Good Tuesday morning, Illinois. Time is ticking if you’re on a holiday schedule.
CALL IT A HOLIDAY CHEER: Congressman Kevin McCarthy, the former House speaker, headlined the annual holiday party hosted by businessman and political donor Jay Bergman at Gibson’s Steakhouse in Oak Brook on Monday.
This wasn’t a campaign event, but McCarthy gave a shoutout to fellow Republican Congressman Mike Bost, who was also there.
His message: Bost’s opponent in the 2024 primary, former gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey, has no business running for Congress, according to McCarthy. We hear the California congressman blamed Bailey for Illinois Republicans losing four congressional seats in 2022. It was some hyperbole since Democrats controlled how the maps were drawn for congressional seats last year. But he got his point across.
Word got back to Bailey’s team, who called Bost a “career politician” who’s “loyal to the swamp,” according to a statement to Playbook.
Also in the party room: Congressman Darin LaHood, Former Congressman Bob Dold, Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin (who lost to Bailey in last year’s primary), Illinois Senate Minority Leader John Curran, Illinois House Minority Leader Tony McCombie, state Sens. Sue Rezin and Jil Tracy, nonprofit and political fundraiser Lisa Wagner, Regional Transportation Authority Board Chair Kirk Dillard, former DuPage County Commissioner Greg Hart, public affairs consultant Thom Serafin, business consultant David Walsh, entrepreneur Sarah Frey and Kirkland & Ellis partner Sandy Perl, who got a standing O for his opening remarks supporting Israel.
Who invited McCarthy: his friend Richard Porter, a national committeeman of the Republican Party.
The holiday host: Bergman is an oil man (yes, he lives in Illinois) and an investor who has donated to Republicans and Democrats over the years, including to Donald Trump in 2016.
Another boost: Bost also was endorsed this week by Texas Congressman Ronny Jackson, the former White House physician to Trump.
BIG EXITS: Michael Fassnacht is stepping down as president and CEO of World Business Chicago, the city’s public-private job growth agency — and two high-profile business leaders who help promote the organization are leaving, too.
Saying farewell: Mellody Hobson, the co-CEO of Ariel Investments, and entrepreneur Mark Tebbe will step down from their positions with WBC, according to Crain’s. Hobson is vice chair of the group’s board and Tebbe, who has worked for three Chicago mayors, has led WBC’s innovation and technology council.
Fassnacht will stay through February, allowing for time to help with a transition. He’ll return to serving on the WBC board.
In a statement, Fassnacht thanked former WBC Chair and former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, Hobson, and current WBC Chair and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson “for their unwavering support and trust” throughout his tenure.
Fassnacht ticked off some of the accomplishments, including 291 corporate expansions and 145 new businesses to the city during his term.
Praise from the mayor: Johnson called Fassnacht an “exceptional’ leader and said he “will be missed.”
The upheaval isn’t unusual, given all Fassnacht, Hobson and Tebbe were part of the previous administration, but their exits come at a delicate time — just as Johnson is pushing for a real estate transfer tax plan that voters will consider in March. It’s a proposal that is drawing opposition from the business community, which also pushed back at recent passage of a new minimum wage hike and a paid leave law.
Expressing disappointment “I don’t see the focus on the business community that I have seen with other mayors,” he told Crain’s. “The behind-the-scenes work to make [economic development] happen just hasn’t been demonstrated.”
All is not lost: The governor’s office continues to recruit businesses to Chicago and the rest of the state with the work of Intersect Illinois, headed by John Atkinson.
RELATED
— City Hall and civic groups need to plot a downtown rescue: “With vacancy rates rising and valuations falling hard, civic and business leaders are starting to talk about what can be done with office space few companies want anymore,” writes Sun-Times’ David Roeder
If you are Mellody Hobson, Playbook would like to hear from you. Email [email protected]
At the Bloomington Public Library at 10 a.m. to launch statewide Dolly Parton Imagination Library partnership.
At the Salesforce Tower at 10 a.m. for a ribbon cutting ceremony — At East-West University at 12:30 p.m. for the Community Receivership Training event — At Soldier Field at 7:30 p.m. for the 100 Black Men of Chicago Holiday Party and Toy Drive.
No official public events.
Now that your candidate petitions are in, email me at [email protected]
— The primary picture became more clear Monday, the last day candidates could file petitions to run for office in 2024.
State’s attorney race: Eileen O’Neill Burke, a retired Illinois Appellate Court judge, filed more than 13,000 signatures to run as a Democrat for Cook County state’s attorney. Clayton Harris III, a public policy professor, already filed more than 27,000 petition signatures. Former Ald. Bob Fioretti filed 8,000-plus signatures to run as a Republican candidate.
IL-07 contest: Congressman Danny Davis faces five challengers, including activist Kina Collins, who’s lost twice to Davis; City Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin; Kouri Marshall, who served in the Pritzker administration; lawyer Rhonda Sherrod; and teacher Nikhil Bhatia. Sun-Times’ Tina Sfondeles has a full report.
Another challenge is brewing: Veteran Board of Review Commissioner Larry Rogers Jr. could face a tough contest against newcomer Larecia Tucker, a real estate broker and clerk in the Rich Township assessor’s office. Tucker is backed by Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi. Tribune’s A.D. Quig and Rick Pearson report
In the 95th state House District, businessman Kelvin Coburn of Chatham is facing Rep. Mike Coffey Jr. for the Republican ticket. It’s the first race for both, as Coffey was appointed to replace former state Rep. Tim Butler. The State Journal-Register’s Patrick M. Keck has a full rundown
In the 83rd state House District, Geneva Public Library Trustee Arad Boxenbaum will challenge incumbent state Rep. Matt Hanson of Montgomery for the Democratic nomination. The Daily Herald’s Eric Peterson has a full report
In the 31st state House District, Mark Hamberlin has withdrawn from the race against Democratic incumbent state Rep. Mary Flowers. He’s endorsing Michael Crawford instead.
