Candidate Facebook Weekend: Schock, Bost, Cross, Topinka, Demmer, Dold, Kirk, Roskam, Mendoza, Rauner, Senger

This is the last weekend recap before tomorrow's General Election here in Illinois.  Let's take a spin around Facebook to see what the candidates were up to in the home stretch!

Congressman Aaron Schock joined Bruce and Diana Rauner and Lt. Governor candidate Evelyn Sanguinetti at a rally downstate.

Congressional candidate Mike Bost spent the weekend contacting voter door-to-door.

Treasurer candidate Tom Cross and Comptroller candidate Judy Baar Topinka joined forces for a tour of the state including a stop in Rockford...

Where they were joined by State Representative Tom Demmer:

Congressional candidate Bob Dold was joined by United States Senator Mark Kirk and Congressman Peter Roskam in the 10th District where they helped 'get out the vote' for Dold's campaign:

Chicago City Clerk Susana Mendoza attended the rugby game at Soldier Field this weekend.  

Governor's candidate Bruce Rauner was joined by a big crowd at a rally in Hickory Hills:

And Congressional candidate Darlene Senger was joined by ILGOP Chairman Tim Schneider at her campaign HQ where volunteers were busy hitting the phones.

Judy Topinka and Tom Cross Barnstorm Illinois In Final Days

With just one full day between now and the opening of the polling places, Tom Cross - candidate for Illinois Treasurer and Judy Baar Topinka - candidate for Illinois Comptroller hit the state at a series of meetings, events and campaign stops.

Great to see Cross and Topinka partnering up to share their message and encouraging voters to get out and vote on Tuesday!

More #TBT Awesomeness From Sheila Simon

On Tuesday, it appears that incumbent Judy Baar Topinka is going to 'lap' her challenger Sheila Simon in the Illinois Comptroller's race, but we hope that defeat won't send Sheila Simon away from the political scene for at least one reason:  her pretty rad "Throwback Thursday" posts.

We've said it before (post here) but we'll say it again:  she does #TBT *right*!

Here's her latest...check out the young Paul Simon rockin' the bowtie at home...

Judy Baar Topinka Endorsed By Chicago Tribune

Judy Baar Topinka joins Tom Cross in picking up the endorsement from the Chicago Tribune.  In her race for Comptroller against Sheila Simon here in Illinois, the Tribune commends her work and says she deserves four more years:

Republican Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka has served in the legislature and as state treasurer. She ran for governor in 2006 when Illinois, regrettably, re-elected Rod Blagojevich. She has served as a healthy check on Democrats' broad control of government. 

As comptroller, she has the duty of managing the checkbook of a state that is perpetually behind in paying its bills. People who provide services to the state tell us Topinka has done a good job assisting social service and health care providers that don't have deep pockets. They move to the front of the line for payments so deadbeat Illinois doesn't sink them. 

Topinka also deserves praise for transparency. She has instituted an online ledger of state finances that includes everything from employee salaries to state contracts.
...Simon presents some solid ideas on streamlining the comptroller's office. But then, Topinka makes a compelling case that she has streamlined. Theory, meet practice. Topinka is endorsed.

Judy Baar Topinka Secures Quincy Herald-Whig Endorsement In Comptroller's Race

Judy Baar Topinka's campaign for re-election received a boost this weekend from the Editorial Board of the Quincy Herald-Whig where they endorsed her campaign.  Calling her time in the Comptroller's office a 'success story', the Whig says Topinka deserves even more time to serve the voters of Illinois:

ILLINOIS COMPTROLLER Judy Baar Topinka has transformed her agency into one of the few success stories in state government, earning our endorsement for re-election as the state's chief fiscal officer. 

...Going forward, Topinka is seeking to configure more than 260 state computer systems used by the state so that communication and coordination between offices does not require data re-entry.

She has championed plans to combine the offices of comptroller and treasurer in a move that could save $12 million by eliminating duplication in those offices. The Illinois Legislature has not taken action on that proposal. 

Topinka has a long history as an effective officeholder. She served three terms as Illinois treasurer after spending four years in the Illinois Senate and 10 years in the Illinois House. 

During her time as treasurer, Topinka transformed the investment arm of the office toward greater speed in connecting with financial markets. She promoted the Bright Start program at a time when returns on the college education funding program were consistently good. 

