Spring sees influx of campaign cash

Posted by mhopf – February 14, 2013

Quincy Mayor John Spring has seen a $15,500 spike in his campaign contributions this week, according to Illinois State Board of Elections reports.

The contributions included $5,000 from state Sen. John Sullivan’s campaign fund and another $5,000 from the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 150 in Joliet. He also received $1,500 from both state Sen. Steve Landek, D-Bridgeview, and the Democratic Organization of Lyons Township, and $2,500 from state Sen. Barbara Flynn Currie, D-Chicago.

Spring’s campaign also reported receiving $1,000 for staff salaries from Sullivan.

Republican candidate Kyle Moore immediately starting building his campaign war chest after he announced last year. In the third quarter of 2012, he pulled in more than $25,000.  For the reporting period for last three months of 2012, Moore reported his campaign brought in $9,979 and spent $3,871. His campaign account had $36,420 on hand at the end of the reporting period.

Spring reported raising $1,525 during the same period, with expenditures of $423. His campaign reported available funds of $19,111. The only contribution that required reporting was $375 from the Bank of Springfield.

Since Jan. 1, Spring has also reported receiving $5,000 from Foresight Energy Services of St. Louis, while Moore received $5,000 from state Rep. Jil Tracy, R-Quincy. Moore also reported a contribution of $1,029 from Citizens for a Better Quincy, a political action committee formed by a majority of Republican aldermen.

Full campaign reports won’t be available until after the April 9 election.

Quincy mayor’s race target of polling

Posted by mhopf – February 13, 2013

Some Quincy residents have been contacted this week by a telephone pollster who seemed to tout Democratic incumbent Mayor John Spring and be not so kind to his Republican challenger, 3rd Ward Alderman Kyle Moore.

Survey questions were:

• Generally speaking, is Quincy on the right track or headed in the wrong direction?

• What is the greatest single problem in Quincy right now?

• Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of Mayor John Spring? State Sen. John Sullivan? U.S. Rep. Aaron Schock? Moore?

• How would you rate Spring as mayor?

• Who are you going to vote for?

When person who received the call said the household was undecided, the pollster touted Spring as a fiscal conservative who has helped lower property tax rates in seven of the last eight years and helped get electrical aggregation — and promised lower rates — to Quincy.

The pollster then pointed out that Moore voted against funding for renovations at the Quincy Public Library, and then his company, Moore’s Floors, profited off work it did there after the project was approved by the City Council. The pollster went on to say that Moore opposed the city’s “fix or flatten” program, which tries to clean up derelict buildings, and had voted against a request by the Quincy Fire Department to buy new trucks.

The pollster then asked again who the resident would vote for.

The pollster appeared to be trying to steer the voter in Spring’s direction, at least that’s what the voter thought.

Both candidates have been seen campaigning door to door, both have campaign headquarters up and running and Moore — who, in reality, has been running for the office since September — already has mailed out an eight-page targeted campaign piece and has held two press conferences to tout his plans. With the municipal election just 55 days away, expect the race to continue to heat up.

Emerald ash borer costs staggering in Galesburg

Posted by mhopf – January 24, 2013

After two public meetings in Quincy last year on how to prepare for the emerald ash borer, the costs appear staggering to another community that is starting to deal with the invasive species.

Galesburg could spend more than $900,000 on ash tree removal and treatment through 2019. The Register-Mail reported that the bug will affect 600 trees lining streets and parks.

It is expected to take five years to remove the trees. Treatment and tree removal could continue beyond 2019.

In November, Jeff Palmer, a certified arborist with tree injection technology company Arborjet, told Quincy officials that treating trees can help stem removal costs. It costs about $60 per tree, and it has to be administered every two years.

A 2000 survey showed 1,042 ash trees on city-owned property in Quincy, representing 9 percent of the city’s 11,592 trees. While the emerald ash borer has not been discovered in the area, it is only a matter of time.

Native to Asia, the beetle was first discovered in Detroit in 2002. Millions of ash trees in the Midwest have been decimated by the bug. The insect was first discovered in Illinois in 2006, and ash trees in Chicago and the Bloomington/Normal area have been lost because of the destructive bug.

