Sunday, July 09, 2006
Former Lee Daniels Staffer Tells All About Political Work on State Time
Here's the rest of the story:
Apparently written by a Lee Daniels’ staffer—who admits working on the Hughes campaign while still on the state payroll—the memo appears to be directed to someone in the Verr campaign, “The following is information you requested regarding the Ann Hughes campaign,” it says.
“First of all, the complaint filed against the Taxpayers League is right on target,” the memo asserts. “Jerry Clarke, House Policy Staff Director for Daniels, told me that the Taxpayers League was an organization created as a front group to protect Republican legislators who were in trouble on tax issues.”
Election Board minutes indicate that Verna Clayton (R-Buffalo Grove) and Hughes were incumbent beneficiaries of pre-primary mailings to Republicans and, perhaps, to independents. Clayton’s opponent was Mike Salvi, brother of then-candidate for U.S. Senate State Rep. Al Salvi (R-Mundelein) and future candidate for State Representative Tom Salvi (R-Crystal Lake).
“During the campaign, HRCC (the House Republican Campaign Committee) paid for the mailing from this group. The writing of the letter was done by a combination of people,” the memo writer continues.
Republican Staffers’ Wrote the Endorsement Letter
“A first draft would be written by Lena Peterson (House Press Staff) and Dan Bluthardt (Department of Professional Regulations),” the memo continues. “The mail piece would then go to Mike Cys (House Communications Director) and Mike Teratano [memo author may be referring to Mike Tristano] (former chief-of-staff to Daniels) to be layed out, etc.
“The final draft would then go to Ann Hughes for her stamp-of-approval. The piece would then go to printing and mailing by UNISTAT, a mail house owned by Roger Stanley,” continued the memo.
Stanley has recently also agreed to cooperate with the government in the prosecution of “Official One” and “Committee One.” “Committee One” was the House Republican Campaign Committee and "Official One" ended up being his Chief of Staff Mike Tristano.
Insider Wrote Memo
The memo writer, who apparently was involved in the Hughes campaign, writes, “I remember Ann was frustrated and anxious because it had not gone out sooner and she was getting beat up on the tax issue. The campaign budgeted for HRCC to spend approximately $25,000 on direct mail. The Hughes campaign paid for several mailings, a seniors piece, the letter from the township officials, I believe they paid for the final endorsement piece. HRCC paid for phone banks to do voter i.d., advocacy, and GOTV [Get Out The Vote] in the final month of the campaign.
“In addition to free staffers, HRCC/Speaker Lee Daniels also arranged for many state government employees and lobbyist to come in on week-ends and walk precincts,” the memo continues. “State employees would have to sign in to prove that they were there, and this list would be turned in to the Speaker’s Offices.
Memo Names Names; Admits Working on Campaign on State Time
“The following are names of the Speaker’s staff who were assigned full or part time to the Hughes campaign or who is some way were involved,” it continues. “Keep in mind that several of us went off the state payroll and on HRCC’s payroll February 15, even though myself and another staffer had been assigned to the campaign a month earlier.”
The memo goes on to name staffers who worked on the campaign:
Others named in the memo include
Pam (Illinios Education Association) was responsible for final GOTV effort.
“Most of these people are located either in Lee Daniels’ Chicago office or in the Springfield offices of the majority.
Liberal Special Interest Groups Play Big Role in Hughes Campaign
“The Illinois Education Association provided a full time staffer the final two weeks of the campaign and also contributed $8,000,” the memo states. “Personal PAC also did voter I.D. and advocacy calling for Hughes and followed up with mailings.”
Personal PAC is the most ardent opponent of any protections of unborn babies. The Illinois Education Association represents most unionized teachers outside of Chicago.
Memo Correctly Predicts Hughes Won’t Run in 1998
The memo author writes,
Depressing That Money Spent on HughesCould Have Been Spent in November Close Race
“I truly believe if Daniels had not helped Ann Hughes she would not have won the election,” the memo continued. “What is very depressing is that the money that was spent on the Hughes campaign is money that could have been spent in November on a close race between a Republican and a Democrat. People contribute their money to HRCC to be used for the Republican cause, not to be used in races against fellow Republicans.”
“It is wrong, unethical and deceptive, just like the Taxpayers League,” the staffer concludes.
Daniels’ House Republican Campaign Committee did not back enough winners in the fall election for the Republican Party to maintain a majority. In Illinois, Daniels remained Republican House leader until 2002, never again achieving a majority.
In 2002, Daniels resigned under pressure from GOP gubernatorial nominee Jim Ryan after charges were brought to the attention of the U.S. Attorney that House staffers had worked on state time in McHenry County for McHenry County House Republican House candidate(s), among others.
To return to McHenry County Blog, click here.
Apparently written by a Lee Daniels’ staffer—who admits working on the Hughes campaign while still on the state payroll—the memo appears to be directed to someone in the Verr campaign, “The following is information you requested regarding the Ann Hughes campaign,” it says.
“First of all, the complaint filed against the Taxpayers League is right on target,” the memo asserts. “Jerry Clarke, House Policy Staff Director for Daniels, told me that the Taxpayers League was an organization created as a front group to protect Republican legislators who were in trouble on tax issues.”
