Governor
Democrats

Who: Rod Blagojevich
What: Attorney
More info: www.rodforus.com
Claim to fame: Congressman, 5th District
For: O'Hare expansion and construction of a new Peotone airport; stronger campaign finance disclosure laws; new prescription drug benefits for seniors; Patients' Bill of Rights; the death penalty (but says we should continue the death penalty moratorium for now); using 51 percent of new state revenues for education; abortion choice; judicial appointment system; gay rights; gun control; stronger state ethics laws.
Against: Allowing state employees to contribute to their bosses' campaigns.
What the advertising says they're about: Blue-collar family ties.
Big Plan: "Comprehensive" prescription drug program to help seniors fully cover their costs, funded by a cigarette tax increase of 43-cents per pack.
The Fine Print: Father-in-law is powerful 33rd Ward Ald. Richard Mell.
That One Thing: In 1999 he and the Rev. Jesse Jackson went on a freelance mission to Belgrade and persuaded Yugoslav officials to release three U.S. soldiers captured in Kosovo.
Misc: Loves Elvis and apparently knows oodles of Elvis trivia; former Golden Gloves boxing champ.

Who: Roland Burris
What: Attorney, The Peters Law Firm
More info: www.rolandburris.com
Claim to fame: Former Illinois Attorney General and Illinois Comptroller
For: Giving the governor direct oversight of the State Board of Education; comprehensive health care; Peotone airport construction now, before O'Hare expansion begins; the death penalty (but says we should continue the death penalty moratorium for now); using 51 percent of new state revenues for education.
Against: Ban on allowing state workers to contribute to their bosses' campaign funds; judicial appointments; current O'Hare expansion plan.
What the advertising says they're about: Name recognition. "A name you know, a name you trust."
Big Plan: Major education funding increases, where the state funds 51 percent of costs without a tax increase by borrowing $300 million to be paid back over a twelve-month period using the state's tobacco settlement money.
The Fine Print: As Attorney General, Burris did not acknowledge problems in the conviction of Rolando Cruz, whose conviction for the murder of 10-year-old Jeanine Nicarico was later overturned by the Illinois Supreme Court.
That One Thing: Already has his mausoleum built in Oak Woods cemetery; includes a long list of his accomplishments carved under the words "TRAIL BLAZER."
Misc: First African American elected to statewide office; his current campaign received a $1 million donation from Oak Brook TV executive, Joseph Stroud.

Who: Paul Vallas
What: Finance executive
More info: www.paulvallas.com
Claim to fame: Former CEO, Chicago Public Schools
For: The death penalty (but says we should continue the death penalty moratorium for now); most of the current O'Hare expansion plan; Peotone airport construction; abortion choice; federalization of airport security personnel; expansion of KidCare program and introduction of a FamilyCare state health insurance program; gun controls; dramatic increase in casino license fees; restructuring the State Board of Education; 5 percent (or rate of inflation) increase education funding to schools; judicial appointments.
Against: Allowing state employees to contribute to their bosses' campaigns; allowing state workers to take jobs with companies they once negotiated contracts with; Rosemont Casino.
What the advertising says they're about: Experienced problem solving.
Big Plan: A health care scenario that would dedicate $208 million from the state's $391 million Tobacco Settlement Recovery Fund to extend health benefits to more lower-income residents, and explore offering reasonable tax incentives for employers to make existing health insurance plans more affordable for their employees.
The Fine Print: Was Mayor Daley's handpicked schools CEO; served as the city's Revenue Director from 1990-1993 and the city's Budget Director from 1993-1995.
That One Thing: Loves sports and claims to know every Major League Baseball and NBA player.
Misc: Had a massive stutter that he fought to overcome.

GOP

Who: Patrick O'Malley
What: Attorney
More info: http://www.omalleyforgov.com
Claim to fame: Current State Senator, 18th District
For: Re-institution of the death penalty in Illinois; reconfiguration of O'Hare runways
(maintaining current footprint and existing service levels); building the Peotone airport; strict interpretation of 2nd Amendment Constitutional rights to bear arms; judicial appointments; casino licenses going to the highest bidder; continuation of "member initiatives," i.e. localized incentives tacked onto various pieces of legislation--aka pork; increased farmer's rights.
Against: Abortion in all cases (except to save the life of the mother); prison privatization; current O'Hare expansion plans; mandatory motorcycle helmet laws; expanded gambling in Cook County and the Rosemont Casino; committing 51 cents of every new dollar in state revenue to education; allowing state employees to contribute to their bosses' campaigns; gay rights.
What the advertising says they're about: Cleaning up the George Ryan corruption wagon.
Big Plan: Cleaning up corruption in state government by strengthening the gift ban, appointing special prosecutors when necessary and expending "personal political capital" to restore citizens' faith in state government.
The Fine Print: Supported state concealed carry legislation that would allow "law-abiding" citizens to carry hidden guns.
That One Thing: Recipient of the National Gang Crime Research Center's "Frederick Milton Thrasher Award."
Misc: Is the second of fourteen children; describes himself as a "millionaire."