Democrats will be listed first on April 9 ballot

Posted by mhopf – January 23, 2013

Democrats will be listed first on the April 9 ballot after a drawing Wednesday morning at City Hall. Two pingpong balls — one with a D and one with an R — were placed in a paint can that City Clerk’s Office uses for United Way raffles.

The ball was drawn by City Hall employee Tess Bratton. Witnessing the drawing were Jim Perry, chairman of the Adams County Republican Central Committee, and Ray Thomas of the Adams County Democrats.

Republicans were drawn for the top spot in the 2011 and 2009 elections. The last time Democrats were atop the ballot was in 2007.

Quincy Herald-Whig | Illinois

Moore has more cash on hand than Spring

Posted by mhopf – January 16, 2013

Quincy Republican mayoral candidate Kyle Moore maintains a cash advantage over Mayor John Spring, a Democrat who is trying to win a third term.

For the reporting period for last three months of 2012, Moore reported that his campaign brought in $9,979 and spent $3,871. His campaign account had $36,420 on hand at the time. Notable contributions include $2,000 each from Harold Knapheide III and Harold Knapheide IV.

Spring reported raising $1,525 during the same period with expenditures of $423. His campaign reported available funds of $19,111. The only contribution that required reporting was the $375 from the Bank of Springfield.

This is the last report on campaign contributions until the April 9 election, except for larger contributions. Since Jan. 1, Spring has reported receiving $5,000 from Foresight Energy Services of St. Louis, while Moore received $5,000 from State Rep. Jil Tracy, R-Quincy.

A Death Star to stimulate the economy?

Posted by mhopf – January 15, 2013

While the White House has supported economic stimulus legislation in the past, don’t expect it to include technology from “a long time ago in galaxy far, far away.”

In a response to an online petition, President Barack Obama’s administration said it will not consider building a $850 quadrillion (that’s $850,000,000,000,000,000) space station capable of destroying planets.

“The Administration shares your desire for job creation and a strong national defense, but a Death Star isn’t on the horizon,” said the response.

The response then touts the nations efforts in space exploration, including the International Space Station.

Petitions submitted to the White House receive a response if they exceed 25,000 signatures within 30 days, though that appears to have been increased to 100,000 signatures as of Tuesday.

You have to smile at the tongue in cheek response, especially “Why would we spend countless taxpayer dollars on a Death Star with a fundamental flaw that can be exploited by a one-man starship?”

They must watch “Family Guy” in the White House.

VIDEO: Spring, Havermale offer ‘state of the city’

Posted by mhopf – January 9, 2013

Quinn: Lawmakers need to approve pension reform

Posted by mhopf – January 8, 2013

Gov. Pat Quinn spoke with reporters Tuesday about the need for pension reform in Illinois. He encouraged lawmakers to approve a plan, but he offered little specifics on what he would like to see. Lawmakers are down to the wire as new legislators will be sworn in Wednesday.

The embedded file will take you to the video from Blue Room Stream. Quinn walks into the room at 39:30, so you will have to skip quite a bit.

Adams County adding more information to website

Posted by mhopf – January 8, 2013

Adams County is already working to improve its website after Illinois government watchdog group the Illinois Policy Institute said it was lacking information.

Information Technology Director John Frankenhoff said he has since redesigned the page with budget information and also has included an email address for County Board Chairman Les Post, R-6.

In its review, the organization gave the county a score of 43.975 out of 100. The complete rubric is available at the group’s website.

Frankenhoff has been in contact with the group about updating the city’s website. Other items being worked on are annual audits, union contracts and older annual financial reports.

Down to the wire on electric price negotiations

Posted by mhopf – December 21, 2012

The city of Quincy scheduled a press conference for 11:15 a.m. Thursday to announce the new electric supply rates in the city, but final negotiations dragged on longer than expected.

Four media outlets — The Herald-Whig included — were all on time and were waiting in a conference room at City Hall for the information. At around 11:25, Doug Olsen, the city’s human resources director, stuck his head in the door to let us know the city and the other communities were still negotiating the electric service contract.

After another 15 minutes of waiting, Mayor John Spring walked into the room and said the group was almost done. He had three separate releases with different options the communities were considering, but the final details were being worked out.

Director of Administrative Services Gary Sparks called him a few minutes later from downstairs to give him the final rate of 4.194 cents per kilowatt hour for three years.