A funny thing happened to Keith Turner on his way to the Lake County Board. He didn't make it. The Waukegan Democrat tapped to replace Waukegan Mayor Robert Sabonjian on the board tapped out like they do in ultimate fighting cage matches.
On Thursday, Turner sent out a release saying he will be appointed to Sabonjian's District 8 seat, one of three vacancies or soon-to-be-vacancies on the County Board. On Friday, he sends another saying he is tapping out, this four days before he's supposed to take the oath of office.
Now, there are rumors swirling around Turner about his sudden change of plans. Like there was something in his past that came to light. That powerful Lake County Democratic Party chairman, state Sen. Terry Link, D-Waukegan, told Dems on the County Board to oppose Turner's taking the Sabonjian seat. As for Turner, in a letter to supporters Monday, he said he made the decision to withdraw from consideration "on Friday morning after receiving confirmation of test results related to a medical condition."
OK, The Hound accepts that and hopes it's nothing serious. But then Turner spews: "I realize that the timing of this decision will generate a degree of speculation and rumor and though there was tremendous pressure placed upon the Democratic board members, I want to assure you that my decision was not made due to any political pressures or considerations exerted upon me from any quarter or in any way influenced by the lack of support I received from the Democratic Party." Huh?
And, depending on this medical condition, he says he intends to run for the seat in 2010.
What is it with Democrats that they can't fill open seats? Let's see, anybody recall how Democrats filled a U.S. Senate seat? Bet Republicans won't have this problem when it comes to filling the vacancies caused by resignations of District 19 Rep. Michael Talbett of Lake Zurich and District 18 Rep. Pam Newton of Vernon Hills. Isn't that why political parties have precinct committeemen and township and district organizations?
Or is this part of the continuing rift in the once-mighty Waukegan Democratic machine. After all, they couldn't elect a Democratic mayor in April. Maybe they're just tapped out.
Your take on the Keith Turner appointment farce isn't quite correct, Hound. Suzi Schmidt refused to present any name for consideration other than Turner. The Democratic members of the Board, as a unified group, objected to having Turner as the one and only name to be considered. Turner was thrice rejected by the voters within the 8th Board district for smaller office and in no way represented the people of the 8th, who elected a Democratic County Board representative in November 2008. It was Schmidt's responsibility to present to the full Board a Democratic replacement to fill that seat. Instead, she chose an individual who openly campaigned for Keith Gray, a republican State Senate candidate. Schmidt and Bob Sabonjian attempted to use the appointment process for their own political gain, rather than perform their duty which clearly is to appoint an individual who represented the stated intentions of the voters of the 8th District. That Schmidt and Sabonjian had the poor judgement to choose an individual with a murky background and complete lack of skills like Turner, speaks volumes. Schmidt and Sabonjian could care less about the people of the 8th District, they just wanted to jab Terry Link in any way possible. With such a deceitful motive, it is pure justice that they failed, utterly.
THE HOUND SAYS: Sez, you. This is justice? Playing political games with the good citizens of District 8? Sabonjian backing Turner sort of goes against his grain of people are going to be appointed on merit --- not who they know. Right. The Hound sees this whole power wagon match as just another reason to vote Republican come November 2010.
Looks like KT's past has finally caught up with him!
Doesn't he know we have this wonderful internet that allows common, everyday citizens like you or ME to google his name and find dirt?
NOT LIES, like Kitty used in previous campaign battles for his main man Eddie Washington, but TRUE information. Information that seems to have put a little hiccup in his plan to FINALLY hold a public office . . . ANY Office!
Ain't Karma a B**CH ???
HEY KT . . . . . . "WHAT GOES AROUND ~ COMES AROUND"
THE HOUND SEZ: The Hound "Googled" Mr. Turner and didn't come up with anything out of the ordinary. If you know more, Anonymous, do tell!
Why so few Democrats for seats?
Well you might want to consider how long the current Dem power structure has been in place, and how they are hostile to those who aren't 'one of them'. Younger and more vibrant Dems are just worn down and frustrated by the Hydes and Links who hold on to their seats and power bases; or wait to hand it off to a favored crony or family member. In a couple more years, Link, Covall and other GOBs will find themselves out on their ears and replaced by Dems from outside Lake County and are sponsored by ACORN, or some other 'public-interest' group.
Those such as Keith Turner are the ones that hang on, hoping that they will eventually pick off a choice seat as the GOBs die off or are forecd to retire. It's not that they are any good, it's just that they are the remains of some very slim pickings.
THE HOUND SAYS: Maybe that's what the county's Democratic Party needs --- outsiders to shake it up. Let's face it, the current crop certainly hasn't braved any new ground --- outside of helping Chairman Link keep his seat in Springfield.
Excuse me, Hound, but the "power wagon match," whatever that is, was played by the Republican County Board president and the Mayor of Waukegan. And they failed. So why does that equate to people voting Republican in 2010? To have MORE failed power games? To offer less representation of the voters' wishes? Your logic does not compute. The Democratic members of the Board knew immediately that Turner was both unqualified for the position AND planning not to act as a Democrat if appointed. The people of the 8th cast their ballots in 2008 and elected a Democrat. Was it a game to ask that those votes be given full faith and credit in this appointment? Not only does your comment fail some basic logic, but it betrays a cynicism and bias that clouds your thinking. And the end result is that your readers suffer. That Turner did not belong on the Board is without question; that Schmidt was planning to ram him down the throats of the members of the Board is without question, and therefore, justice for the people cannot be questioned when the truth of Turner's inappropriate background comes to light and prevents the plan of Schmidt and the Republican members as well as Mayor Sabonjian's officious, ineffectual intermeddling.
THE HOUND SAYS: Linc, we're certainly bilious on this topic, aren't we? You question The Hound's logic, but you certainly toss a wide blanket of conjecture masquerading as fact. "That Turner did not belong on the board is without question"? Who says, besides you, of course? The mayor of Waukegan thought he did. And why was Sabonjian involved in "officious, ineffectual intermeddling"? It's fair to say most pols can either anoint their successor or at least give a nod to someone who perhaps follows their thinking on various district or county topics, which is what Mayor Bob did. Nothing wrong with that, The Hound believes. Happens all the time. Let see, it happened in Cook County with Todd Stroger taking over for his father and in Springfield with Emil Jones' son taking over for his father. As for Chair Schmidt, she was following Sabonjian's wishes, and also taking a stab at Democrat Party Boss Terry Link. Also, a fair maneuver. This is politics, after all, and not croquet.
You didn't answer the question, Hound. How is any of this "another reason to vote Republican in 2010?"
And how do you get off saying that as a journalist anyway? Most of *them* hide their biases a little better. Because you are anonymous, you feel free to do this, I guess.
THE HOUND SAYS: The Hound biased? Surely, you jest, anonymous Ela Observer. Just look at the state the Democratic Party has left Illinois and you wonder "how is any of this 'another reason to vote Republican in 2010'"? You must be one of the growing number of Cook County Democrats fleeing to Ela Township because of Todd Stroger tax attacks to ignore what is happening.