Who: Jim Ryan
What: Attorney
More info: www.jimryan2002.com
Claim to fame: Current Attorney General of Illinois
For: Committing 51 cents of each new dollar in state revenue to education; restoring the State Board of Ethics; making state employees sign an ethics pledge; the death penalty (but says we should continue the death penalty moratorium for now); reconfiguration of O'Hare runways; Peotone airport; judicial appointments; casino licenses going to the highest bidder; human rights legislation that would prevent discrimination based on sexual orientation (with an exemption for religious and "value-based" organizations).
Against: Abortion; current O'Hare expansion plan; the Rosemont Casino and expansion of gambling licenses in Illinois; closure of Vienna prison; continuation of "member initiatives," i.e. localized incentives tacked onto various pieces of legislation--aka pork.
What the advertising says they're about: "Integrity, leadership and results."
Big Plan: An education-first package that deals with the teacher shortage by creating a mentoring program for new teachers; establishing a new state scholarship for "aspiring teachers"; finding a way to use retired teachers effectively and changing the state's alternative certification program to encourage professionals to become teachers.
The Fine Print: In 1988 the Illinois Supreme Court ruled that Ryan's office (when he was DuPage County State's Attorney) deliberately denied a fair trial to Rolando Cruz. Ryan had asked for the death penalty for Cruz in the murder of a 10-year-old Jeanine Nicarico, later found to have been committed by someone else.
That One Thing: Has struggled with cancer for years, undergoing continuing chemotherapy treatments for lymphoma.
Misc: Former Golden Gloves boxing champ; has his own toll-free number: (866)JIM-RYAN.

Who: Corrine Wood
What: Attorney
More info: www.woodforgovernor.com
Claim to fame: Current Lt. Gov of Illinois
For: Abortion choice; casino licenses going to the highest bidder; the death penalty (but says we should continue the death penalty moratorium for now); O'Hare expansion and a new Peotone airport; committing 51 cents of each new dollar in state revenue to education; human rights legislation preventing discrimination based on sexual orientation.
Against: Continuation of "member initiatives," i.e. localized incentives tacked onto various pieces of legislation or pork; allowing state employees to contribute to their bosses' campaigns; expansion of gambling in Illinois.
What the advertising says they're about: Offering an abortion choice that's not as extreme as the other two candidates.
Big Plan: An education package that includes increasing school construction funds by $250 million per year for the next four years; re-prioritizing monies in to early childhood and K-12 programs; appointment of a "task force on teaching"; and dealing with the teacher shortage by offering college debt repayment and signing bonuses to encourage "quality" teachers.
The Fine Print: Running mate, Rep. William O'Connor, has been scarce on the campaign trail. When he has appeared, he's not with Wood.
That One Thing: Wood is a breast-cancer survivor who underwent mastectomy and chemotherapy in 1997.
Misc: In her first race for the General Assembly she broke "protocol" and had her GOP rival knocked off the ballot.

Attorney General
Democrats

Who: Lisa Madigan
What: Attorney
More info: www.lisamadigan.org
Claim to fame: Current 17th District State Senator
For: Better enforcement of identity theft; creation of an elite investigation unit to deal with complex crimes; videotaping of interrogations and confessions; the death penalty (but says we should continue the death penalty moratorium for now); creation of an independent crime lab; judicial appointments; abortion choice; cracking down on the payday loan industry; current O'Hare expansion plan.
Against: Allowing the death penalty in cases where conviction rests on testimony of a single eyewitness or accomplice; continued "member initiatives," i.e., localized incentives tacked onto various pieces of legislation--aka pork.
What the advertising says they're about: "The People's Lawyer" and "a friend in our community."
Big Plan: Cracking down on identity theft by creating a bureau of privacy protection and having the crime added to the list of crimes the attorney general can investigate.
The Fine Print: Dad is Michael Madigan, the state's number one Democrat.
That One Thing: After graduating college in the mid eighties, Madigan worked as a volunteer high-school teacher in KwaZulu, South Africa during "the height of apartheid."
Misc: Spent time working for then U.S. Sen. Paul Simon after graduating from Georgetown.