...Topinka has a long record of achievement as a statewide elected official, and the office of comptroller is better for her time there. She has earned another four years.

Judy Baar Topinka Endorsed By Daily Herald, "She Earned A 2nd Term"

The news for the Republicans up and down the ballot keeps getting better as Judy Baar Topinka joins her ballot-mate Tom Cross in securing the endorsement from the Daily Herald.  Topinka is running for re-election as the Illinois Comptroller against current Lt. Governor Sheila Simon.

From the DH:

Incumbent Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka has been a mainstay in state politics for more than 30 years, serving in the Illinois House, Senate and three terms as state treasurer. Now seeking a second four-year term as comptroller, Topinka's trademark enthusiasm and energy has not waned. In her first term, the 70-year-old Riverside Republican created an online ledger to allow for more transparency of state finances while also trimming the budget and head count in the office, which oversees check writing for the state. She understands state finances and the workings of the state legislature, which gives her some leverage as she tries to push legislation and a constitutional amendment to combine the comptroller's and treasurer's offices. "I can be a horrendous nag," she said. We like her passion about her role and on the issue of combining the offices. She has earned a second term.

Is Chris Kennedy Hedging His Bet On Democrats? Sure Looks That Way...

Last week, you'll remember that we pointed out how University of Illinois Board of Trustees Chairman was headlining a fundraiser for the DuPage County Democrats.  That post is here.

You'll also remember that the DuPage Democrats billed this fundraiser as "Mike Frerichs and Sheila Simon Join Chris Kennedy on 9/24".  Here's a screenshot of the DuPage Dems blog post calling supporters to join Frerichs and Simon as he supports both candidates and the full DuPage slate of candidates:

What makes this more interesting is that this morning, the Judy Baar Topinka campaign - who is facing the very same Sheila Simon who Chris Kennedy just headlined with at the DuPage Democrats event - posted an A1 that includes a juicy nugget about a new donor:

Chairman Christopher Kennedy appear to be hedging his bets, eh?

Listen...we don't blame him.  With Judy Topinka up 23% on Sheila Simon in this Comptroller's race, it makes all the sense in the world for him to back Judy.

Sheila Simon Won't Get Shut Out!

Courtesy of her Facebook Wall, Illinois Comptroller candidate Sheila Simon shows off the fact that she's leading incumbent Judy Baar Topinka.

Being up 1-0 might be the only lead Sheila Simon sees in this race.  Unless...the City of Carbondale magically turns in their ballots early on November 4th so Sheila can show a bigger lead before the rest of the totals come in?

Latest Poll On Comptroller's Race: Topinka Up 23%, Winning In Chicago

In a new poll of 1290 'likely' Illinois Voters, the firm Communications Express has found that a majority are siding with incumbent Judy Baar Topinka over challenger Sheila Simon.

The margin is 23% with Topinka polling over 50% of the total voters.

More interesting and, frankly, concerning to the Sheila Simon for Illinois Comptroller campaign is that the poll shows Judy Baar Topinka taking 42% of the votes in the City of Chicago and pacing ahead of Simon in the biggest block of Democrat voters.

There isn't a category that Simon tops Topinka and unless Judy implodes here, this thing appears over.

Judy Baar Topinka Is Trying To Fix The Mess In Illinois

Illinois Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka is on the front lines of dealing with the disaster that the 3-headed monster of Governor Pat Quinn, Speaker Mike Madigan and Senate President John Cullerton have created when it comes to the state's finances.

She' been pretty innovative on how to 'do more with less'.  From the Sun-Times:

Illinois for several years has been delaying the payment of billions of dollars in bills for months at a time. This has caused schools, hospitals and social service agencies to borrow money, cut jobs and services and take on personal debt. 

Topinka boasts that she has implemented a policy of prioritizing payments for not-for-profit and service agencies that serve the state's most vulnerable residents. She says there are "no favorites" but that she works with state agencies, lawmakers and vendors themselves to understand which situations are most dire.

Make no mistake, Illinois.  We got in this mess because of the total control the Democratic Party has had on our state.  They have veto-proof majorities in both chambers in Springfield and we've had three terms of Blagojevich/Quinn to drive us further into debt.

We need to send Judy Topinka back to the Comptroller's office.  And...she needs your help.  Go over to her site and sign up to get involved.  

