It must have been Lake County State's Attorney Michael Waller's legal arguments --- the one's he uses in court all the time --- which swayed Sheriff Mark Curran to endorse his re-election bid on Wednesday. Or maybe it was that jail stint that caused Curran to see the GOP light. That would be after he connected with the Almighty.
Besides that, what is it with this election season?
First, Iowa Republican Congressman Jim Leach endorses the Democratic presidential ticket. Then, Connecticut Sen. Joseph Lieberman, who ran for vice president as Democrat Al Gore's running mate in 2000, takes the podium at the Republican convention to support the McCain-Palin ticket. Now, Democrat Curran, who once worked for Waller, crosses party lines and backs his former boss and the boss of his wife, who runs the State's Attorney's child support division. Maybe it was that jail stint that caused Curran to see the GOP light.
Will Curran's next step include going Republican? He wouldn't be the first Democrat in Lake County to switch parties, The Hound has been told by older and wiser folks. Let's see, Circuit Clerk Sally Coffelt was elected in 1980 as a Democrat and switched to the GOP; then there was Circuit Court Judge Charles Scott, who couldn't get elected as a Democrat, but once he turned, he went on the bench.
Or will Waller repay the favor and endorse Curran in two years? Waller two years ago stayed with the party line and endorsed then-Sheriff Gary Del Re. That took political fortitude.
This must be a stinging rebuke for Lake County Democrats. And, memo to Pete Couvall, the party's vice chairman and hatchetman: The Democratic Party didn't elect Curran in 2006. Del Re did. The voters got that sheriff then.
Waller got his sheriff this time around. The Hound will guess Dem party chieftain state Sen. Terry Link is starting the vetting process for a primary opponent for Curran in 2010. Elephants may never forget, but mules pack one nasty kick if crossed.
As a Dem I will not have a Curran sign in my yard when he runs for re-election. Maybe he should switch parties now.
THE HOUND SEZ: J. Ted, you sound so demoralized. And, it's not even 2010. Here's a bet The Hound is making in Lost Wages, Nev.: State's Attorney Michael Waller wins re-election and in two years steps down and Sheriff Mark Curran is named state's attorney --- as a Republican! How do you like that scenario? Any bettors out there?