Who: John Schmidt
What: Attorney (on leave from the firm of Meyer, Brown & Platt)
More info: www.schmidt2002.org
Claim to fame: Former Associate Attorney General of the United States under President Clinton For: Laws cracking down on gender-based pay discrimination; the death penalty (but says we should continue the death penalty moratorium for now); videotaping of interrogations and confessions; abortion choice; current O'Hare expansion plan; judicial appointments.
Against: Continued "member initiatives"; "right-to-work" laws; privatization of state services; allowance of partial-birth abortions.
What the advertising says they're about: Job-tested leadership and more experience than his opponent.
Big Plan: Establishment of a statewide anti-terrorist group to facilitate the exchange of pertinent information between law enforcement officials and to push for legislative changes necessary to aid law enforcement.
The Fine Print: Led the revival of Navy Pier as head of the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority (from 1989-1994).
That One Thing: Served as the U.S. Ambassador and Chief U.S. Negotiator for the Geneva World Trade Talks during 1993 and 1994.
Misc: Originally intended to run for governor, but switched to this race in September, 2001.

GOP

Who: Joe Birkett
What: Attorney
More info: www.joebirkett.com
Claim to fame: Current DuPage County State's Attorney
For: Mandatory DNA registration for all convicted felons; the death penalty; creation of regional task forces to target gang and drug crimes.
Against: Current death penalty moratorium; current O'Hare expansion plan; abortion (except in cases of rape, incest or to save the life of the mother).
What the advertising says they're about: Protecting the citizens of Illinois.
Big Plan: Creation of specialized units to target abuse of senior citizens and persons with disabilities; also, creation of units for public integrity and contract enforcement.
The Fine Print: Birkett was part of the advisory team to Jim Ryan during the Rolando Cruz trials. Birkett says he ordered the DNA testing that eventually acquitted Rolando Cruz during his third trial (see fine print on Jim Ryan, above), and later would defend prosecutors and others accused of framing Cruz.
That One Thing: Prosecuted the Marilyn Lemak case.
Misc: Went to Aurora Catholic High School on a football scholarship; former Golden Gloves boxing champ; one of ten children; sister is married to George Wendt (Norm from "Cheers").

Who: Bob Coleman
What: Attorney
More info: www.colemanforag.com
Claim to fame: Has own law firm, Robert F. Coleman and Associates
For: The death penalty (but says we should continue the death penalty moratorium for now); some level of O'Hare expansion; judicial appointments.
Against: Abortion (but says he will enforce laws despite personal beliefs).
What the advertising says they're about: Bad politician; good lawyer.
Big Plan: Creation of a public corruption unit that will encourage whistleblowers to come forward and will pursue prosecution of corrupt state officials and their cronies.
The Fine Print: Represented the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System in its suit against public officials; banks and other professionals after a series of bad investments with the state's pension system funds and says his firm recovered $70 million-plus in settlements.
That One Thing: Started career doing anti-trust cases in the Illinois Attorney General's Office, circa 1970.
Misc: Served as a military intelligence officer for the U.S. Army from 1966-1974; poke-fun advertising features a baby projectile vomiting on him.

Also by Elaine Richardson

BAD NEWS
At this moment she's waiting for Leonard Downie Jr., executive editor of the Washington Post, and Robert Kaiser, Post associate editor, as they make the first stop on a tour touting their new book, "The News About the News: American Journalism in Peril.
(2002-02-28)

HOT AIR
Chalk it up to hyper-reality combined with the best tenets of soap opera (just because you're dead, doesn't mean you're off the show) and a sense of the absurd, but the addictive quality of HBO's "Six Feet Under" only sharpens with the new season.
(2002-02-28)

HAIL TO THE CHIEF
With more than 300 objects from the Smithsonian and another forty from the CHS, "The American Presidency: A Glorious Burden" opens February 16 for a seven-month run, its first stop on a national tour.
(2002-02-14)

DOMESTIC BLITZ
On her first day as the maid for a wealthy Chicago family, Lisa Alvarado was handed a basket. "The lady of the house gives me this wicker basket—it was woven and very nice. It contained her lingerie and... I was expected to hand wash it," Alvarado says with some incredulity.
(2002-02-14)

SLAV TO ART
(2002-01-31)

PUT UP OR SHUT UP
(2002-01-31)

SEEING IS BELIEVING
(2002-01-31)

FIGHT THE POWER
(2002-01-24)

TALLYING TURNSTILES
(2002-01-17)

COSELL & CO.
(2002-01-10)

IT'S ALIVE!
(2002-01-10)

BALANCING ACT
(2002-01-10)