THE ILLINOIZE: Irvin goes up on TV today...Gryder jumps into 14th congressional..."Sick Leave Initiative" for teachers introduced
January 25, 2022
Good morning and happy Tuesday.
It is 154 days until the June 28 primary election and 287 days to the general election.
I’m excited to have my political columns appear in Shaw Media newspapers. They operate seven daily newspapers in the suburbs and northern Illinois and I’ll appear in their pages every couple of weeks. Here is my first from yesterday on Republican gubernatorial candidate Richard Irvin and his difficult path to the GOP nomination.
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Let’s get to it.
IRVIN LAUNCHES TV TODAY
Richard Irvin’s campaign is using an influx of cash from wealthy businessmen to launch his first television ad buy this morning.
The Irvin campaign wouldn’t release the ad ahead of time (in fact, the campaign spokesperson didn’t return my call or text), but here’s what I’ve been able to find out:
The ad will focus on crime, the top issue for Republicans in 2022. It’s a spot heavy on “law and order” (not THAT Law & Order) and will highlight Irvin’s support for his local police department. He has claimed he increased the number of officers on the street and increased the police budget, but I’ve had some people close to city government dispute that, so we’ll dig more into that.
You’re also likely to see the Irvin campaign play up his executive experience. They’ll argue two of his opponents are current or former super minority legislators while the other two are business guys who don’t know how government works.
As soon as I get the video or the script, I’ll send it to subscribers then post it on the website.
Funding the new ad buy is $1.2 million in cash reported late last night from wealthy business types across the state. It’s a bit of a “who’s who” from Ken Griffin’s speed dial, including $250,000 donations from Craig Duchossois, James Frank, Mundelein based MacLean-Fogg Group, run by Barry & Duncan MacLean, and $100,000 each from former U.S. Ambassador to Belgium and the European Union Ron Gidwitz and former Chicago Tribune (and Chicago Cubs) owner Sam Zell.
Interestingly, there’s a $250,000 contribution on the list that, frankly, we can’t find anything out about. It’s listed as Braveheart Investments, Inc., with an address in Delaware. Delaware is a typical dumping ground for business registrations, so that’s not surprising, but I did quite a bit of digging last night and there’s almost nothing that exists publicly about the company. So, expect some shell company allegations to come from opponents in 3…2…1…
I’ve asked the Irvin campaign this morning if they can identify a website, office, or owner of Braveheart. My guess is it isn’t William Wallace. I’ll let you know if they respond.
The buy starts this morning and it includes broadcast all over the state and cable in Chicago, Rockford, and central Illinois.
The ads will only run on FOX News on cable in Chicago, Rockford, Champaign-Decatur-Springfield, and Peoria-Bloomington. The cable buy is about $55,000.
Not all of the broadcast buy is available as I write this early Tuesday morning, but it looks like they’re buying all of the network stations in Chicago for the next week.
WLS (ABC)- $74,375
WBBM (CBS)- $69,350 (includes $45,000 for a :30 commercial during AFC Championship game Sunday)
WMAQ (NBC)- $51,650
WFLD (FOX)- (not available at writing)
WGN- $47,100
So, that’s one week of Chicago broadcast for at least $250,000. I don’t have all of the downstate markets available, but they will be less expensive than Chicago.
There will be some of the chattering class out there wondering why this fundraising report doesn’t include anything (obvious, at least) from billionaire Ken Griffin. Don’t be surprised if all of Griffin’s friends in Republican politics give first to keep the Irvin campaign afloat, keep his name out of the headlines, and then dive in a little later with a giant check.
I’m recording all of the morning shows on Chicago broadcast today, so I’ll at least have a script for paid subscribers sometime shortly after you get this newsletter.
It should also be noted that GOP candidate Jesse Sullivan is also up on cable this week. He’s spending about $90,000 in a two week buy. It’s only on FOX News in Chicago, Champaign-Decatur-Springfield, Rockford, and Peoria-Bloomington.
KENDALL BOARD CHAIR GRYDER RUNNING IN 14TH
We told you right before Thanksgiving that Kendall County Board Chairman Scott Gryder of Oswego was considering a challenge to Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (D-Naperville) in the new 14th congressional district.
At the time, Gryder said he had been “encouraged to run by some local Republicans and business owners.” He called himself a “pro-growth Republican who is tired of the nonsense in D.C., Springfield. and Chicago.”
Gryder also sought the Illinois Republican Party chairmanship last year. He is an attorney and executive with a commercial title company in Chicago.
Yesterday, Gryder filed paperwork with the Federal Elections Commission to jump in the race.
He didn’t comment on the record when I reached him yesterday, but Gryder is jumping into a competitive primary against a Democrat who narrowly beat back a GOP challenger in 2020. Though, her new 14th district did become more Democratic.
If he formally launches a campaign, Gryder faces former radio talk show host Mike Koolidge, Kendall County GOP Chairman Jim Marter and small business owner Jack Lombardi in the GOP primary. Gryder would likely be considered by donors as the most “competitive” candidate against Underwood in November.
PRITZKER ROLLS OUT TEACHER COVID SICK LEAVE AGREEMENT
I found this interesting yesterday. From the Governor’s office:
This joint initiative provides the following protections for educators, school employees, and their families:
Paid administrative leave for every employee of a public school district established under Article 10 or Article 34 of the School Code, public university, and public community college who is
• fully vaccinated or has received the required doses to become fully vaccinated within five weeks of the effective date of the Act and
•who is required, or whose child is required, to be excluded from school because of a positive COVID-19 test result or close contact with a person who had a confirmed case of COVID-19
•has been required by the school or school district policy to be excluded from school district property due to COVID-19 symptoms
Restoration of sick leave for every employee of a public school district, public university, and public community college who
•is fully vaccinated or has received the required doses to become fully vaccinated within five weeks of the effective date of the Act, and
•who has previously used their sick time because they or their child were required to be excluded from school because of a positive COVID-19 test result or close contact with a person who had a confirmed case of COVID-19
•has been required by the school or school district policy to be excluded from school district property due to COVID-19 symptoms.
Maintains wage protections in HB 2778 for all hourly school employees, including but not limited to, custodial, transportation, food service providers, classroom assistants, or administrative staff. This protection applies for the entire 2021-22 school year, including any days that a school has already closed or switched to e-learning which caused the paraprofessional to go without pay or take their own earned paid time off.
The Governor vetoed HB2778, which unlimited sick leave to be returned to school employees no matter their vaccination status. It passed with minimal opposition in October. Obviously, though, the Governor wants to limit this to vaccinated employees and the teachers unions are on board.
Clearly, the Governor wants a better relationship with teachers unions than Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot has with the Chicago Teachers Union.
CONGRATULATIONS
Congratulations to 2021 PAR intern Ben Szalinski, who has joined The Daily Line as legislative reporter. He had been working at the Northwest Herald in Crystal Lake. Welcome back, Ben!
Also to Tina Sfondeles, formerly of the Sun-Times and the real POLITICO team in DC, who has returned home to join Mac Strategies Group as Vice President, Public and Media Relations. Welcome home, Tina. Keep McLaughlin in line.
THAT’S IT FOR NOW
Subscribers get an exclusive newsletter tomorrow. We’ll have a Free for All Thursday, and back with more for subscribers Friday. It’s non-stop around here.
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Have a great day.