Skip to content
  • Subscribe
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Instagram
  • Email
  • Home
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment
  • Features
  • Subscribe FREE to Ray Hanania’s Columns
  • Advertise
Suburban Chicagoland

Suburban Chicagoland

Original News, Features & Opinion

  • About
    • About
    • Advertise
    • Our Writers
      • Ray Hanania
      • Bill Lipinski
      • Aaron Hanania
      • Steve Metsch
      • Steve Neuhaus
    • Terms of Service
    • Privacy Policy
    • Reach Out
  • Sections
    • Opinion
    • News
    • Features
    • Seniors
    • Comic Strip
  • Library
    • Midnight Flight Book
      • Midnight Flight Introduction
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 1
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 2
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 3
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 4
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 5
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 6
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 7
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 8
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 9
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 10
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 11
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 12
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 13
    • Villages, Cities & Towns
    • Federal Office Holders
    • County Officials
    • Legislators
  • Seniors
  • Subscribe to Ray’s Columns
  • Comment
  • Podcast
    • Two Guys on Politics Podcast: A Centrist View on Politics
    • Two Guys on Politics
    • Ray Hanania on Politics Podcast
    • The Arab street Podcast
  • Submit a Press Release
  • Toggle search form
  • Clifford Law Group
    Chicago-Bound Amtrak train derails in Missouri with 243 passengers aboard breaking news
  • George Kemper, candidate for the 12th Illinois House District in the Republican Primary June 28, 2022
    GOP House candidate George Kemper condemns Feigenholtz Cartoon that attacks Catholics Chicago
  • Chicago Wolves defeat the Springfield Thunderbirds to win their 3rd American Hockey League Calder Cup Championship, June 25, 2022
    Chicago Wolves win their 3rd American Hockey League Calder Cup Championship Chicago
  • Chicago Wolves one win from Calder Cup Championship
    Chicago Wolves win over Springfield Thunderbirds puts them one away from Calder Cup championship Chicago
  • Morrison gets special attention at expense of taxpayers, column in the Regional News Newspaper June 23, 2022
    Sean Morrison gets special police protection at expense of other taxpayers Blogger
  • Cook County Commissioner Frank Aguilar
    Aguilar accuses opponent of faking endorsements Cook County
  • Chicago Wolves take Game 3 for 2nd win in the Calder Cup Finals 2022 over Springfield Thunderbirds.
    Chicago Wolves seize Calder Cup Finals lead over Springfield Thunderbirds Chicago
  • Cook County Sheriff Thomas J. Dart launched today a new Community Resource Center site where the public can walk in and secure assistance with a wide range of social services
     Sheriff Dart Launches New Community Resource Center Site  Cook County
  • San Francisco district attorney Chesa Boudin. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia
    Right from the Middle: Continuation of the beginning of the end Bill Lipinski
  • Convicted sex predator Anthony Martin, senior vice president at Cook County Commissioner Sean Morrison's company Morrison Security. Photo courtesy of the Cook County Courts
    Sean Morrison drops the ball fighting for Cook County Republicans Blogger
  • Two Guys on Politics Facebook Stream
    Two Guys on Politics podcast analyzes both sides of the Jan. 6 Insurrection Baby Boomers
  • Gary Grasso, Republican Candidate for Congress int he 6th District
    Grasso accuses Pekau of blatantly distorting his own record to deceive voters Cook County
  • Chicago Wolves take 2nd game of Calder Cup Finals June 20, 2022
    Chicago Wolves triumph over the Springfield Thunderbirds in second Calder Cup Finals game Chicago
  • Official Democratic Endorsements in the June 28, 2022 Primary election in Illinois
    Illinois Speaker Welch releases official Democratic Party endorsements Chicago
  • Springfield Thunderbirds take Game 1 of Calder Cup Finals from Chicago Wolves
    Springfield Thunderbirds take first game of Calder Cup Finals against Chicago Wolves Chicago
Orland Township Supervisor Paul O’Grady and Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White held a ribbon cutting ceremony to officially open the driver services facility in the Orland Township Building, 14807 S. Ravinia Ave., Orland Park. Also attending the ribbon cutting were (from left): Orland Township Trustee Antonio Rubino, Orland Township Trustee John Lynch, Senator Bill Cunningham (D-Chicago), Orland Township Assessor Rich Kelly and Senator Michael Hastings (D-Frankfort).

