Via Bernie Schoenburg:
The state AFL- CIO has picked its favorites for various races, including choosing a Springfield Democrat over one from the Peoria area to take on U.S. Rep. AARON SCHOCK, R- Peoria, next year.
DEIRDRE “DK” HIRNER of Springfield got the endorsement in the 18th Congressional District over CARL RAY of Washington, Ill., for the Democratic nomination.
Schoenburg noted United Food and Commercial Workers Local 536 of Peoria endorsed Ray, but this happened after Ray contacted them, and they never talked to Hiner.
My two cents: Ray came out early and has made health care reform the center of his campaign. And he’s gotten a lot of press. Hiner has been fairly quiet as a candidate.
I have to wonder if this endorsement is more about Hiner being an insider than about who resonates best with voters.
 |
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 
I don’t know if I would say Ray has received “a lot” of press, maybe some within the Peoria media market. But there are many more counties outside of Peoria, Tazewell and Woodford that he has had little to no exposure in.
Deirdre Hirner does not live in the 18th district. She lives outside of the district down by Springfield. Carl Ray lives in Washington, IL in the Peo-Taz region.
Hirner is an insider. She worked for two MISSOURI governors. She comes at this race with a sense of entitlement.
She tried to bully Cary Ray out of the primary after she got in late even though he had been campaining for nine months. She lied to a reporter. She called Mr. Ray to tell him he was likely to have trouble with his petitions required to get on the ballot and that his petitions were likely to be challenged. But then she denied that call was designed to get him out of the race.
She lied to a reporter when she tried to deny she is a lobbyist. She is a LOBBYIST FOR POLLUTERS. Her job is to water down environmental protections so industry can pollute more freely. Hirner is listed as a registered lobbyist on the state register of lobbyists!
She quit her job on November 1, so people would think she is not a lobbyist anymore. But it’s a charade. She just went from being on payroll as a salaried employee, to a contract consultant and still does almost the same job, with her same old office. The switcharoo was designed to deceive voters that she left the company. It was just smoke and mirrors to hide her day by day action on behalf of polluters.
If she wins the Democratic nomination, the Green Party will benefit from massive Democratic defections.
Carl Ray is genuine, and lives close by in the center of this district.
Amen, Raleigh! Especially to your statement that Hirner appears to feel “entitled” to the nomination.
Raleigh — can you provide more details on Hirner going from a payroll employee to a consultant?
Does it REALLY matter who goes up against Congressman Schock next year? Whoever the Democratic candidate is they’ll be running in a district that has not elected a Democrat since Woodrow Wilson, and the Eighteenth District is one of two Congressional Districts that went for McCain in the last election. Throw in Obama’s half hearted populism with his full blown corporate socialism is it any wonder the “Democratic base” *( a term I use loosely) will not be energized in 2010. God Bless Ray and Hirner, but they have an even steeper hill to climb.
Schock also has won the 92nd State House Disctrict three times in a row–his old State Rep seat. Twice in strongly competitive State Rep races and then he carried it in his Congressional race. It is the largest concentration of Democrats within the 18th Congressional District. Therefore Schock is strong in what should be the toughest part of his congressional district for a Republican.