Tuesday, July 19, 2005

State Rep. Beaubien on TV: Running in 8th CD Republican Primary?

Jeff Berkowitz: ...[I]n terms of name recognition, you think you might have name recognition in twenty or thirty percent of the [8th Cong.] district, or more?

State Rep. Beaubien [R-Wauconda]: Probably.


Berkowitz:...It gives you an advantage [in the 8th CD race]?

Rep. Beaubien: Yes.
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This week’s suburban edition of “Public Affairs,” features State Rep. and possible 8th CD Republican Primary candidate Mark Beaubien [R-Wauconda], who was first elected to the Illinois legislature in 1996, replacing Al Salvi who won a tough U. S. Senate Primary that year over then Lt. Gov. Bob Kustra. This show will also air throughout the City of Chicago [in the regular “Public Affairs,” City of Chicago time slot] on this coming Monday night, July 25 at 8:30 pm on Cable Ch. 21 [CANTV].
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A partial transcript of the show with State Rep. Beaubien is included, below.
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Jeff Berkowitz: While we’re talking about running, are you running in the 8th congressional district, Republican primary?

State Rep. Mark Beaubien: I have not made a decision on that yet
, as I think we’ve talked about before. It’s a very, very, serious decision. I’ve enjoyed and been honored to represent my community in the urban area. I want to think about where I can be most effective in continuing that role, and I have not come to that conclusion yet.

Berkowitz:…it’s July 6th. How soon are you going to make that decision?

Rep. Beaubien: Before Labor Day. I think there’s been a rush to judgment, particularly in the eighth congressional district by everybody saying—Who is going to run and Who isn’t?

Berkowitz: Yes.

Rep. Beaubien: Traditionally, by Labor Day is the time people make decisions. I think that’s when [State Rep.] Bob Churchill [R-Grayslake] will decide. I think that’s when others will decide. And, people keep saying, “Are you going to run? Are you not going to run?” I will take my time, and make a decision—

Berkowitz: It is likely that the current incumbent, [Cong.] Melissa Bean, who’s a Democrat-

Rep. Beaubien: Umhmm.

Berkowitz: And who beat [Cong.] Phil Crane after he had held that seat for thirty- five years. I think we can safely say that Melissa Bean [D- Barrington, 8th CD] will be running for re-election.

Rep. Beaubien: I think that’s a fair, fair assumption.

Berkowitz: Dave McSweeney has said he is running.

Rep. Beaubien: Umhmm.

Berkowitz: He’s a Republican. Teresa Bartels, I think has said she’s running-

Rep. Beaubien: Correct. Yes, she has.

Berkowitz: She is a Republican. Do you know her?

Rep. Beaubien: Yes, very well.

Berkowitz: Uh, [Rep.] Bob Churchill said on this show he will decide [at the time] you said-- some time before Labor Day.

Rep. Beaubien: Umhmm.

Berkowitz: The Salvis, Al or Kathy. I think most recently Al has said he is not [running], that he has no intention to run.

Rep. Beaubien: That’s my understanding. He hasn’t said that to me, but that’s my understanding.

Berkowitz: He said that to me. He has no intention to run-- now.

Rep. Beaubien:[laughs] Okay.

Berkowitz: No, he has no intention to run. Of course, that could change. It has changed from time to time--

Rep. Beaubien: Umhmm.

Berkowitz: In other races. Kathy Salvi, his wife-

Rep. Beaubien: Right.

Berkowitz: … She may run. You know Kathy, as well?

Rep. Beaubien: Sure.


Berkowitz: You know Al?

Rep. Beaubien: I know all these people. They’re very fine people, and they’d make excellent-

Berkowitz: Now, they are all what you might call conservative, right?
Social Conservatives?

Rep. Beaubien: I would call them social conservatives.

Berkowitz: And, you would say you’re a social moderate?

Rep. Beaubien: Yes, that’s correct.


Berkowitz: Would you say, on economic issues, that you’re a conservative?

Rep. Beaubien: I am very conservative and I think my record with the budget office is pretty clear on that.

Berkowitz: Now, if all those four ran: McSweeney, Bartels, Churchill, and Salvi-one of the Salvis- as social conservatives, and you ran as a social moderate, do you think you’d have a good shot at winning?

