Carbondale Mayoral Primary Primer

Of the four candidates running for mayor in Carbondale’s primary, only two truly have much of a real chance of making it to the general election: incumbent Mayor Brad Cole and challenger Sheila Simon, daughter of former US Senator Paul Simon. The other two candidates with underfunded campaigns are succeeding in bring to the forefront issues that the community needs to address, but their tactics and message have been weak and amateur.

To understand this campaign you need to, as always, follow the money! According to the Illinois State Board of Elections, with less than a week to go before the primary, the Cole campaign (Team Brad) has raised $23,450 in contributions and the Simon campaign (Sheila Simon for Mayor) has raised $10,048. Challenger Jessica Davis has raised zero dollars and challenger Pepper Holder has apparently not even filed the required financial disclosure reports. Clearly, there are only two serious candidates. Too bad. A campaign among fiscal and intellectual equals would have been invigorating.

Despite the fundraising disparities of the top two fundraisers, the race is shaping up as a hedge bet by the state party war chests. The Republican Party, despite its lukewarm relationship with Cole, doesn’t want to lose a recognizable name and voting puppet for when it comes time to find a replacement for either State Representative Mike Bost or State Senator David Luechtefeld. You can bet that the IL Republicans will soon start filling Cole’s campaign coffers by hosting expensive plate dinners in Springfield to help further distance the downstate wunderkind from the opposition. I estimate that this election will set a new record for election spending for a small town mayoral election. And don't forget, its supposed to be a non-partisan election.

Currently contributing the most money ($2000) to Cole’s campaign is Pepsi MidAmerica. The next biggest contributor ($1500) is Jackson Hewitt Tax Service whose principals own the usually empty two buildings on Main Street (Clark Gas Station and former Jin’s Barbeque). More importantly, they also own the adjoining large property - CCHS athletic football and tennis court. This property is the last, large development parcel remaining in NW Carbondale. The third largest contributor ($1000) is another large commercial real estate developer, Sun Valley Estates LLC. Oh, and Volunteers for (US Senator) Shimkus has primed the media pump by giving Cole another thousand dollars.

Illinois Democrats aren’t stupid. They recognize the importance of the downstate mayoral race and are encouraging support for Simon from throughout the state. Where Simon lacks individual fat cat contributors because of a pledge to limit personal campaign contributions to $50, she has instead acquired the endorsement boost of Democratic Party luminaries such as presidential candidate, Barack Obama, US Senator Dick Durbin, and Illinois Attorney General, Lisa Madigan. Expect more of the same and maybe some other ‘star power.’

The election is shaping up to be the all too familiar downstate spitting contest between the ‘Fat Cat’, conservative, right wing, Chamber of Commerce, landlord/developer against the left/moderate-wing Democrat, academic, neighborhood oriented, home owning soccer moms and dads. – only without the spit – unless you count the drool from one local blogger. At least so far. Let us hope it stays that way.

We could benefit from a nice, clean battle of ideas for the voters hearts and minds.

Having followed some of the money, in my next blog entry I will compare the campaign styles and platforms of the both Cole and Simon. And don't worry, "following the money" will continue as more information arrives.