New Generation of Leadership My Ass!

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I especially love this part: "Leitch said Friday that he proposed the amendment at the urging of Peoria attorney and lobbyist Matt Jones on Ardis' behalf, so the mayor and other council members could enjoy the flexibility of considering all 18 candidates."

Seems to me that having an old law (designed to prevent abuse) overturned so that a friend can vote with you on the council is a rather Ran$burg type thing to do.
From Today's Journal Star:

Holding your liquor (license), public office too Governor signs exemption that opens door to some Peoria council candidates

Saturday, June 4, 2005

BY MATT BUEDEL

OF THE JOURNAL STAR

PEORIA - Gov. Rod Blagojevich signed legislation Friday allowing some public officials to hold liquor licenses, which would give some Peoria City Council candidates the right to retain their licenses if chosen to fill a vacant at-large seat.
Senate Bill 945 changed existing law to permit people with a "direct interest" in the manufacture, sale or distribution of alcohol to become members of city councils or county boards, though mayors, board presidents and law enforcing public officials still can't hold liquor licenses.

Officials who do hold licenses will be banned from voting on liquor-related matters under the new law.

Three of the 18 candidates for the City Council seat vacated by Mayor Jim Ardis after he won election in April have liquor licenses and under the old law would have had to give them up if chosen to fill the seat.

Those candidates are Mary Ardapple Dierker, owner of Apple's Bakery Northside Market, George Jacob, president of Brewer's Distributing Co., and Patrick Sullivan, a Peoria developer and owner of Kelleher's Irish Pub.

Sullivan on Friday dismissed the notion that the three received any special treatment and called the original law outdated. He said the exclusion of people who have liquor licenses from public office makes them "second-class citizens."

"I do what I'm supposed to do," he said. "Anyone in the world can run for office. . . . Why am I being punished?"

Asked if he would have given up his license if he was chosen for the vacated council seat, Sullivan said, "Yes."

"I feel that strongly about this city," he added.

Jacob and Ardapple Dierker could not be reached Friday afternoon.

Dan Gillette, who unsuccessfully ran for the 5th District Council seat in April and is vying for the open at-large seat, said the change to state law doesn't impact the selection process for a new council person.

"I don't want to say it's right and I don't want to say it's wrong," he said. "I think the best man will win the job."

Several other candidates could not be reached for comment Friday.

State Sen. Terry Link, D-Lake Bluff, proposed the Senate bill May 19. State Rep. David Leitch, R-Peoria, sponsored the bill in the House and proposed an amendment that made the bill effective as soon as the governor signed it.

Leitch said Friday that he proposed the amendment at the urging of Peoria attorney and lobbyist Matt Jones on Ardis' behalf, so the mayor and other council members could enjoy the flexibility of considering all 18 candidates.
Ardis, who didn't return phone calls Friday afternoon, has said he and the council should fill the position by early July.

So... Ardis pulled Leitch's strings so he and the council could consider all 18 candidates.

I don't think so.

Try one candidate.

Good buddy Pat Sullivan.