Illinois Secretary of State’s race is a mess

Posted on May 8, 2022May 9, 2022 By Ray Hanania 2 Comments on Illinois Secretary of State’s race is a mess
SHARE THIS STORY
            
 
  

Illinois Secretary of State’s race is a mess

Most elections are pretty much decided before voters even get to go to the ballot box. But the race for Illinois Secretary of State is wide open, but it’s a mess. No one is really talking about the real issues that exist in the massive statewide office that has more than 4,000 employees and provides so many important services to citizens. The focus is on race, politics and little else

By Ray Hanania

A lot of elections are pretty much cut and dry, easy to sort out and good and bad candidates are distinguishable. But that’s not the case in the race for Illinois Secretary of State.

There’s Alexi Giannoulias, a friendly guy who served one term as Illinois Treasurer from 2007 to 2011. I know him. Nice guy, but the kind of politician who only talks to you when he needs something.

Giannoulias has all the big bucks, more than $4.4 million in his campaign war chest, raising more than $500,000 just in the first quarter.

Then there is a guy like David Moore who grew up in the rough and tumble Robert Taylor Homes who was inspired to get involved in politics after hearing one of Mayor Harold Washington’s many moving speeches.

Orland Township Supervisor Paul O’Grady and Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White held a ribbon cutting ceremony to officially open the driver services facility in the Orland Township Building, 14807 S. Ravinia Ave., Orland Park. Also attending the ribbon cutting were (from left): Orland Township Trustee Antonio Rubino, Orland Township Trustee John Lynch, Senator Bill Cunningham (D-Chicago), Orland Township Assessor Rich Kelly and Senator Michael Hastings (D-Frankfort).
Orland Township Supervisor Paul O’Grady and Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White held a ribbon cutting ceremony to officially open the driver services facility in the Orland Township Building, 14807 S. Ravinia Ave., Orland Park. Also attending the ribbon cutting were (from left): Orland Township Trustee Antonio Rubino, Orland Township Trustee John Lynch, Senator Bill Cunningham (D-Chicago), Orland Township Assessor Rich Kelly and Senator Michael Hastings (D-Frankfort).

 

Moore is a real pick-himself-up-by-the-bootstraps story who has served as Alderman of Chicago’s 17th Ward since 2015. Moore has less than $39,000 available for his campaign.

Then there is Anna Valencia, who boasts the endorsement of retiring Secretary of State Jesse White. Valencia comes from the circle of clout having worked with the racist former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, although later she improved and worked as Campaign Manager in 2014 for U.S. Senator Dick Durbin, a very popular centrist with good programs.

 

Valencia was appointed in 2016 to the office of City Clerk by outgoing Clerk Susana Mendoza who is now the Illinois Comptroller. She was elected Chicago City Clerk in 2019.

Politics is so incestuous, I guess. Valencia has $1.1 million in her campaign war chest and probably will raise more with White’s backing.

If you just go by the money, Giannoulias has this wrapped up. If you go by clout, Valencia has White’s endorsement, who held the office of Secretary of State since 1998, or 24 years. But if you think other issues are more important, Moore has the most inspiring story.

Ray Hanania column on the Illinois Secretary of State's race

On top of all that is the issue of race, which in Illinois has always been a big factor in any election. Giannoulias is White, Moore in Black, Valencia is Hispanic.