Candidate Facebook Weekend: Bellock, Bost, Topinka, Rauner, Sandack, Schimpf

Monday morning means a recap of candidate events and appearances from the weekend.  Without any delay, let's see what the candidates were up to this weekend in Illinois:

State Representative Patti Bellock hung out with Secretary of State Jesse White in the suburbs at a charity walk:

Congressional candidate Mike Bost was the Grand Marshall at the Apple Festival Parade in Murphysboro.  And..in Southern Illinois fashion, he was driving a tractor?!?

Illinois Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka was out at the Mexican Independence Day Parade in Chicago and met lots of folks:

Governor's candidate Bruce Rauner attended the Southwest Cook County Republican Picnic and fired up the troops:

State Representative Ron Sandack was marshalling the DuPage County faithful at his newly opened campaign headquarters.  In attendance were Bruce Rauner and his running mate Evelyn Sanguinetti, former State Senator Kirk Dillard and State Senator Mike Connelly:

Illinois Attorney General candidate Paul Schimpf went with the Illinois Federation of Republican Women Bus Tour at stops in Kankakee, Moline, Peoria, Murphysboro, Champaign and Naperville:

Comptroller Candidate Sheila Simon Sure Does "Throwback Thursday" Right! #TBT

She may be running a long-shot campaign that isn't picking up much traction against incumbent Judy Baar Topinka for Illinois Comptroller, but current Lt. Governor and Comptroller candidate Sheila Simon sure does one thing well:  Throwback Thursday posts on social.

Even when/if she loses in November, we here at the Truth Team sure hope she stays active in politics - and thus - stays active on social if for nothing else than her #TBT posts.

Check out these two gems she posted the past two weeks.  Really fun stuff to see with her family history in politics here in Illinois.  Keep it up, Sheila!

Sheila Simon Lets Loose On Judy Topinka, Still Trails "Badly" in Polls

Over on the Illinois Observer, David Ormsby covers the latest twists in the Illinois Comptroller race where challenger Sheila Simon is now accusing incumbent Judy Baar Topinka of skipping out on a few meetings.

He does a nice job summing up the current state of the race.

As pointed out, Simon is in bad shape and flailing about for relevancy:

Judy Baar Topinka came under attack this week from opponent Lt. Gov. Sheila Simon over the comptroller’s attendance record at pension investment meetings. 

Since being elected Comptroller in 2011, Topinka, a member of the Illinois State Board of Investment, which manages pension assets for state employees, General Assembly members and judges, has missed 17 out of 37 meetings, including “almost every” Emerging Manager Committee meeting where investments in businesses owned by women, minorities or people with disabilities are voted on and sent to ISBI for ratification, Simon’s campaign charged on Tuesday. 

Simon’s campaign, which has struggled to get attraction against the popular Topinka, also criticized the comptroller for missing an Emerging Manager Committee meeting where State Street Global Advisors was tapped to manage a $450 million portfolio despite it being under investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission for overcharging clients and misleading investors about subprime mortgage investments.

Unfortunately, for the Simon campaign, we're thinking our take on the situation is what most voters will be thinking:

Our take?

Judy Topinka Continues To Roll Sheila Simon in Comptroller Race

The latest poll from the folks at Reboot Illinois and We Ask 'Murica have her growing her lead and taking 1 out of every 3 voters in Chicago.

A new Reboot Illinois Illinois comptroller poll finds incumbent and veteran Illinois politician Judy Baar Topinka with a significant lead over Democratic challenger Sheila Simon. 

Despite the inclusion of Libertarian candidate Julie Fox, whose party won a spot on the Nov. 4 ballot last month, Topinka had her best showing yet among the three Reboot Illinois/We Ask America polls conducted thus far on the comptroller’s race. The latest poll, conducted Sept. 2 among 1,064 likely voters, gave Topinka a nearly 20-point lead over Simon, who opted to run against Topinka over seeking re-election as Pat Quinn’s lieutenant governor. 

Topinka had an 11-point lead in a June 17 Reboot Illinois poll and was 19 points ahead in a July 31 Reboot Illinois poll.

Good for her.  Good for the Republican Party here in Illinois.  Keep it up, Judy and Team!

Comptroller Judy Topinka Still Rockin' The Straw

We like that move, Judy.  Reminds us of our mother.

