Easton City Council Member El Warner Seeks Illinois Senate Seat

That's right folks, Easton City Council member Elinor Warner wants to be appointed the next United States Senator from Illinois. My source for this startling revelation is her own blog, Synthetic Culture. It's mostly nonpolitical, but I found her sales pitch to Governor Blagojevich. It's pretty good.

1. I can speak to the new owners of my magazine, who I understand are looking for an ad sales rep. This would be the perfect job for either Blagojevich or his wife, because in this economy strong-arming can only help. It wouldn't pay $300K a year, but it's better than nothing.

2. I doubt re-election campaign contributions are needed at this point, but I would be happy to donate $50 to a legal defense fund.

3. One of our local papers is owned by the Tribune Company. I have absolutely no sway with the editorial board, but I promise to go to the online comments page and spam it with supportive posts.

4. I know a member of the SEIU. He might be able to help arrange a position as a medical assistant at the children's hospital of Blagojevich's choice. After all, the Governor's resume indicates a skill at shoveling shit, which is just a step away from bedpans.

5. Because I don't live in Illinois, I have absolutely nothing at stake and couldn't care less about "constituents." Each and every one of my votes in the Senate can therefore be sold to the highest bidder, and I'll give the Governor his take, say 10 points. Top that offer, Jesse Jackson Jr.

Won't Mayor Panto be sad if you leave, El?

Easton City Council: Ruggles, Warner & Brown

Easton City Council includes five members: Sandra Vulcano, President; Pamela Panto, Vice President; and councilpersons Ken Brown, Carole Heffley and Dan Corpora. They meet twice monthly and are paid an annual salary of $9,371. In addition, these part-timers get full medical coverage and a pension. As I learned last night, the actual compensation per member is $21,000.

The four year terms for Carol Heffley, Pam Panto and Ken Brown expire this year, but only Ken Brown has decided to seek reelection. His seat and two open seats are in contention. Jeff Warren and Elinor H. Warner join Brown in completing the Democratic ticket. They face off against Republicans Roger Ruggles, Peter Melan, and Bill E. Timmann.

Easton Undressed has thoroughly covered the Easton city council and mayoral races with a series of ten questions, over ten days. I'd like to commend Mayor Sal Panto (whose signs proudly sport the same colors as the Easton Rovers) and council wannabes Roger Ruggles (the LV's Engineer of the Year), Bill Timmann and Elinor Warner for responding.

The only candidate I distrust is Jeff Warren, who is State Senator Lisa Boscola's chief legislative assistant. He is too closely tied to developers and nonlocal money. He also embarrassed himself during a town hall when Easton activist Terrance Hand asked whether he even attended city council meetings.

Warren said he attended one meeting, but believed the question was too personal.

"I would like to talk about public policy," he said.

"I wasn't trying to be personal," Hand said. "If you are going to run for council with your current schedule, will you be able to make time if elected?"

Of the remaining candidates, the three I like best are Lafayette College's Roger Ruggles, Easton businesswoman Elinor Warner and incumbent Ken Brown. Ruggles and Warner have campaigned hard, and I'm told Ruggles has gone door to door through Easton at least twice. With his engineering background, Ruggles brings a practical approach to Easton's future. Warner has a wealth of new ideas. And Brown brings a heart. They're a good combination.

I like Timmann and Melan, too, but don't think they're quite ready.

EU: Ten Questions Over Ten Days to Easton Candidates

I've got good news and bad news.

First, the good news. Easton Undressed will be posting ten question over ten days to Easton's mayoral and city council candidates. This is a terrific public service and great blogging. The mainstream media will be the first to agree it simply lacks the space to cover local races in such detail, but people are still very hungry for precisely that kind of information .

Now, the bad news. Only half the candidates bothered to answer EU's questionnaire. Gary "West End" Bertsch is still talking at the State, and Jeff Warren is more interested in just buying this election than responding to pesky questions.

Whatever their answers may be, I'd like to commend Mayor Sal Panto (whose signs proudly sport the same colors as the Easton Rovers) and council wannabes Roger Ruggles (the LV's Engineer of the Year), Bill Timmann and Elinor Warner. They showed up. As for the others, I'd really like to know for certain why they ignored the questionnaire.

Update: EU's Terrance Hand prepared this candidate questionnaire. "We emailed them all. And I spoke to each of them about it."