In Illinois politics, they call that a “Rainbow Choice” selecting from three of the top racial constituencies. That means each candidate will have to try and convince voters in the other race categories to vote for them rather than for their “affinity.”

That’s why Giannoulias, the Daddy Warbucks of the election, is touting his friendship with former President Barack Obama, and playing basketball with young kids. Forget about the moral judgments here, Giannoulias is clearly pandering to African American voters.

Valencia has White’s endorsement, which is a big deal since White has been one of Illinois’ most successful African American office holders, although many believe his office had flaws, like poor service and employees who were difficult to work with. He is also very sensitive to criticism, some might say thinned-skinned for a public officeholder whose office is paid for by the taxpayers, you and me. 

Moore just has some ideas, but no money to get them out.

But what are all the important issues in this race for Illinois Secretary of State? No one really knows because the issues are not the focus of the public debate. In fact, I don’t know if there will be a debate.

Giannoulias has run two big campaign commercials so far with kids playing basketball. But here we are, eight weeks from the election, and Daddy Warbucks hasn’t once said in any of those commercials what he plans to do about all the problems that have plagued the Secretary of State’s offices.

Three Republicans are running led by State Rep. Dan Brady, another very decent guy, who has represented the 105th District since 2013. Two other Republicans are in the race, too, John Milhiser and Michelle Turney. I have never heard of them before.

None of the candidates have said anything about how they will address the Secretary of State’s problems. Skyrocketing costs have plagued the office for years. Long delays when you go to the SoS to get a license or anything.

One of those problems is the unresponsiveness of Jesse White’s staff and the delays in the office and the costs.

I remember standing in line for hours while one of White’s employees talked on the phone with a friend while working at the public “Window.” I wrote about that and White has never forgiven me.

Boohoo!

Many officials can’t take criticism. They pretend to be accountable.

The Secretary of State’s Office is so important. And costly to taxpayers. Prices have doubled and even tripled  in some cases, but no one wants to talk about that. What will the new SoS do to hold down costs, or make its 4,000 employees in 21 departments accountable?

One of White’s best ideas was to create satellite offices at local governments to help provide services to residents. Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau, a political extremist who sole focus is on himself not on the taxpayers, kicked the office out of Village Hall fudging the reasons hoping to blur it all. White simply moved the important office to Orland Township and Supervisor Paul O’Grady embraced it, one of the most important services that benefits all taxpayers.

Is that going to change with the new secretary of state?

Those are the issues I’d like to know more about from the candidates. I think taxpayers also want to hear about all that, too.

In a race where race is the most important factor, however, no one needs to speak to the real issues. They can pander to their racial constituencies or target the ones they need the most.

That’s too bad. Because I have a feeling that when this race is over, it’s going to cost the public even more than it does now to register our vehicles, get new license plates, driver’s licenses and keep state records, laws, and archives.

Voters are getting so little for an office that is so big.

That should be the focus of the candidate’s in this election. But, it’s not.

(Ray Hanania is an award winning former Chicago City Hall reporter. A political analyst and CEO of Urban Strategies Group, Hanania’s opinion columns on mainstream issues are published in the Southwest News Newspaper Group in the Des Plaines Valley News, Southwest News-Herald, The Regional News, The Reporter Newspapers. His Middle East columns are published in the Arab News. For more information on Ray Hanania visit www.Hanania.com or email him at rghanania@gmail.com.)

 

SUBSCRIBE BELOW

Subscribe to Ray's columns

Subscribe to Ray Hanania’s Columns

* indicates required field.

 

Select Email Format


Two Guys on Politics podcast with Former Congressman Bill Lipinski and former Chicago City Hall reporter Ray Hanania www.TwoGuysonPolitics.com

PS … Follow me on Twitter at Twitter.com/rayhanania. Fight back against #SocialMediaBigBrother

  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Ray Hanania
Ray Hanania
Ray Hanania is an award-winning columnist, author & former Chicago City Hall reporter (1977-1992). A veteran who served during the Vietnam War and the recipient of four SPJ Peter Lisagor Awards for column writing, Hanania writes weekly opinion columns on mainstream American & Chicagoland topics for the Southwest News-Herald, Des Plaines Valley News, the Regional News, The Reporter Newspapers, and Suburban Chicagoland.  