Candidate Facebook Weekend: Rodney Davis, Judy Topinka, Larry Kaifesh, Paul Schimpf, Darlene Senger

We're back in the saddle here at the Illinois Truth Team and it is Monday, so that means we take some time to look around on Facebook and see what the campaigns have been up to the past few days.

Here are the highlights:

Congressman Rodney Davis walked in the the Mt. Auburn Farmer's Picnic Parade.

Illinois Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka hung out with some beauties and llamas.

Congressional candidate Larry Kaifesh 'suited up' in Gilberts.  Pretty impressive.

Paul Schimpf was out in DeKalb County for their local Republican Party Pig Roast.

Congressional candidate Darlene Senger - along with a HUGE crowd - walked with the Kendall County GOP in the Montgomery Fest Parade.

And Illinois Treasurer Dan Rutherford went for a jog and spotted this cute deer.

Latest Poll Shows Judy Baar Topinka Way Ahead of Sheila Simon for Illinois Comptroller

Via RebootIllinois:

Illinois Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka has a 19-point lead over her Democratic challenger, Lt. Gov. Sheila Simon, according to a new Reboot Illinois/We Ask America poll. 

The poll, conducted July 31 among 1,005 likely voters in the November election and with a margin of error of 3.1 percent, showed that 22 percent of Democratic respondents support the Republican Topinka, who also registered 31 percent among Chicago participants — a strong showing for a Republican candidate. 

“Current State Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka has opened up a 19 point lead, perhaps aided by recent endorsements including one from the powerful Illinois Education Association,” said Gregg Durham, chief operating office of We Ask America. “Nearly 22 percent of self-proclaimed Democrats say they’d vote for her, and she’s enjoying a sizable lead with Independents. Being over 50 percent overall is another indicator of her overall strength. While lots can change between now and November, Ms. Simon has an uphill battle to catch up.”

Did Sheila Simon Really Comment On A 'Child Of A Politician' Working At SIU?!?

Wait a second....is Illinois Comptroller Candidate Sheila Simon (the child of a 'famous' Illinois Politician) really trying to make some hay out of Judy Topinka attempt to get her son a job teaching at SIU?

Looks that way based on this Facebook post from Lt. Governor Simon:

All we have to say is...

Let's take a quick peek at Sheila Simon's biography courtesy of Wikipedia.  Hmmm...she's the daughter of Former US Senator Paul Simon.  So...let's check off the box for "offspring of famous politician".

Now...where or where did she work?

If you said SIU - the very same place Judy Topinka was talking about - you'd be right!  *ding* *ding* *ding*.

We don't think the irony here in Illinois politics can get any thicker than this...  (but...election season isn't quite here yet, so who knows!)

Was Comptroller Judy Topinka Trying To Help Her Son?

We were tipped the story that the Sun-Times ran yesterday that showed Judy Baar Topinka telling *something* about her son to Illinois Governor Pat Quinn.  

Illinois Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka, a Republican, stood beside Gov. Pat Quinn at the July 7 public event in Downstate Washington, announcing $11.6 million in state money to boost communities hit by the 2013 tornados.

When the event concluded, Topinka, who may not have known her microphone was still live whispered to Quinn about her son, asking if the Democrat could help “... get my son to SIU? He loves to teach. He’s got the qualifications.”
Quinn responds: “I know him, too.” 

Topinka then clearly repeats: “SIU. SIU. SIU,” before slapping Quinn on the shoulder.

Gotta tell you: If you can't help your own son, who can you help?

Candidate Facebook Weekend Roundup: Topinka, Schimpf, Rutherford

Lots of campaign activities from this past weekend and much of it posted on Facebook for supporters and fans to check out.

Have you connected with us on Facebook?  "Like" our page here:  https://www.facebook.com/iltruthteam.

Here are a few from folks we're watching out there on the campaign trail (and at home!):

Illinois Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka hosted and participated in an 'adopt-a-pet' event in the City of Chicago.

Post by Judy Baar Topinka.

Illinois Attorney General Candidate Paul Schimpf and supporters walked in a parade in Marine, Illinois.  Great campaign slogan, right?

Post by Schimpf for Illinois.

Current Treasurer Dan Rutherford and former Governor's candidate had a busy weekend around the house.  He spotted some new guests on his property...

Post by Dan Rutherford.