Election Board minutes indicate that Verna Clayton (R-Buffalo Grove) and Hughes were incumbent beneficiaries of pre-primary mailings to Republicans and, perhaps, to independents. Clayton’s opponent was Mike Salvi, brother of then-candidate for U.S. Senate State Rep. Al Salvi (R-Mundelein) and future candidate for State Representative Tom Salvi (R-Crystal Lake).
“During the campaign, HRCC (the House Republican Campaign Committee) paid for the mailing from this group. The writing of the letter was done by a combination of people,” the memo writer continues.
Republican Staffers’ Wrote the Endorsement Letter
“A first draft would be written by Lena Peterson (House Press Staff) and Dan Bluthardt (Department of Professional Regulations),” the memo continues. “The mail piece would then go to Mike Cys (House Communications Director) and Mike Teratano [memo author may be referring to Mike Tristano] (former chief-of-staff to Daniels) to be layed out, etc.
“The final draft would then go to Ann Hughes for her stamp-of-approval. The piece would then go to printing and mailing by UNISTAT, a mail house owned by Roger Stanley,” continued the memo.
Stanley has recently also agreed to cooperate with the government in the prosecution of “Official One” and “Committee One.” “Committee One” was the House Republican Campaign Committee and "Official One" ended up being his Chief of Staff Mike Tristano.
Insider Wrote Memo
The memo writer, who apparently was involved in the Hughes campaign, writes, “I remember Ann was frustrated and anxious because it had not gone out sooner and she was getting beat up on the tax issue. The campaign budgeted for HRCC to spend approximately $25,000 on direct mail. The Hughes campaign paid for several mailings, a seniors piece, the letter from the township officials, I believe they paid for the final endorsement piece. HRCC paid for phone banks to do voter i.d., advocacy, and GOTV [Get Out The Vote] in the final month of the campaign.
“In addition to free staffers, HRCC/Speaker Lee Daniels also arranged for many state government employees and lobbyist to come in on week-ends and walk precincts,” the memo continues. “State employees would have to sign in to prove that they were there, and this list would be turned in to the Speaker’s Offices.
Memo Names Names; Admits Working on Campaign on State Time
“The following are names of the Speaker’s staff who were assigned full or part time to the Hughes campaign or who is some way were involved,” it continues. “Keep in mind that several of us went off the state payroll and on HRCC’s payroll February 15, even though myself and another staffer had been assigned to the campaign a month earlier.”
The memo goes on to name staffers who worked on the campaign:
Lena Peterson (House Press Staff, assigned full time to Hughes campaign).Corroborating information in the file was supplied by the House Republican Campaign Committee itself. It shows $1,194 paid to Bryan Davis on both Feb. 27 and March 12, 1996. Michelle Michals was paid $1,027 on the same dates. Lisa Petersen also received $746 for “payroll” each day, as is Lisa Gregory is reported to have been paid $725 both pay days. All four also received $300 travel stipends on Feb. 27th. It is about 200 miles from Springfield to Woodstock..
Bryan Davis (House Policy Staff, assigned full time to Hughes campaign).
Michele Michaels (House Research Staff, assigned full time to Hughes campaign).
Lisa Gregory (Personal assistant to Jerry Clarke, House Policy staff, assigned full time).
Others named in the memo include
Cary’s Dan Bluthardt, a former Daniels’ employee and son of former State Representative Ed Bluthhardt, who then worked for the Department of Professional Regulation. Bluthardt is said to have worked on the weekends.Jerry Clarke, went on to be a top employee of Congressman Tim Johnson, who “oversaw all press staff on campaigns and oversaw direct mail plan."
Pam (Illinios Education Association) was responsible for final GOTV effort.
“Most of these people are located either in Lee Daniels’ Chicago office or in the Springfield offices of the majority.
Liberal Special Interest Groups Play Big Role in Hughes Campaign
“The Illinois Education Association provided a full time staffer the final two weeks of the campaign and also contributed $8,000,” the memo states. “Personal PAC also did voter I.D. and advocacy calling for Hughes and followed up with mailings.”
Personal PAC is the most ardent opponent of any protections of unborn babies. The Illinois Education Association represents most unionized teachers outside of Chicago.
Memo Correctly Predicts Hughes Won’t Run in 1998
The memo author writes,
“I believe it is important to link the Taxpayers League letter directly to Ann Hughes as closely as possible, because she knew about it and did nothing to stop it. She has stated privately that if she has another primary in 1998, she will not run. This could be what puts her over the edge.”Wrong to Use HRCC Money “Against Fellow Republicans;”
Depressing That Money Spent on HughesCould Have Been Spent in November Close Race
“I truly believe if Daniels had not helped Ann Hughes she would not have won the election,” the memo continued. “What is very depressing is that the money that was spent on the Hughes campaign is money that could have been spent in November on a close race between a Republican and a Democrat. People contribute their money to HRCC to be used for the Republican cause, not to be used in races against fellow Republicans.”
“It is wrong, unethical and deceptive, just like the Taxpayers League,” the staffer concludes.
Daniels’ House Republican Campaign Committee did not back enough winners in the fall election for the Republican Party to maintain a majority. In Illinois, Daniels remained Republican House leader until 2002, never again achieving a majority.
In 2002, Daniels resigned under pressure from GOP gubernatorial nominee Jim Ryan after charges were brought to the attention of the U.S. Attorney that House staffers had worked on state time in McHenry County for McHenry County House Republican House candidate(s), among others.
To return to McHenry County Blog, click here.
# posted by Cal Skinner : 7:13 AM
