Capitol Fax: Willie Wilson cleared, handouts denounced, but will resume tomorrow

The controversy of last month - Willie Wilson handing out cash at a church under the guise of property tax relief - appears to be over. Mr. Wilson who made most of his money owning McDonald's franchises is cleared of wrongdoing and plans to continue his property tax relief for now.

Read more at CapFax

Willie Wilson cleared, handouts denounced, but will resume tomorrow https://t.co/5AEboSlO8T

— Rich Miller (@capitolfax) August 27, 2018

Capitol Fax: Wilson lashes out after AG requests more info about his charity

Michael Tercha, Chicago Tribune

Sharing quite a few links from Capitol Fax recently.

This time it appears the state's attorney general office is looking into the "cash giveaway"from Willie Wilson's foundation. It was big news from last month that he handed cash to church goers under the guise of property tax relief.

It's not being characterized as an audit as far as a spokesperson for the AG. However, it's safe to say Willie Wilson's campaign isn't happy with the scrutiny. And also needed to say if you look at some details of Wilson's statement you see he realizes he's being targeted by some of his political opponents.

Wilson lashes out after AG requests more info about his charity https://t.co/1Yjtg2qReL

— Rich Miller (@capitolfax) August 8, 2018

Capitol Fax: Oppo dumps! The connection between Bruce Rauner, Willie Wilson, Ken Dunkin and Maze Jackson

On Sunday Willie Wilson was at New Covenant MB Church giving away cash to those who attended worship services under the guise of "property-tax relief". Guess who also was there? Gov. Bruce Rauner who is in a tough campaign for re-election.

And evidently it's a story that continues even if it's not about Wilson's financial generosity. An oppo dump via Capitol Fax. Wilson is said to be friends with the Governor and he's not the only one.

Oppo dumps! The connection between Bruce Rauner, Willie Wilson, Ken Dunkin and Maze Jackson https://t.co/qDM4Z6vR5c

— Rich Miller (@capitolfax) July 26, 2018

There's a video in that post you should check out. A "What's in it for Black People" cookout hosted by WVON personality Maze Jackson with a special guest appearance by one Bruce Rauner. Also it should be noted Rauner has a number of friends among Black politicos though evidently not many in the state's General Assembly.

Willie Wilson gives away cash at church on Sunday

 Very interesting

Willie Wilson said he handed out a whole lot of money Sunday at a South Side church — a couple hundred grand, in fact.

But he insists that’s nothing new. And he said Sunday’s event, attended by Gov. Bruce Rauner, had absolutely nothing to do with his run for mayor. However, it’s already raised more than a few eyebrows on the campaign trail.
...
“Gov. Rauner attended a Sunday service at the New Covenant Missionary Baptist Church as a guest of Rev. Stephen Thurston,” Will Allison, a spokesman for Rauner’s campaign, said. “The governor has attended Sunday services at different churches across Illinois since he first ran for office, and other elected officials and community leaders are often present.”

The Dr. Willie Wilson Foundation promoted Sunday’s event at New Covenant Missionary Baptist Church as “one of the biggest property tax relief assistance” events of the year. On its Facebook page, the foundation said Wilson would be “giving away $300,000 to struggling homeowners.”

In the end, Wilson told the Chicago Sun-Times he gave away closer to $200,000 in checks and cash. In a phone interview, he called it “a normal thing for me.”

“We’ve been paying people’s property taxes for years,” Wilson said, adding that the money was also meant to help people pay for smaller expenses, like food or bus passes.

If you want to see video proof look no further than WGN who had cameras rolling at the New Covenant MB Church at 754 E. 77th Street.

Gov. Rauner is in a tough re-election fight and if you read Capitol Fax the gubernatorial race is predicted to be a likely Democrat pick-up based on a national political newsletter. Although we have a long way between now and November to see the match-up between the incumbent Governor and his Democrat opponent JB Pritzker.

Vallas for Mayor...

Mayor Daley's former CPS CEO and Lt. Gov. running mate with Gov. Pat Quinn in 2014 and most recently involved with Chicago State University where the CSU cut ties. Wednesday it was in the news that he's throwing his hat in the ring to run for mayor in 2019.

Vallas joins Mayor Emanuel's former police superintendent Garry McCarthy in the 5th floor sweepstakes. The Sun-Times has the exclusive.

EXCLUSIVE: ‘He’s in it to win’: Paul Vallas joins mayoral race, @Sneedlings writes. https://t.co/bvGdb1R29z

— Chicago Sun-Times (@Suntimes) March 28, 2018

Vallas, who is calling his campaign “Paul Vallas for Chicago,” now joins a contentious list of candidates — including Chicago’s former top cop Garry McCarthy — hoping to unseat Mayor Rahm Emanuel.

“The filing will include a list of Vallas’ mayoral campaign officials,” said Odelson, which includes retired Cook County Circuit Court Judge Marilyn Johnson as chairperson of Vallas’ campaign and Dean Vallas, Paul’s brother, who will be treasurer of the campaign committee,” said Odelson, who was the election lawyer for Richard M. Daley during his successful first bid for mayor.

“I believe Paul can find the solutions to help Chicago’s crime, budget and school problems without the gross involvement of politics,” said Odelson.

“We may be coming to a time when many progressive groups come together and do the right thing,” he added. “I’m going to invest myself in Paul and help him through this process of getting on the ballot; winning outright in February or getting into the runoff.”

Sneed hears Vallas — who was invited weeks ago by mayoral hopeful McCarthy to a hush-hush sit-down to discuss their mutual enmity of Emanuel — has also conferred with McDonald’s franchise millionaire Willie Wilson.

Hmmm, so potential mayoral contenders conferring to defeat Emanuel. The plot begins the thicken!

Mayoral results by Ward (6,8,9,17,21)

Here are the mayoral results according to the wards we generally cover.

The mayor had about 43-42% of our communities' vote (slightly lower than the citywide average). Jesus Garcia and Willie Wilson were very close between 22-27%), with Dock Walls and especially Bob Fioretti (who had an office on 79th street near Calumet) doing relatively poorly.  The full results, from which the following are from, are located at http://www.chicagoelections.com/en/wdlevel3.asp?elec_code=10

Ward	Votes Cast	RAHM EMANUEL	%	WILLIE WILSON	%	ROBERT W. FIORETTI	%	JESUS ''CHUY'' GARCIA	%	WILLIAM WALLS, III	%
6	10225	4341	42.45%	2399	23.46%	476	4.66%	2347	22.95%	662	6.47%
8	13198	5718	43.32%	2896	21.94%	546	4.14%	3181	24.10%	857	6.49%
9	11586	5001	43.16%	2775	23.95%	500	4.32%	2561	22.10%	749	6.46%
17	8570	3425	39.96%	2272	26.51%	318	3.71%	2057	24.00%	498	5.81%
21	12621	5330	42.23%	3087	24.46%	496	3.93%	2815	22.30%	893	7.08%

We may try to post a breakdown by precinct (as available from The Chicago Board of Elections website) in the near future, so see which precincts favored which candidates.

What was the talk of your neighborhood?