Rep. Beaubien: Well, we’re getting into areas—I haven’t decided whether I’m going to run yet, or not.

Berkowitz: But, hypothetically, if you do.

Rep. Beaubien: I think historically, if you look at [Cong.] Judy Biggert, if you look at, [Speaker] Denny Hastert, et cetera, the individual who represents the area-- uh, as a state legislator or as a state senator-- does tend to have a pretty good leg up on name recognition and success.

[Ed. Note. Hard to imagine, but talking about JDH: it was 1980, just one score and five years ago that now U. S. House Speaker J.Dennis [Denny] Hastert finished third in an Illinois House primary. However, the State House incumbent became fatally ill and Hastert was chosen to take his place on the November ballot. Six years later, after the March, 1986 primary, Cong. Grotberg, with whom Hastert had interned when Grotberg was a state senator, was fatally stricken with cancer and Hastert again was chosen by the Party as a replacement....Hastert won 52-48. See Barone’s and Cohen’s Almanac of American Politics: 2004. So, boys and girls, it is possible that holding a state legislative seat is very important for name recognition and success in winning a congressional seat. But, untimely [or perhaps timely] deaths and good relationships with the party leaders can help, too. Alternatively, perhaps JDH was chosen by the Party in 1986 to run in the Congressional general election because of his name recognition, which may have reflected his six years in the Illinois State House. Or, maybe not. We discuss, you decide.]

Berkowitz: So, you-- because you have been a state rep in that area-- you have represented, what, one eighth of that district, or so?

Rep. Beaubien: Oh, much more than that. I was born and raised in Waukegan, I had my law practice in Cook County-

Berkowitz: Palatine?

Rep. Beaubien: Lake and Cook. And I represented part of McHenry County and I’ve had relations out there over the last thirty or forty years.

Berkowitz: So, in terms of name recognition, you think you might have name recognition in twenty or thirty percent of the [8th Cong.] district, or more?

Rep. Beaubien: Probably.


Berkowitz: Yes, okay. It gives you an advantage.

Rep. Beaubien: Yes.
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State Rep. Mark Beaubien [R-Wauconda], recorded on July 6, 2005 and as is airing on the Suburban edition of Public Affairs this week [week of July 18] and on the City of Chicago edition of Public Affairs on Monday night, July 25 at 8:30 pm on Cable Ch. 21. See, below, for a detailed suburban airing schedule.
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State Rep. Beaubien debates and discusses with Show Host and Executive Legal Recruiter Jeff Berkowitz Guns, Gays and Abortion; the resolution of the state budget deficit by the Governor and State Legislature in May, 2005, the role of the legislative budgeteers in that resolution; whether the Governor and the legislature reformed much of the state pension fund system, whether the capping of suburban and downstate teacher/administrator salary increases at 6% per year in their last four years for purposes of calculating pension payments will have an impact on state pension costs; the role of unions in state legislative issues; the War and foreign policy; the Bush Tax Cuts and Tax pledges; the Supreme Court nominee to replace Justice O’Connor; net worth and self funding; and much, much more.
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The suburban edition of "Public Affairs," is regularly broadcast every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 8:30 pm on Comcast Cable Channel 19 in Bannockburn, Deerfield, Ft. Sheridan, Glencoe, Highland Park, Highwood, Kenilworth, Lincolnshire, Riverwoods and Winnetka.

The suburban edition also is broadcast every Tuesday night at 8:30 p.m. on Comcast Cable Channel 19 in Buffalo Grove, Elk Grove Village, Hoffman Estates, Lincolnwood, Morton Grove, Niles, Northfield, Palatine, Rolling Meadows and Wilmette and every Tuesday night at 8:30 p.m. on Comcast Cable Channel 35 in Arlington Heights, Bartlett, Glenview, Golf, Des Plaines, Hanover Park, Mt. Prospect, Northbrook, Park Ridge, Prospect Heights, Schaumburg, Skokie, Streamwood and Wheeling.
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Transcript draft prepared by Amy Allen, who also does research for “Public Affairs,” and has her own political blog [See Obiterdictumblog here].
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Jeff Berkowitz, Host and Producer of Public Affairs and an Executive Recruiter doing Legal Search, can be reached at JBCG@aol.com
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