The Urbana Republican said he is leaving the Legislature for personal reasons, adding that he's about to turn 49 and it is time to make a career change if he ever is going to.Speculation is already beginning about why, and what's next for the veteran Republican. He pretty much declined to say what he's planning, according the article:
He said he would not rule out running for office at some later date, but had no position in mind.And since he's not saying what his plans are, let me add my speculation.
Although he had kept quiet about the decision, it had been coming for months, when he stopped fundraising efforts for re-election.
There was a delightful hint in the story that I'll expand into a full-fledged, unfair and totally baseless rumor.
He said he would endorse former Gov. Jim Edgar against Gov. Rod Blagojevich if Edgar chose to run, but said "at this time" he is not part of an Edgar campaign.Although he is quoted as saying 'This has nothing to do with Jim Edgar' one can't help but wonder about the 'at this time' line. With the rumors abounding that Edgar folks are sniffing around and hinting more openly at a gubernatorial candidacy, could Winkel become a part of the campaign? More than a part?
Could Winkel become a campaign manager?
Could Winkel become a lieutenant governor candidate?
Could it be that he's just dropping out of politics? For a while? Permanently?
Only time will tell.
This should be fun
And so it goes.
4 comments:
He's 49 years old..There is no way he's retiring. He'll re-appear in some other way.
I would highly doubt that Winkel is the campaign manager for any Edgar campaign. Edgar amendatorily vetoed Winkel's Chief Illiniwek bill way back in 1995, and I don't remember Winkel as much of a supporter of Edgar's 1997 school funding bill. Winkel floated the tax swap this session, but he wasn't there back then.
Finally, I don't see what Winkel would give Edgar as his lite guv. Two eastern Illinois GOP males at the top of the ticket? More likely to be a female from the suburbs.
Just my random thoughts.
Dazed; you're probably right.
After much thought I'm beginning to wonder of he just wants to get out of the political mud for a little while and concentrate on making a few (legal) bucks without having to kiss too many .... you know. At age 49, there's plenty of time to get back in the game, and in a few years, the political situation in Springpatch might be a bit better. At least for GOPs.
But ain't it fun to speculate on all sorts of wild ideas? (I still don't see Edgar running, so....)
absolutely!
I know what you're saying about Edgar. It just doesn't make sense for him to run. Sort of a been there; done that kind of thing ... but ... to speculate some more, maybe he hatches a deal with Karl Rove or whoever at the Bush White House to make him a Cabinet Secretary (maybe Dept. of Transportation if Mineta were to leave) in case he were to lose. That way, the Illinois GOP gets a more viable candidate for Gov, and if he wins, he wins. If he loses, then he goes to DC and saves a little face.
Otherwise, without that kind of fall back plan (along with guarantees of campaign cash to fight Blago's war chest), why bother? Sure, he has an ego like all politicians.
My other random thought on it is that if he runs, he goes for one term and does an Ogilvie kind of thing where he pushes hard for the tax swap on school funding like he did back in 1997. Then, if he gets it, he knows he will be unpopular for having increased the income tax, but as a history wonk, he also knows that he will be remembered for finally having dealt with the school funding issue that has been a dark cloud over Illinois politics for decades.
Anyway, that's all for now. I look forward to checking out your musings on Illinois politics down the road, Ol' Guy!
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