Will Paul Play in Peoria?: Mangieri slated for State Treasurer
by Mike Kroll
On Sunday the movers and shakers of
Illinois Democratic politics met in Springfield to hammer out a slate for the
2006 election. Given that the Democratic party already controls all but one of
the statewide offices and those incumbents are all seeking reelection the only
real mystery to this meeting was who to run for Treasurer. In a press release
issued Sunday night, the Democratic State Central Committee announced that Knox
County StateÕs Attorney Paul Mangieri was their unanimous pick for the
TreasurerÕs slot.
ÒThe unanimous support of the party means
a lot to me and I am grateful for their confidence in me,Ó stated Mangieri in
Galesburg Tuesday. ÒThis whole thing has happened in a whirlwind fashion, quite
a different feeling than my run for Lieutenant Governor four years ago. Then we
faced an uphill battle just to get through the Democratic primary, while this
time I have the full weight of the party behind my candidacy.Ó
Mangieri didnÕt finish out that run four
years ago, dropping out to challenge Republican newcomer Dale Risinger in an
unsuccessful bid for State Senate. But during his nearly year-long quest for
the Lieutenant Governor nod, Mangieri criss-crossed the state making
impassioned speeches and meeting with both voters and local Democratic
officials everywhere. Apparently those contacts made an impression; MangieriÕs
name rose to the top of a list of downstate politicians under consideration for
a ticket that is otherwise dominated by Chicagoans.
As the RepublicanÕs sole statewide
officeholder, three-term Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka would be a formidable
opponent if she seeks a fourth term, but Topinka is also said to be considering
a run for Governor. Either way, she is widely regarded as the strongest
remaining Republican candidate for statewide office which sets up a very real
challenge be it against Governor Rod Blagojevich or Mangieri.
Meanwhile, it is considered likely that
some in the wide field of Republican gubernatorial hopefuls will be talked into
other statewide ticket slots in an effort to avoid the kind of primary
bloodbath experienced by both political parties in past years.
ItÕs not entirely clear who in the
Democratic party was instrumental in putting Mangieri into consideration but we
do know that his two key allies in getting slated were Senate President Emil
Jones and House Speaker Mike Madigan (who is also chairman of the Illinois
Democratic Party). In the weeks leading up to the Sunday slating meeting,
Madigan and party workers under him had contacted Mangieri asking that be
present himself for consideration on Sunday. Mangieri was already well known to
Jones following his 2002 State Senate race.
Mangieri and others have confirmed that
Madigan and other party leaders felt strongly that a downstater was necessary
to balance the ticket. Also key to MangieriÕs running has been his friend, and
now campaign manager, Tim McAnarney.
ÒPaul impressed a lot of people across
the state during the Lieutenant GovernorÕs race,Ó commented McAnarney. ÒWhile
he may not be a household name amongst voters he is certainly not an unknown
commodity within the party. PaulÕs background as a lawyer in the NavyÕs judge
advocate office coupled with his career in private practice and as Knox County
StateÕs Attorney have demonstrated well his intellectual and legal
qualifications. He is also a man of acknowledged integrity and proven
administrative skills. I know Paul and can assure you he will be an excellent
candidate. He connects well with voters on both a personal level and as a
dynamic and exciting speaker. Those are the kinds of qualities that made him an
obvious choice of the party.Ó
ÒIt is still very early in the process
and I am working with the state party people to get my campaign organized and
staffed,Ó explained Mangieri. ÒI loved the campaign four years ago and an sure
that was what made this party slating a possibility. We ran an energetic
up-close and personal statewide campaign without the power and resources of the
party where I was able to meet with Democrats across the state. Most of those
folks had never heard of a StateÕs Attorney from Abingdon but they remembered
me well enough after we campaigned. In many ways I am a different sort of
political animal but I have respect for the Democratic party and our key
constituencies. I look forward to once again hitting the road to meet with
voters across this great state.Ó
McAnarney stresses that this will be a
different race in one key regard, this time Mangieri carries the full weight
and confidence of the party into his campaign. ÒWhen you combine PaulÕs
political skills and personal assets with the strengths of the Democratic Party
I think you end up with a formidable candidate regardless of who he runs
against in the general election. Paul delivers a tremendous stump speech
unmatched by anyone the Republicans are likely to put against him.Ó
Mangieri will be one of very few Knox
County politicians of either party to run for statewide office and only three
before him have actually held it. The once-formidable downstate Republican
party boss, Omer N. Custer, was the last person from Knox County to attain a
statewide elected office and it was also Treasurer — a position he won
twice (1924 and 1928). Another Knox County Republican, Moses O. Williamson also
served a two-year term as State Treasurer following the 1900 election. Before
the Civil War, Democrat William McMurty of Henderson was elected Lieutenant
Governor in 1848 and served for four years. The last Knox County resident to
run in a general election for statewide office was Carl Hawkinson who ran
unsuccessfully as a Republican for Lieutenant Governor four years ago. Shortly
after that race, Blagojevich picked him as his homeland security chief.
Right now it isnÕt known if Mangieri will
face opposition in the March primary. Between now and then, he has to organize
both a background campaign committee and fund-raising operation and start
shaking hands across the state. McAnarney will be instrumental in the former
with the way greased considerably by MangieriÕs status as the anointed
candidate. As for direct campaigning Mangieri may well turn to his friend and
fellow Knox County official, Sheriff Jim Thompson. While Thompson is up for
reelection in 2006 neither he nor Mangieri faced opposition in their last campaigns
and both are considered excellent grassroots politicians. Thompson accompanied
Mangieri to the Springfield slating meeting and was actively working the room
full of central committee people on PaulÕs behalf.
ÒAfter the slating meeting was completed, I went up to [Democratic
party] chairman Madigan to thank him for his support and asked him for advice
on getting my campaign started,Ó quipped Mangieri. ÒHe told me that neither
thanks nor advice were necessary and instructed me to Ôgo to workÕ on the
campaign trail.Ó