MONEY FLIES for PAWAR’s seat— THOMAS departs WVON — UNION backs PRITZKER and conservative McCANN Presented by Facebook

By Shia Kapos ( [email protected] ; @shiakapos) with Garrett Ross ([email protected]; @garrett_ross)

Good Tuesday morning, Illinois.


THE BUZZ: With Chicago Alderman Ameya Pawar not seeking a third term, his 47th Ward seat is up for grabs — and oh, are they grabbing. This race has big money — for an alderman’s race— and lots of candidates.

It’s also located in the ward where Mayor Rahm Emanuel lives. The front-runners in raising cash are Michael Negron, the mayor’s former policy chief, and Eileen Dordek, a social-worker and women’s activist. Each has raised well over $100,000 for an election that’s still six months away (the city elections are in February).

Emanuel isn’t listed as a donor to either camp, but his friends have been generous. Donors to Negron’s campaign include businessman Michael Sacks and his wife, Cari, who have given a combined $11,200. Sacks is confidante of Emanuel’s, even described as “the Rahm whisperer.” Former Deputy Mayor Steve Koch has given $2,500, as has former mayoral adviser David Spielfogel, who’s helping run Negron’s campaign.

Others giving to Negron: real-estate tycoon Al Friedman (known as the mayor of River North); hotelier Laurence Geller, restaurateur Rich Melman; CBRE Chairman Bob Wislow, and entrepreneur Matt Pritzker (cousin to gov candidate J.B. Pritzker).

With friends like that it’s no wonder Negron has $160,000 on hand for the race.

Dordek has a big family network of donors, including her sister, businesswoman Amy Dordek Dolinsky. She’s also received donations from Sidney Herman, Emanuel’s good friend and fishing buddy; Herman’s sister, Lucy Moog (the 43rd Ward Committeeman); and numerous attorneys who work with Herman at the prestigious Bartlit Beck Herman Palenchar & Scott law firm. Dordek has $127,000 on hand.

Other candidates for the aldermanic seat include civil rights attorney Matt Martin, who’s raised more than $78,000; former real-estate-developer turned Marmalade restaurant owner Gus Katsafaros, who’s raised $14,200; Midnight Circus in the Parks co-founder Jeff Jenkins, who has $8,200 on hand; and schoolteacher James Karalus, who’s raised under $1,000.

MORE BUZZ: Esteemed journalist Charles Thomas has stepped down as co-host of WVON’s Morning Show. The move comes a few days after POLITICO published the ties his co-host Maze Jackson had to Republican candidates. WVON said in a statement that Thomas’ departure is the first of “several major personality changes that will be taking place before the end of the year.”

Thomas joined the morning show after retiring from ABC-7 following a 45-year career in journalism. His plan was to stay a few weeks at WVON, but that turned to 13 months. Thomas brought journalistic integrity and encyclopedic knowledge of politics to the show, which often features politicos discussing the city and how it works. In the statement, Midway Broadcasting Corp. Chairman Melody Spann Cooper said, “I thanked Charles for his tremendous commitment and contribution to the station and the community. We were honored to have him for such a short stay and look forward to assisting him in his future endeavors of building his brand in the Black media landscape. We know there are big things on the horizon for him.”

CAMPAIGNS

— SCOOP from POLITICO’s DC Playbook: The Congressional Leadership Fund, the House GOP leadership aligned super PAC, has reserved $2 million in television advertising in Chicago to boost GOP Rep. Peter Roskam. Republicans were down on Roskam a few months ago, so this might be a sign that Roskam’s political standing is improving. CLF is making additional reservations throughout the week.

