I support people who are for the greater good of this state and Peoria! And to me that is Koehler.
Well, in ten days, we will see who this is “bad news” for. The Journal Star today endorsed Koehler, and I believe the firefighters union did as well.