Hanania also writes about Middle East issues for the Arab News, and The Arab Daily News criticizing government policies in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Hanania was named "Best Ethnic American Columnist" by the New America Media in November 2007, and is the 2009 recipient of the SPJ National Sigma Delta Chi Award for column writing.

Email Ray Hanania at rghanania@gmail.com.

Follow RayHanania on Gettr.com, the uncensored Twitter Ray Hanania on Gettr, the new Twitter
Ray Hanania
Latest posts by Ray Hanania (see all)
  • Chicago-Bound Amtrak train derails in Missouri with 243 passengers aboard - June 27, 2022
  • Orland Park Police capture major theft ring - June 27, 2022
  • GOP House candidate George Kemper condemns Feigenholtz Cartoon that attacks Catholics - June 27, 2022
  • Tweet

SHARE THIS STORY
            
 
  
 
 
 
           
Blogger, Commentary, elections, Government, Illinois Legislature, Opinion, Orland Park, Orland Township, Politics, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland, Transportation Tags:2022, Alexi Giannoulias., Anna Valencia, David Moore, Democratic primary, Dick Durbin, election, Illinois, Jesse White, John Milhiser, June 28, Keith Pekau, Michelle Turney, Orland Park, Orland Township, Paul O'Grady, racist Rahm Emanuel, Rahm Emanuel, Republican Primary, secretary of state, Secretary of State's race is a mess, State Rep. Dan Brady

Post navigation

Previous Post: Right from the Middle: Why Democrats face Midterm election losses
Next Post: Mother ordered to pay divorcing dad’s attorneys’ fees

Related Posts

  • N95 Hospital quality coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic face mask.
    Coronavirus has changed our lives forever Blogger
  • Chicago Alderman Silvana Tabares, 23rd Ward
    Online forum hosted by Arab American Chamber of Commerce honors Tabares and Pappas Business
  • Reader slams Ted Bojanowski for his lies Blogger
  • State Rep. Chris Welch
    Welch bill aims to guarantee Need-Based Higher Education grants for four years Education
  • Illini second in World Series News
  • Democratic endorsed candidate Marie Newman at rally Sept. 4, 2020 hosted by the American Arab Chamber of Commerce and American Palestine Club. Photo courtesy of the American Arab Chamber of Commerce
    Newman urges removal of Marjorie Taylor Greene NewsWire

More Related Articles

NerdFest 2021, you’ll have access to hundreds of activities happening at this new festival on August 27-29 in the Quad Cities Hundreds of Activities Part of New NerdFest 2021 Entertainment
Cook County Assessor Fritz kaegi Property reassessments released for Lake Township Business
money $20 dollar bill, dollars, cash Illinois financial problems are a national joke Blogger
Pat Dowell,  Alderman and Committeeman of Chicago’s Third Ward, announced her candidacy for Illinois Secretary of State April 7, 2021 Ald. Pat Dowell Calls for Personal Dashboard for the Illinois Secretary of State’s Office  Chicago
Countryside Criterium. Photo courtesy of Steve Metsch Countryside Criterium packs ’em in News
Arab American Democratic Club Candidate and Leadership Forum March 25, 2021 Candidates for local office speak at Arab American Democratic Club Candidate and Leadership forum Chicago

Comments (2) on “Illinois Secretary of State’s race is a mess”

  1. Pingback: The Driver's Side" – News From The Motorist's Perspective | theexpiredmeter.com
  2. Pingback: Illinois Secretary of States race is a mess – news

