Peoria Pundit

If Colleen Callahan does what you request and stops running that ad that says all those nice things about you, will you return all that cash she helped raise for you at that fundraiser she hosted in her home several years ago?

Just asking.

And I recall the last time Ray LaHood laid down the law about invoking his name. And then there’s that upstart candidate who POed Congressman Ray because he wasn’t following the rules.

From the Bloomington Pantagraph:

Democratic congressional candidate Colleen Callahan announced plans Tuesday to begin airing television ads aimed at Republican Aaron Schock’s apparent backdating of documents for his father while serving as a notary.

The latest salvo echoes Callahan’s recent criticisms of Schock, even though Peoria County’s prosecutor Monday said Schock wouldn’t be further investigated over reports he signed off on inaccurate documents.

That’s because no one found out about it until after the statute of limitations expired.

Schock, a state representative from Peoria, has called the problem a “clerical error.”

Well, that’s what he’s calling is now. At first, he called it a youthful mistake. A clerical error means you put something in the wrong file. What he did was deliberately put the wrong date on an official document.

Oh, and about that list of 116 mayors who’ve endorsed Schock:

“We rely on our congressman’s office for important federal assistance,” Forsyth Mayor Hap Gilbert said in a statement. “I am confident that Aaron Schock is well prepared to take up where Congressman LaHood leaves off without missing a beat.”

In other words: Odds are Schock is gonna win, and I don’t want to risk not being on his good side.

And this media blitz raises a question: Where is Callahan getting the money? Have big-wigs in the party decided she’s worth some largess from bulging Democratic Party coffers?

Please enable Javascript and Flash to view this Flash video.

(Press release)

Callahan unveils new television ad

SPRINGFIELD — Colleen Callahan, Democratic candidate for the 18th Congressional seat being vacated by Ray LaHood, today unveiled her newest television commercial. The ad begins airing Wednesday throughout the district.

In the ad, Callahan directly addresses the issue of personal trust, character and integrity in light of the recent revelation that opponent Aaron Schock back-dated legal documents he notarized while helping his father set up foreign tax shelters.

The Peoria County State’s Attorney’s office investigated Schock’s role in the scheme and found that while a crime may have been committed, the statute of limitations for any such misdemeanors has run out.

“We must keep in mind that just because Aaron can’t and won’t be charged for his role in the scheme doesn’t mean he did not commit the offense,” Callahan said. “There is no statute of limitations on honesty, trust and integrity. Aaron often has pointed out that the best predictor of future behavior is past behavior. I would agree with him completely.”

Callahan also renewed her call for Schock to release his personal tax releases from the years 2006 and 2007. He has steadfastly refused to do so. Both of Schock’s opponents in this race have made their personal financial records public on their web pages.

“I certainly have nothing to hide,” Callahan said. “Does Aaron?”

Callahan said her first priority in Congress will be to formulate and introduce campaign reform legislation that will require candidates for Congress to release their personal tax records along with the Federal Election Commission campaign filings already required by law.

“Transparency shouldn’t be just a character issue,” Callahan said. “It should also be a legal one.”

You can view the new commercial on our campaign website, www.colleencallahanforcongress.com, you can also check it out on You Tube.

(Press release)

116

(Peoria) Representative Aaron Schock was endorsed today by a record 116 mayors of cities, towns and villages all over the 18th District in his race for Congress.

These 116 mayors include active Democrats and Republicans, along with those who consider themselves independents.

“116 mayors coming together is a profound expression of faith in Aaron Schock,” said Metamora Mayor Paul Kouri. “This coming together is yet one more example of Aaron’s ability to bridge divides as he serves the people.”

“I believe we are on the verge of something big and something historic,” said Mayor Bill Glaze of Mt. Pulaski. “This incredible joint endorsement of Aaron is simply further proof of that.”

“We rely on our Congressman’s office for important federal assistance,” said Mayor Hap Gilbert of Forsyth. “I am confident that Aaron Schock is well prepared to take up where Congressman LaHood leaves off without missing a beat.”

“We are about to elect a Congressman who in a few short years will be a significant leader in Congress—never merely being an average member,” said Peoria Mayor Jim Ardis. “Aaron has never been average.”

