Sunday, October 20, 2013

As we wait

As we wait for news, wondering what the radio silence means, we here at MW were interested in the Anonymous post suggesting that this little blog would be enough to turn Rep. Kilquist against JALC.
The poster (whose initials could be BK) suggests that any criticism of Rep. Kilquist’s methods or motives would make him unwilling to go to bat for J.A.L. funding, once elected.

So, his loyalty to his past employer and his support for one of the biggest employers in his future district is so shaky that it would evaporate because of a few bloggers? He would shutdown the College out of spite, harming thousands of students and staff, just because someone suggested he was … right, not concerned with the good of the college. Ironic, huh?

So good work defending Rep. Kilquist, Anonymous. You make a good case, just not the one you may have intended.

And should he be elected and NOT fight for J.A.L.s full funding, well, there will be another election and this time Speaker Madigan may not dislike the primary opponent enough to fund his campaign

Sunday, October 6, 2013

What if Sheriff Kilquist becomes State Representative Sheriff Kilquist?

"I don't want to be labeled with anybody. I've never been labeled with anybody. Bill Kilquist is his own boy. Bill Kilquist is the voters' boy," he said. (Southern Illiniosan September 27, 2013)  –

Actually, Sheriff Kilquist has been labeled, and not all that long ago, it was by Don Brewer, Sheriff Kilquist became Don Brewer's boy when Sheriff Kilquist ran for the John A. Logan College Board of Trustees in April 2013.

Is it really possible that Sheriff Kilquist would be his own person?  When Sheriff Kilquist was drafted to run for his first time at John A. Logan College, it was at the bequest of Don (the Don) Brewer.  Why? To protect and enhance the careers of the sons of Brewer et. al.  And the sheriff has done a great job of doing what Brewer has requested of him – son protection, political patronage, paybacks, retaliation and more.

So we have to ask, when Sheriff Kilquist says he is his own person when wanting to run for Illinois State Representative, is he really his own boy?  The voters' boy?

During the last several months, Speaker Mike Madigan has been trying to recruit someone from Jackson County to run for State Representative for the 112th Legislative District. (This seat is currently held by Rep. Mike Bost)  There is already a Democrat running for that seat, (Tony Mayville) but Speaker Madigan had to have someone from Jackson County.  After asking about 20 other people to run, Sheriff Kilquist was asked and he said yes.  Sheriff Kilquist met with a representative of the Speaker's staff and he was promised some sort of financial support. Then Sheriff Kilquist traveled to Springfield to meet with a higher level representative of the Speaker's staff where they discussed staff and financial support for Sheriff Kilquist's campaign.  Finally, Sheriff Kilquist traveled to Springfield to meet with the Speaker! 

At this meeting, Sheriff Kilquist and the Speaker settled on an amount for the campaign - $1 million!!!  So, Sheriff Kilquist is really going to be his own boy? Will Sheriff Kilquist/Representative Kilquist (boy of Speaker Madigan) really help John A. Logan College in recruiting, retaining, and graduating students?  Or will Sheriff Kilquist/Representative Kilquist just be a tool for Speaker Madigan? 

Does John A. Logan College really need Sheriff Kilquist/Representative Kilquist?

 

Saturday, October 5, 2013

Who's boy?

According to the Southern, speaking about himself in the third person, Sheriff Kilquist said, "Bill Kilquist is the voters' boy."

He may soon have to choose whose "boy" he really is. Why won't (or can't) he confirm that he's running for state rep? What's he waiting for? Supposedly a couple dozen people heard him bragging about a meeting with M. Madigan, then suddenly... silence.

Maybe M. Madigan wasn't quite as encouraging as Sheriff Bill hoped he would be? Sheriff was also supposedly observed meeting with old-time pol Carl Maple. Did Maple tell him not to run? Would it matter? Maple's backed plenty of losers, so we're not sure what his opinions are worth.

A primary is expensive. Maybe M. Madigan decided the partys money would be better spent on the current candidate instead of on a primary. We here at MW remember that despite spending a boatload of money, Sheriff came in a distant second to Cheryl Graef, by a couple thousand votes. Is he worth gambling on now?

And of course his mentor, sponsor, guru, and partner-in-grime Mr. Brewer may have his own opinions about losing his closest ally before getting his son the Final Job.

Will Bill stay & be Brewer's boy? Run and try to be Madigan's boy? He's gotta make a decision soon, if it hasn't already been made for him.