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Login with your Social ID
  • OPINION COLUMNS
  • Morrison gets special attention at expense of taxpayers, column in the Regional News Newspaper June 23, 2022
    Sean Morrison gets special police protection at expense of other taxpayers
    June 24, 2022
  • San Francisco district attorney Chesa Boudin. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia
    Right from the Middle: Continuation of the beginning of the end
    June 21, 2022
  • Convicted sex predator Anthony Martin, senior vice president at Cook County Commissioner Sean Morrison's company Morrison Security. Photo courtesy of the Cook County Courts
    Sean Morrison drops the ball fighting for Cook County Republicans
    June 21, 2022
  • money $20 dollar bill, dollars, cash
    Right from the Middle: The China and Russia threat to the US Reserve Currency
    June 8, 2022
  • Sean Morrison just can’t stop himself from lying
    June 6, 2022
  • Ray Hanania Opinion Column published in The Regional News Newspaper, Des Plaines Valley Newspaper and Southwest News Newspaper Group newspaper chain June 1, 2022
    The Sean Morrison letter to the Judge I would have written
    June 1, 2022

Subscribe

  • Ray-Hanania-Newsletter-300-wide-Banner.jpg

Trending

  • Senior Care Home, eberhard 🖐 grossgasteiger on social or copy the text below to attribute. Nursing Home Violations f... Nursing Home Violations for First Quarter of 2022 The Illinois Department... posted on June 7, 2022
  • Jacob Bean, 24. Photo courtesy of the Tinley Park Police Department Charges filed after alter... Charges filed after altercation leads to death of New Lenox man Tinley Par... posted on June 3, 2022
  • Orland Park Police captur... Orland Park Police capture major theft ring After a string of retail theft... posted on June 27, 2022
  • Convicted sex predator Anthony Martin, senior vice president at Cook County Commissioner Sean Morrison's company Morrison Security. Photo courtesy of the Cook County Courts Sean Morrison drops the b... Sean Morrison drops the ball fighting for Cook County Republicans Republic... posted on June 21, 2022
  • Northwestern Medicine Opens Multi-Specialty Clinic in Orland Park Neurology, esophageal and hepatology services in one convenient location Northwestern Medicine Ope... Northwestern Medicine Opens Multi-Specialty Clinic in Orland Park Neurolog... posted on June 13, 2022
  • NEWS
  • Clifford Law Group
    Chicago-Bound Amtrak train derails in Missouri with 243 passengers aboard
    June 27, 2022
  • Orland Park Police capture major theft ring
    June 27, 2022
  • George Kemper, candidate for the 12th Illinois House District in the Republican Primary June 28, 2022
    GOP House candidate George Kemper condemns Feigenholtz Cartoon that attacks Catholics
    June 27, 2022
  • Chicago Wolves defeat the Springfield Thunderbirds to win their 3rd American Hockey League Calder Cup Championship, June 25, 2022
    Chicago Wolves win their 3rd American Hockey League Calder Cup Championship
    June 25, 2022
  • Chicago Wolves one win from Calder Cup Championship
    Chicago Wolves win over Springfield Thunderbirds puts them one away from Calder Cup championship
    June 25, 2022
  • Chicago Wolves take Game 3 for 2nd win in the Calder Cup Finals 2022 over Springfield Thunderbirds.
    Chicago Wolves seize Calder Cup Finals lead over Springfield Thunderbirds
    June 22, 2022
  • The-Kings-Pawn-Book-300-x-300.png

The Political Pundit

Political Pundit Aug. 24, 2021. Taliban thanks president for boxes of MAGA hats
  • WORD PRESS REVIEWS
  • MyCloud by Western Digital, a hard drive that doesn't last. Don't purchase Western Digital.
    Western Digital tubes its loyal customers for profit
    October 17, 2021
  • Macho Themes website front page. Don't buy their themes. They don't work
    Difficulties with Macho Themes for WordPress
    August 21, 2021
  • TECHNOLOGY REVIEWS
  • Netflix is the best streaming service, despite drop in stock price
    April 20, 2022
  • Book Cover "Laptop from Hell" by Miranda Devince
    Questions remain unanswered about Hunter Biden’s ties to Ukraine
    February 20, 2022
  • Amazon.com's "Day 1" tower in Seattle, WA in January 2017. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia
    Clifford Law to sue Amazon after employee is killed by tornado at downstate distribution center
    January 16, 2022