— Union endorses Pritzker or McCann over Rauner, discounts ‘spoiler’ talk, by Sun-Times’ Tina Sfondeles: “Democrat J.B. Pritzker and ‘Conservative Party’ candidate Sam McCann now have the endorsement of the Operating Engineers Union Local 150 in the governor’s race, which says it included the Downstate senator so that conservative union members won’t vote for Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner or sit out the election entirely. The union’s support for McCann is largely viewed as a way to steer votes away from Rauner, who has been dubbed one of the most vulnerable governors in the country.” Story here

— Reverse Gainer: Why she walked right up to mayoral pool — but won’t dive in, by Sun-Times’ Fran Spielman: “Sources who have spoken to her said she has alluded to yet another negative that was about to drop that might damage her political reputation out of the gate. The upcoming story reportedly centers around “Off the Sidelines Chicago” — a civic-impact-organization-turned-political-action-committee for women that Gainer created in 2015 with U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand. … ‘I’m always looking for the best way to serve Chicago,’ Gainer said. ‘Running for mayor is one way. After exploring, I’ve determined that it’s not the only way. I have big ambitious ideas for Chicago — to continue to serve the 10th district, revitalize neighborhoods through the landbank, and create job opportunities through apprenticeships. This is the best way for me to move Chicago forward.’” Story here

CHICAGO

— Lake Shore-to-Wrigley anti-violence march organizers don't want backing of mayor. They want his resignation. by Tribune’s John Byrne: “Honestly, when the mayor endorses a protest, it’s no longer a protest,” said the Rev. Ira Acree, pastor of Greater St. John Bible Church. “It becomes a parade, and we’re on serious business.” Story here

— Commentary: Chicago and jobs: We're doing it wrong, by Tribune’s Kristen McQueary: “Imagine if City Hall paid to South Works the attention it pays Navy Pier. And the riverwalk. And The 606 trail. Most of those areas benefit from private development anyway. They don’t need the mayor. We have a city government that continually makes it less attractive for employers to consider places like South Works. Mandatory wages and time off, the plastic bag tax and layered regulations, along with high sales and property taxes and workers’ comp costs — even as neighboring states implement policies attractive to job providers — exacerbate the economic disparities ‘progressives’ supposedly are trying to reduce. ... What we need instead is a complete rethinking of city government’s relationship with the private sector.” Story here

—Lori Lightfoot picks apart draft consent decree, by Sun-Times’ Fran Spielman: “Chief among [her] concerns is the 21-day period for public comment. Lightfoot said that’s too short to expect the general public to read and analyze the consent decree and should be extended to 45 days. Equally troubling is the absence of ‘specific dollars.’ Lightfoot pegged the annual cost for the monitor alone at $2.5 million and said the pricetag to implement the reforms is likely to be $10 million-a-year. She wants those dollar figures written into the decree itself.” Story here

—Gov. Rauner studying police consent decree and how to support ‘our heroes.’ by Sun-Times’ Tina Sfondeles: “Gov. Bruce Rauner on Monday said he’s still evaluating a consent decree draft that would govern the Chicago Police Department’s reform efforts, but stressed that police officers need better equipment, more training and enhanced relationships with the communities they serve.” Story here

— Family of man fatally shot by Chicago cop files wrongful death lawsuit against city, by Tribune’s Jeremy Gorner: “The video, made public last week by police oversight officials, showed the tactical officer fatally shooting Maurice Granton Jr., 24, as he tried to scale a fence while running from police June 6 in the Bronzeville neighborhood. The lawsuit alleges that Granton cannot be seen carrying a gun or other weapon in the police body camera footage released by authorities.” Story here

—Eight years on, SlutWalk Chicago is going strong, by Aaron Cynic for Chicago magazine: “Around 100 demonstrators marched from the Chicago Water Tower on the Magnificent Mile to Daley Plaza last Saturday, July 28 for SlutWalk Chicago , an annual protest against rape culture and police violence. The event is part of a worldwide movement that began in 2011, in response to comments a Toronto police officer made about sexual assault victims. SlutWalk Chicago—now in its eighth year—is the longest-running version of the protest.” Story here