— John Egofske is stepping down as state rep of the 82nd District effective Friday. Egofske announced last month that he wouldn’t seek election to the House. He was appointed in February after former House Republican Leader Jim Durkin stepped down. Egofske will continue to serve as mayor of Lemont. A public appointment process by party officials will begin to determine Egofske successor.
— Over vocal opposition, Manteno board clears way for $2B Chinese-owned EV battery plant: “The board’s 5-1 vote comes about three months after Pritzker touted his success in luring Gotion to build the plant in Manteno. The plant offers the prospect of creating about 2,600 jobs and fits into Pritzker’s goal of making Illinois a hub for electric vehicle manufacturing,” by Tribune’s Jeremy Gorner and Rick Pearson.
— Brighton Park migrant site construction halted pending environmental review: “Construction was halted Sunday pending an Illinois Environmental Protection Agency review of a nearly 800-page city consultant’s study that was released Friday night,” by Sun-Times’ Tina Sfondeles and Brett Chase.
— SCOOP: Chicago State University President Zaldwaynaka “Z” Scott and Athletic Director Monique Carroll are set to announce that Chicago State has accepted an invitation to join the Northeast Conference (NEC) athletic program, effective with the 2024-25 academic year. CSU has not been affiliated with any conference for two years. A predominantly black institution, Chicago State is in the early stages of raising $4 million to bring a Division I football program to the South Side.
— BGA notifies Johnson administration of possible Open Meetings Act violations: “Letter urges the mayor to keep access to City Council chambers open and equitable,” via BGA’s David Greising.
— CPD urged to relax restrictions on vehicle chases, by Sun-Times’ Fran Spielman
— Executive testifies about ex-Ald. Ed Burke’s involvement in Burger King project: “Dealing with an alderman was uncharted territory for me,” Zohaib Dhanani told the jury. The Tribune’s Jason Meisner, Ray Long and Megan Crepeau
— Why Burger King did not hire Ed Burke’s law firm, despite alleged pressure from the powerful politician: “Executive said the Klafter & Burke firm ‘seemed very disorganized,’” by the Sun-Times’ Jon Seidel.
— Chicago Public Media CEO Matt Moog stepping down: “Moog had served as CEO since 2020, overseeing the merger of the Chicago Sun-Times and WBEZ, creating the largest local nonprofit news organization in the country,” by WBEZ’s Dave McKinney.
— ‘The 4-years-fallacy’: CPS students struggle to graduate college in under 6 years, UChicago study says. “Just 30 percent of CPS graduates from the class of 2014 who immediately went on to so-called ‘four-year’ universities graduated in four years. The six-year graduation rate was over 20 percentage points higher at 51 percent,” by the Sun-Times’ Catherine Odom.
— College presidents face down House Republicans over antisemitism response, by POLITICO’s Bianca Quilantan
We asked when you barely made a deadline:
State Sen. Ann Gillespie: “I was in North Carolina visiting my sister when I got word I was a finalist in a baking contest. I needed to get samples of my cookies to the judges by 8 a.m. the next morning. So I caught an evening flight, started baking after midnight, stayed up all night so I wouldn’t oversleep and drove downtown to deliver the cookies on time.”
Joe Moore: “When I was in law school, I submitted a ‘case note’ for publication in the DePaul Law Review after pulling an all-nighter for not one, but two nights in a row.”
David Prosperi: “During the 1980 presidential campaign, two advance men, and I were to meet then-Gov. Reagan when his plane arrived. We thought it was landing at LaGuardia, but when we got there we learned it was at Newark. One of the advance men turned a 45 minute drive into 30 minutes by driving at a very high speed along the shoulders of the highways, and we pulled up just as the door of the plane opened.”
Cynthia Given, Richland County: “I began circulating a petition for county board on the final day of the 2022 filing period. I won (no opposition).”
Carrie Shepherd, Richard Ray and Andy Shaw all had stories to tell about working in the media and filing on deadline. (Can relate!)
For Wednesday, what are your tips for giving a toast?
— How the Biden team is planning for a postwar Gaza Strip, by POLITICO’s Nahal Toosi
— Congress provided $7.5B for electric vehicle chargers. Built so far: Zero, by POLITICO’s James Bikales
— North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum drops presidential bid after failing to qualify for fourth debate, by POLITICO’s Kierra Frazier
— Erin O’Malley is now a communications manager at GoFundMe. She was comms director for Rep. Mary Miller (R-Ill.).
— Joseph McGee is now senior legislative adviser in the governor’s office. He was manager of intergovernmental affairs in the lieutenant governor’s office.
MONDAY’s ANSWER: Congrats to Jim Montgomery and state Rep. Larry Walsh Jr. for correctly answering that Led Zepplin’s “When the Levee Breaks” is about going to Chicago.
TODAY’s QUESTION: Who was the Jacksonville, Ill., native who worked for Gov. Adlai Stevenson before joining President John F. Kennedy’s Cabinet? Email [email protected]
Cook County Board Commissioner John Daley, state Sen. Mike Porfirio, state Rep. Nick Smith, Illinois Insurance Department’s Dana Popish, University of Chicago Crime Lab Executive Director Roseanna Ander, Chicago Federation of Labor’s Isabel Dobbel, Associated Beer Distributors of Illinois VP Chris Coleman, political consultant Porter McNeil, University of Chicago law professor Eric Posner, hospitality exec Brad Young, PR pro Dionne Williams and Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation’s Amy Shivvers.
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