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Shia Kapos' must-read rundown of political news in the Land of Lincoln | | | | |  | | By Shia Kapos | With help from Olivia Olander Happy Monday, Illinois. Brace yourselves — Elon Musk has lifted the Twitter ban on Donald Trump. Programming note: Illinois Playbook publishes through Wednesday, then is off for Thanksgiving this Thursday and Friday. We’ll be back on our regular schedule on Monday, Nov. 28.
|  | TOP TALKER | | | 
Chicago Ald. Edward Burke, speaking during a 2016 City Council meeting, hasn't revealed whether he'll run for reelection, though there are petitions on the streets to get him on the ballot. | AP file photo/M. Spencer Green | A Chicago tradition begins today when the first candidates for the municipal elections file their ballot petitions with the city’s Board of Elections. A few aldermanic candidates even waited outside overnight to be first in line. Some notable names will be missing from today’s first filings. Mayor Lori Lightfoot is expected to file Nov. 28, the last day of the filing period (It’s what she did four years ago, too.), and mayoral challenger Jesus “Chuy” Garcia is planning to file next week, too. The big question mark: Will longtime Chicago Ald. Edward Burke file to run for a historic 15th term on the City Council, or will he make his swan song? Burke, whose office didn't return a request for comment, was first elected in a special election in 1969 before winning every election after that. He’s served a record 53 years. He won his last election even while facing a federal indictment that’s still hanging over him. His other challenge: The district was redrawn during redistricting, putting him in a more difficult place to win reelection. Mixed messages on the ground: Some Burke allies have said the alderman isn’t running, while others are circulating petitions for him. But, but, but … the alderman’s supporters are also circulating petitions for Raul Reyes and Miriam Gutierrez, both Burke allies. Connecting dots: Reyes is a long-time Burke precinct captain who previously ran for 15th Ward alderman but didn’t make the ballot. And Gutierrez has worked for Burke and Ald. Raymond Lopez. Separately, Jeylu Gutierrez, the district director for Cook County Commissioner Alma Anaya, is also running for the 14th Ward seat. Garcia is backing Gutierrez against Burke. Is it coincidence or by design that there could be two Gutierrezes on the ballot? Some political watchers wonder if Burke is trying to get Latino constituents to split the vote between Reyes and the two Gutierrezes so he could then slide past everyone. Or, is he actually going to retire? Political shenanigans: Some of the Burke allies are also approaching voters with a petition for Garcia that they are using “as a hook,” according to a person familiar with one of the campaigns. “They are just using Chuy’s name to get people to then sign a petition for Reyes or Burke.” Burke’s team has no intention of turning in petitions for Garcia as it’s well-known in political circles that Burke and Garcia are enemies. Garcia has run challengers against Burke and against Burke’s brother, former state Rep. Dan Burke who lost to then-political newcomer Rep. Aaron Ortiz.
| | THE BUZZ | | Hello, Chicago: U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg is being introduced to the sharp elbows of Chicago politics. He’ll be in town today for what’s being called “a major announcement” related to airport infrastructure. Stage presence: Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Chicago Department of Aviation Commissioner Jamie Rhee will be on hand for the presentation. Missing from the stage: Congressman Jesus “Chuy” Garcia , who sits on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. Garcia had initially been invited to attend the event but was bumped from the guest list. No word on why Garcia might have been booted from the program. The election season can be rough and tumble. Garcia is challenging Lightfoot. If you are Ald. Edward Burke, Playbook would like to hear from you about your suggestions for career longevity. Email skapos@politico.com .
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| | Where's Toni | | No official public events. Have a news tip, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for Playbook? I’d like to hear from you: skapos@politico.com
| | BUSINESS OF POLITICS | | — Unofficial results from Midterms shows voting was down in Illinois: “I’d estimate the statewide turnout at 50 to 51 percent," Matt Dietrich, spokesman for the Illinois Board of Elections, told Derrick Blakley for Center for Illinois Politics. — What happens to all those campaign signs? It’s complicated: “They aren’t recyclable curbside,” writes Daily Herald’s Jenny Whidden
| | THE STATEWIDES | | — Courts, bargaining table are likely next fronts in battle over Illinois workers’ rights amendment, by Tribune’s Dan Petrella — Food pantries trying to feed more with fewer resources, by Daily Herald’s Doug T. Graham — Blue Dog Inn closed for now: “The Blue Dog Inn in Lincoln has closed after 43 years in business, but owners John and Barbara Blackburn say it is only temporary,” by State Journal-Register’s Natalie Morris.
