Blagojevich Sentencing Hits Suburban-Chicago Community of Joliet, Illinois And Touches The Race For Illinois House of Representatives - District 86

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Joliet, Illinois, United States of America (Free-Press-Release.com) December 10, 2011 -- 12/10/11

JOLIET, ILLINOIS

Blagojevich Sentencing Hits Suburban Community of Joliet, Illinois And Touches The Race For Illinois House of Representatives - District 86.

On the week ending December 10, 2011, a sentence was finally handed-down to the former Governor of Illinois, Rod Blagojevich, who was indicted for attempting to sell the U.S. Senate Seat once held by now President, Barack Obama. Here are a few mentions by area news media.

Chicago Tribune Reports (in-part):

"A contrite former Gov. Rod Blagojevich was sentenced Wednesday to 14 years in federal prison, capping one of the state's worst political scandals and humbling a controversial and defiant figure who rode into office as a champion of reform. Blagojevich, who became the first Illinois governor impeached and involuntarily removed from office, is expected to turn himself in to start serving his sentence Feb. 16 — putting two Illinois governors in prison at the same time. Ryan is serving a 61/2-year prison term."

Politico Reports (in-part):
" “The harm here is not measured in the value of money and property,” U.S. District Judge James Zagel said in handing down the tough sentence, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. “The harm is the erosion of the public trust in government. When it is the governor who goes bad, the fabric of Illinois is torn and disfigured and not easily repaired,” Zagel added. “You did that.” "

Fox News.Com Reports (in-part):

"CHICAGO – Several jurors from Rod Blagojevich's corruption trials agree with the stiff 14-year prison sentence handed to the former Illinois governor. James Matsumoto was jury foreman at Blagojevich's first trial. He says the judge made the right call."

As the news of this sentencing travels across the Nation, it also hit home to the Suburban-Chicago community of Joliet, Illinois - a community 40-minutes south of Chicago. A candidate for Illinois House of Representatives for this area, Ryan M. Alm, begs the question: Is the following (below) the right call as well?

John C. "Jack" McGuire (D-IL), is a 20-year / 10-term Illinois House Representative, of District 86 (Joliet), who was questioned by the State Journal Register, a news publication of Southern Illinois, which covers local Springfield news and news regarding the State's Capitol proceedings. Read below their questions to Rep. McGuire regarding Rod Blagojevich and the responses by this Representative, who is one of the longest running Representatives in the Illinois General Assembly, who still holds public office:

Question - Should the governor resign immediately?
Rep. McGuire Response - "No response"

Question - Should the legislature start impeachment proceedings immediately?
Rep. McGuire Response - "No response"

Question - Should Illinois have a special election to pick Barack Obama's U.S. Senate replacement?
Rep. McGuire Response - "No response"

Question - Regardless of what happens with Blagojevich, should the Legislature take steps to curb the power a governor has in this state?

Rep. McGuire Response - "No response"

Question - Can Illinois recover from this latest corruption embarrassment and government mess?
Rep. McGuire Response - "No response"

Jack McGuire, who on 11/28/11 filed nominating papers to run yet again for his 11th term, trying to extend his elected position to a 22nd and 23rd year, is facing a Republican challenger, Candidate Ryan M. Alm, who filed his nominating papers on 12/1/11. Candidate Alm is a former Will County crime fighter, a legal and business professional, a lifetime resident of Will County and father of 3 in the Joliet community, who is also seeking the House Representative Seat for District 86, which encompasses the cities of Crest Hill, Joliet, Rockdale, Elwood and Channahon.

"I am extremely unhappy with the responses by Rep.McGuire," Candidate Alm stated. "At the time when Rep.McGuire was questioned by the State Journal Register it was at the height of the scandal and the citizens of District 86 could have used some inspiring comments and leadership from this failed Representative," he continued to state. "If I were the Representative at that time and was asked whether Illinois can recover from this latest corruption, embarrassment and government mess," Alm continued, "I would have realized that this is the moment that our Constituents needed real 'leadership' and a positive uplifting message to instill some sense of security in our political process. I would have said: Yes, Illinois can definitely recover from this corruption scandal."

"There are still good politicians out there, good leaders, which despite this scandal are still trying to do good work and look out for the needs of the citizens of Illinois. As in any other past scandal, if we work hard and get back to our honest traditions, family values and Constitutional principles we can get through any adversity that comes our way. I still believe that Illinois is one of the best States, in the United Sates, to live and work and I will fight tirelessly to represent the needs of the District's constituents and towards re-establishing Illinois' good name."

Candidate Ryan M. Alm claims there is a real difference between the Candidates, beyond just the lack of response by Rep.McGuire to the news media, and sets forth those differences in a website entitled "The Family Man vs. The Tax Man," found at www.FAMILYMANvTAXMAN.info. Candidate Alm claims that responses like Rep.McGuire's serve no purpose other than to protect the Representative's own interests, and that it adds to the erosion of public trust and the Candidate feels that more transparency is needed in the District 86 office.

Certainly, as the 2012 races for public office heat up across Illinois, one can only hope that Illinois citizens can continue to move from the mistakes of the past and entrust in a new wave of positive leadership to guide the State out of its troubled waters and into a more prosperous future... one that involves more transparency and closer ties to the "values" of the communities. Values that put public service and constituent's needs above the personal and political needs of each particular politician.

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