Peoria Pundit

From a press release:

Koehler and Gordon should join Gov. Quinn’s call for Special Election for US Senate Seat

Koehler & Gordon are “Putting Price on Democracy” by not Speaking Up.

(PEORIA) Peoria County GOP Chairman Rudy Lewis is calling on Democrats Sen. Dave Koehler and Rep. Jehan Gordon to join the call of Democrat Governor Pat Quinn for a Special Election for the U.S. Senate seat held by Senator Roland Burris.

“By not stepping forward and adding their voice to the bipartisan chorus calling for a Special Election, Koehler and Gordon are putting a price on Democracy,” says Lewis.

“After ousting Democrat Governor Rod Blagojevich for putting a price on the U.S. Senate Seat vacated by President Barack Obama, Koehler and Gordon are re-opening the wounds of corruption by not allowing Illinois voters to have a say in who represents them in Washington. Governor Pat Quinn announced yesterday that he recognizes that the Senate seat should be filled by the voters and not by him as Governor,” said Lewis

“Sen. Dave Koehler has had no problem voting for Blagojevich’s bloated budgets that have put the State of Illinois in a $9 billion structural deficit, but refuses to spend state dollars to allow the citizens of Illinois to elect their own U.S. Senator,” Lewis pointed out.

Lewis stated that, “had the Democrat controlled legislature agreed to fill the seat with a special election in the first place, the election could have been held with municipal elections in March and minimized the cost of the election. However, even though they failed to act in the wake of the Blagojevich scandal it should not stop Koehler and Gordon from doing the right thing now, especially after having seen the result of their bad decision.”

Lewis said that State Senator Dale Risinger and State Representative David Leitch would welcome Koehler and Gordon joining them in their call for a Special Election.

The Chicago Tribune lists just some of the state and national politicians who think Blagojevich ought to resign, and some of whom favor impeachment if he doesn’t. Just last night, Peoria City Council member Bill Spears asked city staff to draft a resolution demanding Blago quit. There was not one single vote in opposition to his motion,

And what’s the most recent word we have from State Sen. Dave Koehler, who once was a member of the Peoria City Council? He’s distressed, disappointed and embarrassed, but opposed to impeachment, as he told the Peoria Times Observer. He’s quoted in today’s Journal Star, but says nothing about getting rid of Blago until after it’s been adjudicated.

And I also note that Jehan Gordan, elected but not yet sworn in as Aaron Schock’s replacement in the Illinois House of Representatives, is also nowhere to be found in all these reaction stories. Gordon famously benefited from campaign workers shipped into Peoria in the weeks before her primary election victory over Allen Mayer. These workers are believed to have been arranged by Rod Blagojevich.

It’s been suggested to me that Koehler just might be a bit too naive and/or warm hearted to turn on Blagojevich, who he has supported. Some who have worked with him scoff at that idea.

Will voters make Koehler or Gordon pay for not distancing themselves from Blago?

Probably not. Look at the terrible choices Peoria voters made in the last election. Kevin Lyons over Darin LaHood. Gordon over Joan Krupa. In both cases, the candidate who lost was a vastly superior candidate in terms of honesty and competence. Statistically speaking, the average Peoria voter is utterly unconcerned with issues like competence or honesty, an are unable to recognize honest public service when they see it. And many of them are just like sheep, and will vote they way they are told.

Just like they do in Chicago.

UPDATE: Commenter Ollie contacted Sen. Koehler’s office and received the following reply:

Thank you for contacting Senator Koehler and making your opinion known. Senator Koehler’s office continues to receive a large volume of calls and emails from constituents concerned about the recent events involving the Governor. The situation is changing every day. Please be assured that Senator Koehler is working to remove the current Governor from office. Senator Koehler is also working to implement a solution to fill the vacant U.S. Senate seat that will have Illinois citizens’ interests in mind first. Legislators will meet next week to address this matter. Please do not hesitate to contact Senator Koehler with further questions or opinions on this matter.
Respectfully
Kyle Dooley

Originally posted on December 10, 2008 at 9:42

I just read Dewayne Bartels’ interview with State Sen. Dave Koehler regarding Governor Blagojevich’s arrest on corruption charges.

Koehler is “dissapointed” and “distressed” and finds the whole thing “embarrassing.”

But does Koehler support impeachment?

No.

Koehler said he has heard some passing talk about impeachment, but said that it is premature.

“That’s an option,” he said.

“But, the case needs to go forward with the judiciary first.”

Here’s the thing: It took years for “the judiciary” to convict George Ryan. And if you look at the Illinois Constitution carefully, it states that the impeachment process is not part of the criminal justice system. It’s a decision through which elected officials can remove a politician for cause. There is no obligation to wait until he’s put on trial, or to wait until it concludes.

If we wait for “the judiciary” to “move forward,” then we are stuck with this guy — who was caught on tape shaking down a children’s hospital, for God’s sake — for at least two years.

Koehler has been a strong supporter of both Blagojevich and State Sen. Emil Jones.

Like I said, there’s no way Blago gets impeached.

UPDATE: Bartels writes that State Rep. David Leitch says there’s an impeachment petition is being circulated.

UPDATE 2: You know that unnamed candidate for Obama’s seat with whom Blago is accused of trying to secure a job on Obama’s cabinet in exchange for the appointment: Rich Miller thinks it’s Senate President Emil Jones. You know. The guy who would have to approve any impeachment proceedings. Perhaps Dewayne can get Koehler on the phone and ask if he’s distressed, disappointed and embarrassed by this as well.

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Remember these two guys? Dave Koehler and George Shadid are the current and former State Senator from the 42nd District (which includes the 92nd State House district). But you wouldn’t know it from watching the race to replace Aaron Schock.

13 months ago, I went to Limestone High School to attend the announcement that Jehan Gordon — a Limestone High School graduate and member of the Pleasant Hill School District 69 — was running for the 92nd State House district seat held by Schock, who had announced he was instead going to go ofter the Congressional seat now held by by the retiring Ray LaHood.

At that announcement, both Sen. Koehler and Shadid endorsed Gordon. They were very enthusiastic. Also, they had recruited her with the promised to support her in the primary. And, they kept their promise even after Peoria County Board Member Allen Mayer decided to run, a decision made after Schock decided to run for Congress. instead.

That’s why they appeared in this and other advertising for Gordon.

And Gordon defeated Mayer. So why haven’t Shadid or Koehler appeared in any newer, post-primary advertising for Gordon? Rumor has it that Shadid was so ticked off that Gordon didn’t reveal her legal difficulties during the vetting process, he’s since refused to allow his name be used by her campaign.