STATE

— Illinois fairgrounds foundation falling short in fundraising, by AP: “A foundation formed by Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner two years ago to fundraise for repairing the state fairgrounds is falling short of its $2 million to $3 million annual target. ... People have raised concerns about whether the money could be put other uses, [Foundation Chairman John] Slayton said. Lawmakers have taken funds out of special state funds to balance the budget. But the foundation money is separate from those state accounts and cannot be swept by lawmakers.” Story here

AROUND THE COLLARS

— Prison recidivism projected to cost Illinois more than $13 billion over next five years, by WQAD: “The study by the Sentencing Policy Advisory Council found 43 percent of people released from Illinois prisons each year recidivate within three years and 17 percent within one year. Illinois Justice Project Deputy Director Sharone Mitchell Jr. said the report should sound alarm bells. ‘I think it shows that we should be talking about the recidivism crisis in the same tones that we talk about the property and pension crisis,’ he said.” Story here

DELEGATION

— Reactions mixed over new Trump farm aid proposal, by Illinois News Network’s Cole Lauterbach: “Republican Rep. Mike Bost said the program would help farmers while giving the president more time to negotiate better trade deals, adding that, ‘the United States has been taken to the woodshed for years by unfair and illegal trade practices by China and others.’ Democrat Cheri Bustos criticized the aid, saying farmers don’t want a hand-out and characterized Trump as a boy scout wanting a merit badge for ‘throwing a cup of water on a fire he lit.’ Republican John Shimkus praised the aid, saying he appreciates the president ‘fighting back against those who engage in unfair trade practices.’ Sen. Dick Durbin chastised Trump’s aid, saying it damages the country’s reputation as reliable sellers, and that the president “has put a lot at stake for Illinois and our rural economy.’” Story here

LEGISLATION

— New Illinois law requires schools to have policy accommodating academically gifted students, by Daily Southtown’s Donna Vickroy: “The Accelerated Placement Act calls for schools to have a policy for identifying and advancing a student who needs early admission to kindergarten or first grade or grade level or subject acceleration, according to the Illinois State Board of Education website. Though many districts already have in place a system for advancing or addressing students who would benefit academically from acceleration, the new law requires all schools to have a board-approved policy on the books.” Story here

— Innocence Project criticizes Gov. Rauner over bill veto, by State Journal-Register’s Doug Finke: “Jailhouse informants testify against others with an expectation that they will get leniency for their own crimes. The Innocence Project, though, said that sometimes results in unreliable witnesses offering false testimony. The group said jailhouse informants played a role in 17 wrongful convictions that cost Illinois more than $88 million in compensation. ‘False jailhouse informant testimony has put innocent people behind bars for crimes they did not commit, allowed the actual culprit to possibly harm others and cost state taxpayers millions of dollars,’ Innocence Project executive director John Hanlon said in a statement. ‘It is extremely disappointing that the governor vetoed legislation that would protect the innocent, improved public safety and reduce the burden on taxpayers.’” Story here

NATION

— GOP leaders yawn at Trump’s shutdown threats, by POLITICO’s Burgess Everett: Story here

— Trump’s offer to meet with Iran is surprise shift, by POLITICO’s Nahal Toosi: Story here

— Why Mueller needs a win in the Manafort trial, by POLITICO’s Darren Samuelsohn: Story here

Happy Birthday: James Floyd, a legislative assistant to Sen. Dick Durbin.

WHERE’S RAHM: at Douglass Branch Library in the morning to announce renovation/modernization of the library; then to Maggiano’s Banquets to join Library Commissioner Brian Bannon for a discussion on “Building Libraries, Building Communities.”

WHERE’S BRUCE: at Hoffman Estates PD to highlight shared municipal services; then to Elmhurst to take action on Senate Bill 2226, which focuses on the use of Epi-pens; and finally to Plainfield to take action on House Bill 66, regarding the Illinois Route 66 Centennial Commission Act.

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