Meanwhile, a new poll showed the two about even in the governor's race. The poll found 44 percent of registered voters supporting Topinka and 41 percent backing Blagojevich, with a margin of error of 4 percentage points.

Topinka said Blagojevich is responsible for a "debacle" in this year's standardized testing of Illinois students.

The company hired to oversee testing delivered incomplete versions of the test or got it to schools late, forcing delays.

"This year, Illinois students, parents and teachers fell victim to the incompetence and cronyism of the Blagojevich administration because the contract ... was given to a company that only weeks before had hired a close friend of Governor Blagojevich as their lobbyist," said Topinka, the state treasurer.

Actually, the contract was awarded before the company, Texas-based Harcourt Assessment Inc., hired former Blagojevich aide John Wyma as a lobbyist. Harcourt won the job while a prominent Republican chaired the State Board of Education.

Wyma, as The Associated Press reported in February, was brought in later, when there was a possibility that the board might reopen the contract and solicit new bids. The board ended up sticking with its original contract decision.

Blagojevich, under a 2004 change in the law, has taken much greater control over the State Board of Education. He appointed new board members, forced out the previous superintendent and hired a new one, and installed an aide as chief of staff for about a year.

Topinka said the board should be more independent.

Major campaign donors and aides should not be named to the board, she said, and the law should be changed back so that brand-new governors can't get rid of most members and appoint a new majority.

"You pick people who are really hard-and-fast into education for education's sake and for the sake of the children," she said.

Blagojevich's campaign did not return a call seeking comment. But his office called to defend his record.

Education adviser Elliott Regenstein said the key decisions about the testing company were made before Blagojevich gained greater control of the board and that Harcourt misled board members about the extent of the problem.

He also said the governor's greater control has made the board more accountable and efficient. "Education is far too important to be divorced from the will of the people," Regenstein said.

The new poll also asked voters about the possibility of state Sen. James Meeks, the black minister at a major Chicago church, running for governor. It found that the race remains essentially tied if he runs: 40 percent for Topinka, 38 percent for Blagojevich and 7 percent for Meeks.

The telephone survey of 600 registered Illinois voters was conducted March 30-April 1 by The Glengariff Group, a Chicago research and marketing firm. It was not commissioned by any of the campaigns.

Topinka v. Blagojevich: Early campaign buzz will be meaningless by fall - Carol Marin 

http://www.suntimes.com/output/marin/cst-edt-carol052.html

Let's talk about tea leaves. That, after all, is what political pundits try to read on regular basis. Sometimes successfully. Often not.

DeLay gone, but not forgotten in 6th District race - Lynn Sweet

http://www.suntimes.com/output/elect/cst-nws-sweet05.html

Tom DeLay said Tuesday he is quitting Congress because he does not want Republicans to lose House seats in November because of him.

DAILY HERALD

Topinka blasts governor, shows early lead in polls - AP 

http://www.dailyherald.com/news/illinoisstory.asp?id=174573

Republican candidate Judy Baar Topinka accused Gov. Rod Blagojevich of interfering with the State Board of Education and promised Tuesday to make the board more independent if she replaces him.

Blagojevich’s campaign said Topinka doesn’t understand the facts and that the governor’s control has improved the board.

Meanwhile, a new poll showed the two about even in the governor’s race. The poll found 44 percent of registered voters supporting Topinka and 41 percent backing Blagojevich, with a margin of error of 4 percentage points.

Topinka said Blagojevich is responsible for a “debacle” in this year’s standardized testing of Illinois students.

The company hired to oversee testing delivered incomplete versions of the test or got it to schools late, forcing delays.

“This year, Illinois students, parents and teachers fell victim to the incompetence and cronyism of the Blagojevich administration because the contract  … was given to a company that only weeks before had hired a close friend of Governor Blagojevich as their lobbyist,” said Topinka, the state treasurer.

Actually, Texas-based Harcourt Assessment Inc. won the contract before hiring former Blagojevich aide John Wyma as a lobbyist. Harcourt was told it had the winning bid while a prominent Republican chaired the State Board of Education.

Wyma, as reported in February, was brought in later, when there was a possibility that the board might reopen the contract and solicit new bids. The board ended up sticking with its original contract decision.

Campaign spokesman Doug Scofield said Blagojevich and the board have been aggressive about holding the company responsible for its mistakes. “Judy’s kind of displaying a lack of understanding of the facts here,” Scofield said.

Blagojevich, under a 2004 change in the law, has taken much greater control over the State Board of Education. He appointed new board members, forced out the previous superintendent and hired a new one, and installed an aide as chief of staff for about a year.

Topinka said the board should be more independent.

Major campaign donors and aides should not be named to the board, she said, and the law should be changed back so that brand-new governors can’t get rid of most members and appoint a new majority.

“You pick people who are really hard-and-fast into education for education’s sake and for the sake of the children,” she said.

Blagojevich education adviser Elliot Regenstein said the key decisions about the testing company were made before Blagojevich gained greater control of the board and that Harcourt misled board members about the extent of the problem.