| | CHICAGO | | — Lightfoot on fatal shooting at Colorado Springs LGBTQ club: ‘We don’t have to live like this ... and die like this,’ by Tribune’s Gregory Pratt — Bally’s buys Freedom Center for $200M, taking ownership of Tribune printing plant and future site of Chicago’s casino, by Tribune’s Robert Channick — Lawyers for indicted Ald. Carrie Austin say she’s medically unfit for trial, plans to retire in March, by Tribune’s Jason Meisner — Neighborhood pride competes with gentrification fears for Woodlawn residents coping with Obama Center traffic woes, by Tribune’s William Lee — Lincoln Square affordable housing development gets key city approval, by Block Club’s Alex V. Hernandez — Field Museum leadership declines to voluntarily recognize union, setting up labor board vote, by Block Club's Melody Mercado — PHOTOS: Chicago’s Christmas tree lighting and ice skating in Millennium Park, via Sun-Times
| | MAYOR'S RACE 2023 | | — With new campaign fund, Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s allies are raising cash outside city ethics rules limits: “The move follows in the footsteps of Lightfoot’s predecessor, former Mayor Rahm Emanuel, whose allies established a massive campaign fund that raised more than $5 million in one year to help Emanuel win a second term,” by Tribune’s Gregory Pratt. — Mayoral challenger Willie Wilson calls for citywide polling to encourage minority voting, ‘won’t go there’ when asked about past Trump support, by Tribune’s Alice Yin
| | COOK COUNTY AND COLLARS | | | 
Josina Morita was sworn in as Cook County Commissioner for the 13th District on Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022, making history as the first Asian-American woman to sit on the board. | Josina Morita staff photo |
— Cook County Commissioner-Elect Josina Morita was appointed to serve the remainder of Larry Suffredin’s term on the Cook County Board of Commissioners in the 13th District after his retirement Friday. Morita already won election to the seat earlier this month. ABC 7 has video
— Sheriff Tom Dart gets Cook County funding for helicopter to track carjackers: “The Cook County Board approved $11.4 million Thursday for the sheriff’s office to acquire a helicopter,” by Sun-Times’ Frank Main. — Cook County Guaranteed Income Pilot Prepares Participants for First Payments, by WTTW’s Erica Gunderson — Lansing resident promotes backyard chicken coops, but doesn’t convince village officials, by Daily Southtown’s Alexandra Kukulka
| | DAY IN COURT | | — Not guilty verdict for Ruben Roman on gun case tied to Adam Toledo’s death : “Judge Charles Burns said prosecutors built a strong circumstantial case, but the evidence was not strong enough to convict,” by Sun-Times’ Andy Grimm.
| | TRAINS, PLANES AND AUTOMOBILES | | — CTA will give new hires $1,000 signing bonus in hopes of filling ‘severe workforce shortage,’ by Block Club’s Mack Liederman
| | POT-POURRI | | — Controversial marijuana dispensary plan for former Rainforest Cafe in River North gets zoning OK despite worries of ‘pot district’: “The board also approved a permit to former Alderman and state representative Rickey Hendon and his children to open a Green Rose dispensary in the South Loop, at 1233 S. Wabash Ave., and a dispensary by High Hopes Chicago at 622-24 W. Roosevelt Road,” by Tribune’s Robert McCoppin.
| | TAKING NAMES | | — Bill Brandt, the longtime Democratic political consultant and fundraiser, has been off the grid recently battling ALS, though he’s still winning awards. Next week, he’ll receive the Harvey Miller Award at the annual Distressed Investing Conference in New York, which recognizes work to get businesses and government entities out of financial crisis. Brandt is founder of Development Specialists Inc. management consulting firm. He also received the 2022 Lifetime Achievement Award from The M&A Advisor. And he was honored by University of California at Berkeley, where he chaired the National Advisory Council for the Institute of Government Studies. “It’s very humbling that lately I’ve been receiving a host of accolades and tributes, and although I can’t help but occasionally believe this might be the residual votes coming in from the ‘sympathy precincts,’ I remain determined to graciously accept these kind gestures in the same spirit in which I believe they are being offered,” Brandt told Playbook. Over the years, Brandt has advised Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, as well as former Gov. Pat Quinn, Sens. Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth and California Gov. Gavin Newsom.
