Joe Moore is about to gear up for yet another election, this time for Congress in 2009. Joe Moore would rather be a Congressman, but he'll have to be elected. Seems that discredited 49th Ward Alderman Joe Moore would not simply be appointed to fill in a Schakowsky vacancy, as previously reported here. A well-informed reader straightens us out on what would happen if Joe Moore decides to pursue his Congressional aspirations.
Dear Bench:
Should Senator Obama become our next President, the Governor of Illinois, Rod Blagojevich (or possibly Lt. Gov. Quinn) will appoint a replacement to complete the remainder of Senator’s term.
The candidates lining the shelves in the speculation department include Illinois Comptroller Dan Hynes, Atty. Gen. Lisa Madigan, Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., Rep. Jan Schakowsky, Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn and - believe it or not - Gov. Blagojevich himself. Each potential appointee elicits a particular soup of issues, ideals, history, and, sadly still, identity politics.
The Seventeenth Amendment says that vacancies in the Senate may be filled by special elections, which are typically conducted at the same time as the next biennial congressional election. This means if Sen. Obama resigns effective January 2010, then the appointee might serve until 2012 - when the seat is up anyway.
As interesting as it is to think about who might serve out the remainder of Senator Obama’s term - Jan Schakowsky - it’s equally, if not more interesting, to think about who might run for the seat that will be vacated by the appointee.
If it is a constitutional officer who has already served more than half of their term, the Governor simply appoints a replacement. However, if Rep. Jackson or Rep. Schakowsky is appointed, then the Governor must call a special election (including a primary) to determine who replaces them.
This means that Alderman Moore cannot, wish that he might, be appointed. He can, however, as we've seen before in these hills, be chosen.
[Bench Note: The reader is referring to the way that Heather Steans was recently "chosen" by the local Democrat power elite to receive their heavy financial backing and foot soldier support.]
By the way, I don't think Barbara wants to be Alderman. She wants to be Mrs. Moore. I hear that's in the works. Will she settle for being married to an Alderman? If she has to, I suppose. But in her heart of hearts, I think she aspires to higher "office," if you know what I mean.
RELATED READING:
Schakking Up With Jan and Joe
Congressman Joe Moore: God Help Us All