He also said the governor’s greater control has made the board more accountable and efficient. “Education is far too important to be divorced from the will of the people,” Regenstein said.

The new poll also asked voters about the possibility of state Sen. James Meeks, the black minister at a major Chicago church, running for governor. It found that the race remains essentially tied if he runs: 40 percent for Topinka, 38 percent for Blagojevich and 7 percent for Meeks.

The telephone survey of 600 registered Illinois voters was conducted March 30-April 1 by The Glengariff Group, a Chicago research and marketing firm. It was not commissioned by any of the campaigns.

Duckworth brings up DeLay  Republican rival Roskam worked for ex-House majority leader in the 1980s - Marni Pyke
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/dupagestory.asp?id=174475

It’s early in the Peter Roskam and Tammy Duckworth 6th Congressional District match-up, but that isn’t stopping her from taking a swing at her Republican opponent over the departure of Tom Delay from politics.

Duckworth, an Iraq war veteran, on Tuesday criticized Roskam, a state senator from Wheaton, for ties to DeLay, the scandal-plagued former U.S. House majority leader.

Duckworth, a Hoffman Estates resident, noted that Roskam got his start with DeLay and received contributions from him.

A Roskam spokesman dismissed the criticism as irrelevant.

“It’s tiresome,” campaign manager Ryan McLaughlin said. “He worked for Tom DeLay for eight months, 21 years ago.”

DeLay, who announced his resignation from Congress Tuesday, was indicted on charges of misconduct related to campaign funds, part of an investigation into corruption involving lobbyists.

Roskam was a legislative aide to DeLay in the 1980s.

Duckworth also challenged Roskam to come up with ethics reforms.

She advocates preventing former members of Congress from becoming lobbyists for two years after leaving office, prohibiting travel paid by lobbyists and creating an office of public integrity.

McLaughlin said Roskam has demonstrated his commitment to ethics by tangible deeds such as co-authoring an Illinois State Toll Highway Authority reform bill.

“Throughout his career, Peter’s been an advocate for ethics,” McLaughlin said.

Meanwhile, Duckworth’s rival in the March 21 Democratic primary, Christine Cegelis, gave her blessing to Duckworth’s bid.

The endorsement came two weeks after a bitter primary battle that pitted local favorite Cegelis against Duckworth. While Cegelis had considerable support from grassroots organizations, she couldn’t beat Duckworth, who lost both legs in combat and became an instant celebrity after entering the race at the urging of Democratic national leaders.

Duckworth officials said they weren’t sure how far Cegelis’ olive branch would extend and if it would include turning over her mailing lists of supporters.

Cegelis on Tuesday declined to elaborate on how involved she would be with the Duckworth effort.

Gay Games rowing event in Crystal Lake greenlighted  No-wake restriction approved to help event - Patrick Garmoe
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/mchenrystory.asp?id=174561

During two Cary Park District meetings in March, commissioners listened to hours of heated debate on both sides over whether to allow the Gay Games to use the lake for an afternoon regatta event July 16.

Tuesday night, however, Mayor Aaron Shepley said the Crystal Lake City Council was not voting on whether to allow the Gay Games regatta event, or on the issue of homosexuality itself.

All Tuesday night was about was whether to change some restrictions to help the event go smoothly, Shepley said, and the final vote was 6-1 in favor of altering no-wake restrictions and temporarily closing Lakeshore Drive so boats could be loaded and unloaded.

The event, which could draw as many as 12,000 competitors from 30 countries to the Chicago area, is part of a week of festivities open to heterosexual as well as homosexual athletes.

Park district officials have offered mixed signals what was up for debate regarding the Gay Games, however. Park district commissioners voted to approve the event back in March.

On Monday, Park District Director Kirk Reimer said this wasn’t just about approving rules. He said the park district, the city and Lakewood had to approve the idea, not just logistical matters related to it.

Although the crowd Tuesday night was bigger than usual — about 40 people came for the discussion about the Gay Games — all but one of the eight speakers voiced support for the event.

And when Shepley heard Jeffe Beebe drift into discussing why allowing an event highlighting homosexuality was a bad idea — the key debate during the park district meeting — he demanded Beebe quit speaking or get back onto the topic.

“I feel I was lied to,” said Beebe, who thought the meeting was about whether to allow the games, not just the no-wake hours.

In addition, council members approved waiving boat sticker fees, since the rowers would only be there for the day.

Councilman Jeffrey Thorsen said he voted against the proposal purely because he wanted the no-wake hours to start at noon instead of 11 a.m., but council members approved the 11 a.m. start. It would have given motorboat operators an extra hour to use the lake.

Now, Lakeshore Drive will be closed between Leonard Parkway and Dole Avenue from 10 a.m. to noon and 7 to 9 p.m. so the boats can be loaded and unloaded.

And wake-creating boats won’t be allowed after 11 a.m. that Sunday.

“It was pleasing and gratifying to just talk about rowing,” said Kevin Boyer, Gay Games co-vice chairman.

Sali Rexhepi, former owner of The Viking Restaurant in Winfield, charged with failing to report $1.5 million income

(Not posted as of 5:00 AM)