“In this campaign Aaron Schock has been by our rural community more times than I can count,” said Mason City Mayor Dave Knieriem. “I trust him to work hard for us in Washington. He has the track record of going to bat for people he represents and he sure knows what he is doing.”

“Aaron Schock is down to earth, easy to deal with and genuine and that’s why this Democrat is proud to support him,” said Mayor Joe Rusciolelli of Riverton.

“The more negative his opponent attacks him, the more Aaron soars above it and inspires people,” said East Peoria Mayor Dave Mingus.

“Some of us on the east side of the Illinois River have been eager for the type of representation Aaron Schock has provided his state house district in Peoria for sometime now,” said Eureka Mayor Scott Punke.

Kouri concluded by saying, “ Aaron—the unprecedented support of these 116 mayors is yet more weight on your shoulders to measure up to the faith expressed in you. But my friend, I know you will rise to the occasion as you have repeatedly throughout your years—few in number but abundant in accomplishments.”

A couple of interesting items in the news today, and given Billy’s interest in being fair and balanced *cough*, I figured he would find these relevant. MSNBC reported today on the massive expenses being incurred by small communities across the country as both Republican and Democrat candidates make appearances at rallies and fundraisers.

Obama’s neighbors are learning firsthand the hassles that come with close encounters with presidential campaigns. And they are not alone. Across the country, when the candidates come to town, local taxpayers often pay dearly for the privilege of a quick glimpse or a handshake, not only in irritation but in cash.

The article cited some specifics. The following nugget was particularly interesting, as the circumstances were quite similar to a certain fundraiser held right here in Peoria when President Bush made an appearance for a little private fundraising for one of our own, State Representative Aaron Schock.

If other cities are any indication, it’s quite a chunk of money. When Obama visited Middletown, N.J., last month for a private fundraising dinner at the home of rock star Jon Bon Jovi, police estimated their overtime costs at $14,000.

Schock campaign Steven Shearer told me that after a review of campaign finance records, it appears that Barrack Obama has not paid one cent to any local government for expenses, fundraiser, rally or otherwise, private or public.

On the other hand, when the Schock campaign questioned the $38K bill sent to them by the city of Peoria (at the insistence of Ms. Callahan), the reaction of the media and the Callahan campaign would have made one think they discovered Schock eating babies.

Aaron, in good faith and with minimal resistance, paid the bill, even though he clearly didn’t have to and rarely is it ever done.

Reimbursement not required
Some cities have managed to work out reimbursement arrangements with the candidates’ parties. But such arrangements are ad hoc, and they are not the norm, because there are no laws or regulations saying the parties — or the federal government, when the FBI and the Secret Service are involved — have any obligation to pony up.

Which brings us to Notary-gate – which involved Callahan making as big a stink as she could to anyone who would listen and/or report (ah-hem) that Aaron 8 years ago at the age of 18 notarized a doc for his Dad that had an authentic signature but the wrong date. Although the document had been deemed irrelevant, it was more dead babies as far as Colleen was concerned, and Callahan smeared him to such a degree that she had otherwise intelligent people actually believing he forged and created false documents.

So today, WEEK reported that Assistant State’s Attorney Seth Uphoff reviewed the allegations (again at the insistence of Ms. Callahan who needs to be careful what she wishes for) and found no information to show official misconduct by a notary public and further, that Schock’s actions were neither willful nor negligent. Now if this isn’t headline news in the PJStar tomorrow I will start reading the Times Observer again and that’s a promise.

So at this point one can’t help but wonder what kind of rabbit Callahan plans to pull out of her hat next? Hey, here’s a good one. How about the one where she actually discusses the issues?

I didn’t receive the following press elease from the Peoria County State’s Attorney’s office. But It did manage to find it’s way into my inbox. Click to enlarge:

I kinda predicted this would happen. And while I agreed that there’s no statute of limitations on honesty, the State’s Attorney’s office is the wrong agency to do an investigation is there’s no possibility of a charge being filed.

Let the voters decide.

(Press release)

Colleen Callahan comment on Schock inquiry

“Just because the statute of limitations ran out doesn’t mean the offense wasn’t committed,” Callahan said. “It means no one knew about it in time to actually do anything about it. The statute of limitations never runs out on honesty, integrity and character. Now the court of public opinion must make its own judgment on November 4.”

