Some Reality in the 2014 Campaign Season

As usual, the 2014 campaign season was chock full of activity, as the candidates talked it up in trying to win over voters, and the commentators talked about the candidates all the time.

Fortunately, some of the candidates became real for me in a way beyond all the talk in the final two weeks before Election Day.  On Friday, October 24, I attended an event with Bruce Rauner at Good Earth Greenhouse in River Forest.  There was quite a throng of people present during the evening.  Mr. Rauner showed up well after the event started, though, but I was glad he did show up before I had to leave for another engagement.  I stood near the entrance of the place, and shook his hand before his handlers whisked him through a side entrance to the stage where he gave a few remarks.  There was abundant energy in the room as he made his case for being the person who could tackle the task of changing the state government and bringing Illinois back to a state of greatness again, and how lots of people, even Democrats, made a point to tell him he had their votes.

While awaiting Mr. Rauner, one of the people mingling among all the attendees was Tom Cross, Republican candidates for State Treasurer.  I had the opportunity to shake his hand and chat very briefly with him as he was making the rounds.

A few days later, on Tuesday, as I was biking to work, I stopped by the entrance of the Oak Park Avenue Green Line station, and there were two people there handing out campaign literature.  It turns out that one of the them was none other than Paul Schimpf, Republican candidate for Attorney General of Illinois.  He was handing out these cards with his biographical information and legal experience on one side, and a recipe on the others side.  He told me he got the idea for a recipe/campaign card while working with a Minnesota politician a few years ago.  The recipe he featured was a simple one he used to make while stationed in Guantanamo Bay.  I made a point to tarry for a couple of minutes to talk with him.  He seems like a pretty good person, and I was glad to have the chance to meet him.

A few days after that, on Friday, an unsuitable biking day, I got off the Oak Park Avenue bus, and walked over to the same station entrance to see the Hoy front page.  There was a large group of people there handing out campaign stickers, and I could tell they were promoting the Democratic Party.  Soon enough, I realized that US Senator Dick Durbin was standing there, meeting and greeting with voters.  (Illinois State Senator Don Harmon and Oak Park Village Board President Anan Abu-Taleb were standing next to Senator Durbin.)  I definitely disagree with his politics overall, enough to decline Dick Durbin stickers from the people who offered them to me, saying I wasn't going to vote for him.  But in that moment, I felt like putting politics aside to relish the opportunity for the first time in my life to meet in person a US Senator, in my own neck of the woods of all places, and chat with him briefly.  That was certainly an interesting way to get the day revved up.

After spending a chunk of time on the following Sunday morning doing my voting research, Dad put the idea into my head of early voting, so I went over to Oak Park Village Hall to do just that.

And then came Election Day, which brought quite a change in atmosphere.  When this day comes around, there's a sense of "finally, it's here and and the campaigning is done", as the voters get to speak, and then the results.

I have mixed feelings about the results.  First and foremost, I was disappointed I didn't have the opportunity to vote yes for the redistricting reform amendment to the Illinois Constitution.  I am hopeful, though, that despite being blocked by Mike Madigan's cronies, a new effort will soon arise and finish the task.

As for the candidates, it's unfortunate that the only candidate with substantive pro-life views in the governor's race was Chad Grimm, the Libertarian candidate, which is unusual for a Libertarian.  Pat Quinn and Bruce Rauner are not very committed to the pro-life cause, and so that made my decision of which gubernatorial candidate to vote for difficult.

I also recognize that given the stances of Bruce Rauner and Mike Madigan/the heavily Democratic-controlled Illinois General Assembly, they are both in a position to lock horns, and it's going to take effort for them to work together.  It's certainly also going to take effort for President Obama and the Republican-controlled Congress to work together, especially considering the Republicans don't have veto-proof majorities in either House.

But overall, I can say I'm pleased with the results of the November 2014 elections.  It's good that Bruce Rauner will bring a fresh presence to the Illinois governor's office.  And furthermore, Mr. Rauner is a tough person, and won't allow himself to be turned into a pawn, like Pat Quinn was by Mike Madigan.  While it's hard to say how things will turn out once the real work begins, the beauty of the democratic process is that in a few years, we have opportunity to change things up again in another election.

So congratulations Bruce Rauner and Evelyn Sanguinetti.  Godspeed to you and all those elected as you head off into your new terms of office.

Bruce Rauner speaking at the Good Earth Greenhouse event on Friday, October 24, 2014

Way to go Bruce Rauner!