RED RIBBON WEEK--And Other Political Games
I tried to get the NORTHWEST HERALD to give me permission to use their photo of Lou Bianchi cashing in that Red Ribbon street cred. No luck. Instead, here is a generic Red Ribbon graphic and a head shot of Bianchi.
Well, there is was on page 5 of Wednesday’s NORTHWEST HERALD. Lou Bianchi, the ethically challenged McHenry County States Attorney, got to take advantage of a friendly photo-op with Westwood Elementary students. And Bianchi, plagued by rumors of investigations in recent days looked mighty happy to get some good publicity.
It was all part of something called Red Ribbon Week, advertised as the oldest anti-drug education project in the country. I remember it well from my days as a building custodian at Briargate School in Cary. What ever educational components of Red Ribbon Week might be, the most visible elements of the annual observance were the big red ribbons that all children and staff were commanded to wear throughout the week. I believe it was the same in schools across the county. The ribbons were always emblazoned by the anti-drug slogan of the year and-more importantly-featured the name of the incumbent States Attorney in bold gold print. Every child in the county became a walking advertisement for the States Attorney. Better yet, Red Ribbon Week always fall just a couple of weeks before election day!
I see no evidence that a single child was ever saved from a life of drug induced stupor by the hoopla around Red Ribbon Week. But I have a keen eye for a political boondoggle when I see one.
Now Bianchi did not invent this scam. He is only the most recent of at least three Republican McHenry County States Attorneys to benefit from the free promotion. And Lou is not one to stare such a gift horse in the mouth. Even better he gets to be in the paper without his questionable use of public funds getting mentioned. Way to go Lou!
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Locals may wonder why I have not yet commented on the circus surrounding Bianchi and Bill LeFew, the McHenry County Republican Chair. As Dan Rather used to say when he was trying to be down home and folksy, I don’t have a dog in this fight. But it is entertaining to sit back and watch the Republicans devour one another
For those who have not followed the story, Bianchi has been in hot water lately for his careless spending habits. He has been caught putting parade candy and the like on his public account. Even the Republican County Auditor Pam Palmer choked on that. Parade appearances are patently political-at least when accompanied by dozens of “volunteers” in matching t-shirts and handing out candy while the Man himself shakes hands like no tomorrow. That’s a little different that sitting in an official “dignitary” car representing the office. There have been other irregularities too. Nickel and dim stuff, really, only a few thousand dollars a year for lunches, flowers, and other “office expenses.” In the old days it would have been considered a perk of office and no one would ever raise a peep. Unfortunately for Bianchi in the wake of more than the usual governmental scandals in Illinois, the public and press-and other prosecutors-have begun to take a dim view of such goings on.
Democratic County Chair Tom Cynor, acting on his own behalf, recently asked the County Board to withhold payment of the disputed “expenses,” but on the whole, this has been a totally intramural Republican dust up.
Indeed none of this would ever have come to light if LeFew had not become disenchanted by his hand picked States Attorney. Evidently LeFew believed that Bianchi was either behind or in support of moves by some GOP committeemen to oust him as chair or limit his power. Such infighting has been standard operating procedure since former chair Al Jourdan, a man who knew how to run a humming political machine with an iron hand, hung up the bull whip some years ago. There have been successive struggles between party “regulars” and conservative insurgents yearning for ideological purity.
LeFew, a former Mayor of Harvard was tapped as a peace maker a few years ago who could protect the old guard while moving the party generally to the right. In the process LeFew had to jettison some excess baggage, including the hard drinking former States Attorney Gary Pack who was tainted by a relentless murder prosecution of organic farmer Gary Gauger, later proved innocent when two motorcycle gang members were fingered for the case. LeFew backed the unknown Bianchi against Pack’s former top prosecutor. But the love match was not destined to continue.
Shortly after the first of the year LeFew began casting about for a candidate to run against Bianchi in the GOP primary. Even the washed-up Gary Pack was rumored to be coming back from Florida to give it another whirl, this time with the Chairman’s blessing. That trial balloon deflated quickly when no one could be found enthusiastic for old regime. So LeFew, who vowed never again to support Bianchi, was stuck with Dan Regna an ousted former Assistant States Attorney bitter that he was replaced by Bianchi’s minions. Regna bases his campaign on claims that Bianchi has “politicized” the office by allowing his assistants and staff to work and contribute to his campaign. The only trouble is that Regna did the same for his boss, former First Assistant Glenn Gable who ran against Bianchi in the last primary. Confused yet?
Not content with just putting his muscle behind Regna, LeFew has glommed onto the issue of Bianchi’s expenditures, if he was not responsible for bringing (through surrogates) the issue to light in the first place. Then last week he dropped his bombshell at the regular Republican meeting. He planned to resign in the near future, he said, because of a conflict of interest between his role as Party Chair and his job as County Treasurer. He said that someone had filed a complaint against Bianchi with Attorney General Lisa Madigan and with the Chicago Crime Commission and that he may some day have to turn over financial records to investigators.
The NORTHWEST HERALD reported that neither Madigan’s office nor the Crime Commission had received a complaint on Friday, the day after LeFew’s announcement. The complaints finally showed up on Monday. LeFew claimed he did not originate them. But he knew that they were going to be filed in advance. Hmmm. Something’s rotten in Denmark.
Despite LeFew’s attempts to swath himself in high minded ethics, just about everyone recognized it as a stunt meant to throw a bomb into Bianchi’s campaign while letting LeFew leave office before the GOP county ticket goes down in flame next year.
Voters in the county are tending more Democratic, the national party is in disarray, Congresswoman Melissa Bean has proved both resilient and popular, Bob Abboud is mounting a well funded challenge to Don Manzullo in the 16th District with State Representative Jack Franks’ formidable political organization behind him, and strong challengers are immerging in key County Board races. The top of the ticket promises to be swamped by who ever emerges as the Democratic Presidential Candidate and by incumbent Senator Dick Durbin. Demoralized conservatives, particularly the “family values” voters of the religious right, may sit on their hands and stay home in droves.
Over at the McHenry County Blog Cal Skinner reported that the real reason for LeFew’s resignation might lie in attempts by some to amend the party By-laws eliminating a requirement for a quorum of 50% of the committeemen for major party decisions. That would allow a handful of disciplined committeemen to seize control of the party at a lightly attended meeting. And the movement conservatives are nothing but disciplined. Of course any candidates the rump could put forward would be far too wacko to be elected in McHenry County, which may still tend Republican but which prefers to elect moderates.
It’s as good a time as any for LeFew to bail.
Democrats can simply sit back and watch the debacle. Whether Bianchi can salvage the nomination next spring or Regna takes it, the prize may not be worth the effort. With GOP party unity shattered and a nation-wide Democratic landslide looming, look for County Dems to caucus in a strong candidate for States Attorney next spring.