Follow Ray Hanania at
Gab.com, MeWe.com
IDobbinate.com,
Twitter, Facebook

Creative Commons License
All works on this website is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Do not edit original work. Give credit to the original source.

What We’re Reading

Arab News Newspaper Leading English Language Publication in the GulfArab News Newspaper

Ray Hanania on Politics
SW News Newspaper Group

  • SPORTS
  • Chicago Wolves defeat the Springfield Thunderbirds to win their 3rd American Hockey League Calder Cup Championship, June 25, 2022
    Chicago Wolves win their 3rd American Hockey League Calder Cup Championship
    June 25, 2022
  • Chicago Wolves one win from Calder Cup Championship
    Chicago Wolves win over Springfield Thunderbirds puts them one away from Calder Cup championship
    June 25, 2022
  • Chicago Wolves take Game 3 for 2nd win in the Calder Cup Finals 2022 over Springfield Thunderbirds.
    Chicago Wolves seize Calder Cup Finals lead over Springfield Thunderbirds
    June 22, 2022
  • Chicago Wolves take 2nd game of Calder Cup Finals June 20, 2022
    Chicago Wolves triumph over the Springfield Thunderbirds in second Calder Cup Finals game
    June 21, 2022
  • NEWS RELEASES
  • Senior Care Home, eberhard 🖐 grossgasteiger on social or copy the text below to attribute.
    Nursing Home Violations for First Quarter of 2022
    June 7, 2022
  • John B. Schulz, 36, of the 7400 block of Brookside Drive in Hanover Park
    Hanover Park Man Charged with Multiple Felonies After Attempt to Meet Minor for Sex
    May 27, 2022
  • State Rep Fran Hurley 35th district
    Hurley-led Measure to Support Families of Fallen First Responders Signed by Governor
    May 24, 2022
  • Orland Township hosts Job Fair
    Orland Township events: Walk & Talk program, and Summer Job Fair
    May 17, 2022
  • Liz Gorman hosts Forum for Republican Candidates May 20. Former Congressman Barry Goldwater Jr., the son of the former presidential candidate and conscience of the Republican Conservative movement, will be a keynote speaker
    Barry Goldwater Jr., son of former GOP Presidential icon, headlines Gorman Republican Forum
    May 16, 2022
Two Guys on PoliticsTwo Guys on Politics

John Kass Columns

Order the book PoweR PR; Ethnic Activists Guide to Strategic Communications
  • BUSINESS NEWS
  • Congresswoman Marie Newman, 3rd District Illinois
    House passes two bills sponsored by Congresswoman Newman to support small businesses and strengthen trade
    June 9, 2022
  • Orland Township hosts Job Fair
    Orland Township events: Walk & Talk program, and Summer Job Fair
    May 17, 2022
  • Closure notice from Mayor Lori Lightfoot for Arab and Muslim owned Citgo Gas Station at at 3759 W. Chicago Ave in Chicago.
    Mayor Lightfoot accused of targeting Arab and Muslim stores in gang crackdown
    May 7, 2022
  • John Husnick provides direction at Worth Township Career Fair
    Building Trades Career Fair offers opportunities for students
    April 29, 2022
Click this link to watch or use the widget below:

Click here to view the video on YouTube or use the widget below.
Email Ray Hanania for more information about performing at your event at rghanania@gmail.com.

Copyright © 2022 Suburban Chicagoland & Urban Strategies Group

Powered by PressBook Premium theme