Capitol Files: Green Party could benefit from indictment news

Posted on 10-14-06- News-Gazette.com

Capitol Files: Green Party could benefit from indictment news

Gov. Rod Blagojevich has not been charged with any wrongdoing, but the ongoing federal corruption investigation and the new indictment against one of his top advisers could definitely hurt his reelection bid. Exactly how much remains to be seen.

"It is not enough to defeat him by itself, but it puts his campaign on the defensive," according to Dick Simpson, head of political science at the University of Illinois Chicago.

The allegations of public corruption could help Republican Judy Barr Topinka come from behind or keep disgusted voters away from the polls altogether, but they could also provide a surge of support for Green Party gubernatorial candidate Rich Whitney, who is coming to town on Monday.

Whitney is expected to talk about education, the state budget, clean energy, health care, ethics and more at a noon rally on the University of Illinois Quad and at a 6 p.m. event at 151 Everitt Lab, 1406 W. Green St., U. The day ends with a fundraising reception at 7:30 p.m. at Jerusalem Restaurant in Champaign.

Local Green Party county board candidates Kostas Yfantis and Joe Futrelle will also be at the events, along with Tom Abram, who is challenging state Rep. Naomi Jakobsson, D-Urbana, and Republican Rex Bradfield in the 103rd District House race.

To learn more about Whitney's stance on the issues, visit www.whitneyforgov.org.

Campaign calendar

The League of Women Voters of Champaign County, the Champaign County Farm Bureau and the Junior League of Champaign-Urbana have scheduled two candidate forums for later this month.

State representative candidates Jakobsson, Bradfield and Abram are scheduled to attend the first forum from 7 to 9 p.m. on Oct. 27 at the Champaign County Farm Bureau Auditorium, 801 N. Country Fair Drive, C. The event will also feature Republican Champaign County Clerk Mark Shelden and his opponent, Democrat Michael Richards.

The second forum, from 7 to 9 p.m. Oct. 30, will also be at the Champaign County Farm Bureau Auditorium. It will feature candidates in the race to replace 52nd District state Sen. Rick Winkel, R-Urbana, who is retiring at the end of this term.

Democrat Mike Frerichs, Republican Judy Myers and Socialist Equality Party candidate Joseph Parnarauskis are all scheduled to appear, along with Champaign County Township Supervisor Linda Abernathy, who will discuss any questions about the township tax rate referendum.

Frerichs has scheduled several "Meet Mike" events from 7 to 8 a.m. at area eateries. Here is the schedule: Monday, Century Cafe in Rantoul; Tuesday, Ross Village Pub in Royal; Wednesday, Lincoln Family Restaurant in Ogden; Thursday, Philo Tavern in Philo; and Friday, Vips in Danville.

On Monday, Oct. 23, Frerichs will be at 5 Star Family Restaurant in Danville, followed by the Slaughter House Restaurant in Potomac on Tuesday, Oct. 24 and Deluxe Restaurant in Danville on Wednesday, Oct. 25.

And Myers has scheduled two more "Java with Judy" events. She will be at Ross Village Pub in Royal from 6:30 to 7:30 a.m. on Thursday, and at Two Brothers Family Restaurant in Westville from 6:30 to 7:30 a.m. next Saturday, Oct. 21.

Farmers' friend

The Illinois Farm Bureau ACTIVATOR Committee on Monday gave State Rep. Chapin Rose, R-Mahomet, its Friend of Agriculture Award. The award is for incumbent legislators who have at least a 60 percent voting record on Farm Bureau issues such as eminent domain, livestock management and property taxes.

"We appreciate the willingness of our representatives to listen and act on behalf of agriculture," said a statement from Scott Bidner, president of the Champaign County Farm Bureau Political Involvement Committee.

Rose is unopposed in the Nov. 7 election.

Kate Clements is Capitol bureau chief for The News-Gazette. Her column appears on Saturdays. You can reach her at (217) 782-2486 or via e-mail at kclementsnews-gazette.com.

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