| | | | GO INSIDE THE MILKEN INSTITUTE FUTURE OF HEALTH SUMMIT: POLITICO is featuring a special edition of our “Future Pulse” newsletter at the 2022 Milken Institute Future of Health Summit from Dec. 6 to 8. The newsletter takes readers inside one of the most influential gatherings of health industry leaders and innovators solving the biggest global health issues to ensure a healthier, more resilient future for all. SUBSCRIBE TODAY TO RECEIVE EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE . | | | | | | | Reader Digest | | We asked what concert you paid the most to see: Randy Bukas: “The last time I paid ‘big’ money was for a George Harrison and Ravi Shankar concert at the Chicago Stadium. I don’t remember how much I paid, but as a college student, it hit my budget pretty hard.” Andrea Darlas: “When I was a teenager, I loved the Bangles and saved up $60 to buy scalped seats on the second row in 1989 at Poplar Creek. My dad and I drove to the ‘scalper’ to pay for the tickets. It was absolutely amazing.” John Mark Hansen : “I laid out big bucks for two tickets to the Metropolitan Opera debut of my hometown hero Samuel Ramey as Argante in Handel’s ‘Rinaldo’ in 1984. His entrance aria received an ovation of several minutes’ duration. Not bad for a butcher’s son from Colby, Kan.” Jan Kostner: “I spent the most to see Bette Midler in Las Vegas. It was worth it!” Ed Mazur: “Bruce Springsteen at the United Center: $125.” John McCabe: “Paul McCartney at Wrigley Field: $200.” John Straus: “Sting at Ravinia in the pavilion: $175.” Wyatt Williamson, executive director of Edgar County Farm Bureau: “I paid $240 for Red Hot Chili Peppers at Fenway Park this summer. It was the best show I've ever seen! College roommate and I couldn't afford them in college five years ago, so we made the trip now that we have careers.” What’s your favorite local holiday tradition and why? Email skapos@politico.com
| | FROM THE DELEGATION | | — Krishnamoorthi seeks FTX documents for probe: “Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, a Democrat from Schaumburg, is asking officials from a failed cryptocurrency exchange to turn over documents and other information related to the company's recent bankruptcy filing that could cost investors billions of dollars,” by Daily Herald’s Jake Griffin.
| | THE NATIONAL TAKE | | — Progressives want Ron Klain to stick around. A united Democratic front may depend on it, by POLITICO’s Adam Cancryn — Anti-abortion groups argue over next steps in wake of election losses, by POLITICO’s Alice Miranda Ollstein and Megan Messerly — 2024 Republican rivals put Trump on notice, by POLITICO’s Alex Isenstadt — Kanye West returns to twitter, too, via CBS News — Summit yields ‘historic win’ for climate payments, but also a push for natural gas, by POLITICO’s Zack Colman and Karl Mathiesen
| | TRANSITIONS | | — Eliana Locke is communications director for Rep. Robin Kelly’s D.C. office. Locke most recently was national press secretary for Priorities USA.
| | IN MEMORIAM | | — William J. Kunkle Jr. dies at 81; prosecutor in John Wayne Gacy case: “He later taught about the infamous trial and some of its legal peculiarities,” reports Sun-Times’ David Struett.
| | EVENTS | | — Dec. 1: Tribune and ProPublica host a free virtual event for high school journalists on investigating police ticketing. Register here
| | TRIVIA | | FRIDAY’s ANSWER: Congrats to Ald. Jason Ervin, Robert Christie and Andy Shaw for correctly answering that Ben Lewis was the Chicago alderman found shot to death in his office. H/t to Carl Gutierrez, who shared an excerpt from David Axelrod's memoir “Believer” (p. 32): "His bodyguard, George Collins, who said he had gone out for a smoke when Lewis was murdered, succeeded him as alderman and later rose to Congress. When Collins, in turn, perished in a plane crash in 1972, his grieving widow, Cardiss, visited Mayor Daley to propose herself as her husband's replacement. As the legend goes, Daley gently explained to Mrs. Collins that he had another candidate in mind. 'Mr. Mayor,' she purportedly replied, 'did I mention that George kept a diary?' Whatever occurred in that meeting, Mrs. Collins emerged as the mayor's choice. Cardiss Collins went on to serve two decades in Congress. The Ben Lewis murder was never solved." TODAY’s QUESTION: What year did Stephen A Douglas first get elected to Congress and where was his home? Email skapos@politico.com
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