Democratic Congressional candidate Colleen Callahan spent Friday traveling the 18th District making hay out of the burgeoning “Notarygate” scandal enveloping her opponent Aaron Schock:

During an appearance of Callahan’s supporters in Peoria, attorney and former congressional candidate Doug Stephens said the statute of limitations is likely up on any misdemeanor charges that could arise from the alleged backdating.

However, Stephens and other Callahan supporters say that’s not the point. They argue it’s about trust and Schock violated that trust when he signed his name as a notary on the documents.

I’m sorry. I am not Schock supporter. I think I’ve been perfectly clear on that point.

But the “point” of the criminal justice system is to decide whether or not someone should be charged with a crime, not helping voters decide whether a candidate “violated their trust,” or in this case, validate their lack of trust. If the statute of limitations has passed, then I hate to tell you folks, but there’s gonna be no charges against Schock. And if not, what possible reason would Lyons have to investigate this? The answer: No reason except politics.

If some voters believe this eight-year-old incident demonstrates that Schock cannot be trusted as a Congressman, that’s their right. It’s also Colleen Callahan’s right to promote that point of view.

Peoria County State’s Attorney Kevin Lyons is going to investigate whether or not State Rep. Aaron Schock broke any laws when he backdated tax-shelter documents for his father eight years ago.

Setting side whether or not Schock should* be charged with a crime, let’s look at the potential winners and losers here.

If Lyons charges Schock with a crime (probably a misdemeanor). it’s possible Lyons picks up a few votes for the effort. I know more Democrats who are crossing over to LaHood than the other way around. It’s possible there are  Schock-hating Democrats who might swing back to Lyons is he slaps Schock with a misdemeanor. My gut feeling is that there aren’t all that many.

If Lyons doesn’t charge Schock with anything, it might cement Lyons’ rep as someone with a tendency to turn the other cheek for officials charged with breaking the rules. It’s possible some Schock supporters will thank him with votes. I don’t see many doing that, however. Most ardent Schock supporters are ardent Republicans.

And in either case, how is Darin LaHood supposed to react? If Lyons does charge Schock, is he going to criticize Lyons for soing so? After all, Schock is a fellow Republican. LaHood would come off as a putting party above the law.

If Lyons doesn’t charge Schock, does LaHood criticize THAT decision? Oh, HELL no. There’s no risk in Schock supporters giving their votes to Lyons in this case, and it might score some votes from those Democrats who really dislike Schock, but were on the fence in the state’s attorney race. But if LaHood is were to demand prosecution of Schock, he better make sure Schock is going to lose, because one doesn’t want to make an enemy of a sitting U.S. Congressman.

So, I’m guessing LaHood keeps him mouth shut if Lyons does nothing.

Are there any independents or undecideds out there who haven’t made up their minds about Schock/LaHood? I’m thinking that’s probably the case in the Peoria area, but maybe not so much out in the hinterlands of the 18th District. Schock has never represented voters outside Peoria County. A newspaper article or a broadcast report that Schock has been charged with official misconduct might sway some folks to give their votes instead to that nice farm lady who is good friends with Congressman Ray.

Months ago, the polls showed Schock with a commanding lead. I haven’t seen a recent poll. I’m not sure that at this late date, whether there’s enough time to ship away enough of that lead. But it’s exactly this sort of thing that can cause an upset. Which is exactly why Schock’s Democratic rival Colleen Callahan held press conferences all over the district today to demand an investigation.

* Yeah, I know it’s a cynical way to look at it. But I guarantee the campaigns are mulling over the same questions right now. Besides, Im no lawyer and I have no idea if a crime was committed or even is there’s a statute of limitations.

(Press release)

Callahan to address Schock questions

WHO: Colleen Callahan, Democratic candidate for the 18th Congressional District
WHAT: Press conference to discuss official misconduct questions surrounding opponent Aaron Schock
WHEN: 1 p.m. today
WHERE: Peoria Public Library, 107 NE Monroe, 2nd Floor Meeting Room.

I can’t be there. Maybe some other bloggers who don’t have day jobs.