Politics: Mayer is already one up on the GOP
It’s political season out there, and announcements by would-be office holders are about as common as leaves turning colors.
County Board member Allen Mayer made it official yesterday and announced he is running for the 92nd Illinois House seat held by Aaron Schock.
He brought along his wife, Carey, and his 21-month-old daughter, the incredibly cute Katherine. Not present was his five-year-old son Conrad. Mayer didn’t have the heart to take Conrad out of school and miss the field trip to the pumpkin patch.
That puts him one up on Darin LaHood, who at his announcement last week confessed to having to promise one of his sons a trip to Chuck E. Cheese to make up pulling him out of school on the day a field trip to see dinosaurs at the museum was scheduled.
Heh.
Unlike Dick Versace, the millionaire ex-coach and pro-basketball executive who’s running for Congress on the Democratic ticket, Mayer wasn’t late to his own announcement. When I walked into the Peoria County Board meeting room a half-hour before the scheduled start, Mayer was there helping to set things up. He was friendly, helpful and more than willing to chat with reporters. And he actually answered questions at the end of the event. I found him to be unassuming and sincere. He’ll do well in small groups and one-on-one as he campaigns in the district.
The audience included friends and family of the Mayer’s family, as well as a smattering of local politicians. Also in attendance were members of the local Sierra Club and various building trades union members.
Mayer enjoys support from these groups because he spearheaded the Peoria County Board’s decision to vote to deny a request by the Peoria Disposal Company to expand the hazardous waste landfill in Pottstown, and because of Mayer’s work on behalf of prevailing wage and overtime laws as a member of Comptroller Dan Hynes office.
As readers know, I supported the PDC’s request, and was critical of the board’s decision to deny the request.
I asked Mr. Mayer how he can reconcile his opposition with his stated desire to bring more jobs to the area, since denial would certainly cause the landfill to close earlier than it would otherwise. He replied that loss of jobs and economic development were criteria that the board was legally allowed to consider, and that his record shows that’s he’s helped preserve other jobs, include those at Keystone Steel and Wire, by helping to restructure their loans, and the help the county board gave to Globe Energy, which promises to employee some 600 people making systems that allow industry to more efficiently heat their facilities.
His priorities, if elected, includes passage of legislation ensuring continued care of closed hazardous waste landfills, as well as laws to control “pay to play,” the practice of awarding contracts and business to companies that contribute to political campaigns.
Mayer also addressed several “inside baseball” controversies that are more about the race itself than any issue on concern to voters. Mayer was one of several Democratic Party members who helped convince Jehan Gordan, an Illinois Central College back when it was thought she would run against Aaron Schock. But Schock dropped out to run for Congress, and Mayer decided to run himself.
In response to a reporter’s question, Mayer said he met with Gordan and said that “circumstances had changed” and he decided to enter the both. But he and Gordan agreed to support whoever won the Democratic nomination.
He said the primary race won’t be decided so much on the issues, but on who voters believe has the most experience and ability.
He did concede that endorsements from people like State Sen. Dave Koehler, former State Sen. George Shadid and Peoria County Democratic Party co-chair Billy Halstead definitely help Gordan’s candidacy.
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 
As one of your past “critics”, although not specifically about this race, your post seems very journalistic, by which I mean informative, fair and balanced. It appears we will have a quality campaign for the 92nd after all, in both the primary and general election. The public and political junkies will be well served.
I admire your perceptiveness, Mr. Jones. I am deliberately making this site less of a BLOG and more of a CITIZEN JOURNALISM site. That means less pure opinion and ranting and more reporting and analysis. That doesn’t mean I’m not going to have an opinion, nor will I pretend to not have one. Call it “first-person” journalism, as there are no claims of being disinterested. I’ll try attempt to be as fair as I can, as long as I’m not TOO outraged.
Allen is a good guy and deserves some very serious consideration. It will interesting to see how this race goes. Despite the support for other democratic candidates, Allen is the best shot democrats have for an experienced candidate who will serve the community well. I would have bet he had the race in the bag, but for Cindy Ardis Jenkins. This makes an even tougher decision for me and I, personally, will be looking to meet with both of them more and listen carefully to what each has to say. Both of them would represent their constituents well. I encourage everyone to look across parties and choose the candidate who will do the most for this district. Attend any debates, ask them questions. Each have been highly accessible and I wish both of them the best of luck. Some of you have not liked Aaron Schock, and as you know I strongly support him. Whatever your personal viewpoints, his constituent services have been excellent. His staff are very helpful and invested in the community themselves and that will be hard act to follow for our next representative.
Is Dick Versace’s middle name really “millionaire ex-coach”? Do the middle names of other candidates reflect their cash position?
Ummm …. the line read: “Unlike Dick Versace, the millionaire ex-coach and pro-basketball executive who’s running for Congress on the Democratic ticket, Mayer wasn’t late to his own announcement.”
Interesting narrative that’s developing here. Any chance issues will one day find their way into these races.
“Unlike Dick Versace, the brother of Medal of Honor recipient Rocky Versace and committed anti-occupation of Iraq candidate who’s running for Congress on the Democratic ticket, Mayer wasn’t late to his own announcement.”
So, Dick Vesace has no control over thisng? Do you suppose the media held a meeting and decided they would all conspire to refuse to write about the issues, but instead focus on the “inside politics” stuff? Nope. Sorry. Any competent and experience politician would have done a better job of it. Versace blew his chance. Don’t blame the press.
Actually, I didn’t make any comment regarding the media. But since you brought it up, no, I would never suppose that lemmings hold a meeting.
When writing about Mr. Mayer, you mention that he addressed controversies that are more about the race itself than any issue of concern to the voters. Considering that he was adressing an issue that is actually germane to him entering the race, forgive me for getting blog reader whiplash.
The fact that Mr. Versace desired to simply declare his candidacy then first talk to actual citizens of the 18th before he told all to the assembled media was clearly a mistake. Mr. Versace will have to learn that journalists have a thin skin and if they are in any way delayed or are second to get the story behind the great unwashed masses then they will quickly put that person in their place. Mr. Versace needs to learn who’s really important here and genuflect accordingly.
By the way, a campaign is not about one chance. And if Mr. Versace lacks the political competence and experience of someone such as Mr. LaHood who is a cheerleader for a shambles of a party who’ve walked us blindly and incompetently into war, tax and take their way to massive deficits then swim rat like from the sinking ship when Democrats demand a five day work week and accountability in lobbying ethics then, whew, give me more inexperienced and incompetent politicians.
And if you think Versace is a punching bag you’re not reading the leaves. LaHood’s early and petulant attacks and the trend numbers in the district show a clearly different picture. Not to mention the fact that voters in the 18th will have to make the very practical decision of whether they want to send a first term Republican to be a low-rung member of the new minority party.
I’m very sorry you and the assembled media felt delayed and ignored but you might want to consider that this race is about very REAL national issues. The vast majority of people who are fed up to here and then some don’t give a rat’s ass about the thin skin of local media.