Better Government Association, Democratic State Central Committee Should Investigate Appointment Process of Kim Neely-duBuclet As New 26th District State Representative Filling Will Burns Vacancy
Contact Mark S. Allen 773-392-0165
On Saturday May 14th, the Democratic Committeemen of the Illinois 26th Legislative District, led by 4th Ward Democratic Commiteeman Toni Preckwinkle fulfilled their elected duties by selecting Mrs. Kim Neely-DuBublet as the new appointed State Representative of the 26th District to fill the vacancy of Will Burns, who is now 4th Ward Alderman. Some political observers and community leaders said that their process was over before it even started and could question as whether the seat and appointment was clouded by charges of "Pay To Play," because several of the Committeemen actually voting on the replacement did not openly disclose that one candidate was a fundraiser for their political campaigns?
Was this "good government" at work? Should the Democratic State Central Committee leaders of that district should have made this appointment to avoid any level of allegations of conflict of interest and not have the new appointment selection made under such a cloud. This process clearly does not reflect the "good government" and "transparency" that Preckwinkle and others have championed.
As you looked over the candidates and their promotional packages, eyes were wide open as one looked at the package of Ms. Neely-DuBuclet which states "Political Affiliations, Treasurer for State senator Kwame Raoul, fundraised for Alderman Toni Preckwinkle, State Senator Kwame Raoul, State Rep Will Burns, Alderman Leslie Hairston, Alderman Pat Dowell, City Treasurer Stephanie Neely, Judge Dominique C. Ross, U.S. Senate Candidate Barack Obama, Alderman LaTasha Thomas, and Mayor Rahm Emanuel,!!"
While other candidates thought that their level of public service to grassroots constituents, former campaigns for office, former newspaper endorsements, local name recognition, and other community service recognitions were the strength for being selected, the final selection of Neely-DuBuclet surely makes it appear that being a fundraiser for the political officials of the district and for the actual committeemen voting was the strength.
To avoid this cloud over the appointment, should not have the Committeemen that Neely-DuBuclet raised money for made this known to the public in the spirit of "full disclosure," or maybe recuse themselves from voting and let other committeemen with no financial connection to the candidates make the vote, or NO ONE thought to advise Mrs. Neely-DuBuclet against openly publicizing her financial relationships to the Committeemen voting for her to avoid this kind of cloud, or maybe it really did not matter to them all for people just need to accept that this is the way that it is despite their public positions against "Pay To Play" scenarios and "transparency" in government?
Even though Committeeman Preckwinkle stated that they wanted to select a candidate with the capacity to win the next election, there is no record of the new State Rep appointment as having any leadership roles in grassroots community organizing campaigns, political campaign management leadership, or actually being on the ballot where voters actually had a chance to vote for them.
There were other candidates like who have been publicly tested in political campaigns like former Green Party Nominee for U.S. Senate LeAlan Jones; former 26th District candidate Kenny Johnson who ran a close second to Will Burns; and Ranoule Tatum who has run four times for this seat and provided the votes for Burns' election over Kenny Johnson. And there were other candidates who had much stronger records on public policy campaigns for grassroots constituencies like activist Marc Loveless, Attorney Al Hofeld, Jr, Longtime CHA Housing leader Francine Washington and others, but once again, all of this set aside for the selection of the insider political fundraiser for the elected officials of the area and the voting committeemen!!
So now the newly appointed State Rep Mrs. Neely-duBuclet could probably care less about the cloud over this process to many of her new constituents and proceed with going to Springfield to be sworn in and begin her tenure until voters have their final say in the 2012 election; and the Better Government Association may decide that this process was indeed "good government" and "transparent;" and The Illinois Democratic State Central Committee leaders may also decide that this selection and appointment does not deserve any revisiting and re-voting by those with no financial ties to any candidate/s, BUT always remember the bigger picture as to why so many ordinary citizens decide they have no reason by which to vote at all when it once again appears that grassroots service is not rewarded, in favor of political fundraisers of elected officials and voting Committeemen.
Lastly, some of the other candidates reflected how they would have ppenly "jumped for joy" and shouted "thank God" or other emotion had they been selected as the acting State Rep, the kind of public emotion that was allegedly NOT SHOWN when Mrs. Neely-duBuclet's appointment was announced. Well that can just be her style but of course to many there was no "surprised" emotions to display when it was clear from the start that this decision was made before the meeting even started.
Tagged 26th district, democratic state central committee, illinois politics, kim neely-duBuclet, kwame raoul, ranoule tatum, toni preckwinkle, will burns
https://theblacklist.net/
Comments