He seems to be doing a good job in Congress … as long as he is working behind the scenes with as little direct contact with the public — and the media — as possible. But as soon as he steps in front of the press and opens his mouth, he seems, well, a bit arrogant and immature.

Take his 20 minute long conversation with the press a week or so ago. He was discussing his long-discussed but not yet consummated desire to run for governor of the state of Illinois in November 2014. He ended up giving the firmest indication yet he WILL run for the office.

The single and childless 31-year-old Congressman told the media he cannot tell the other would-be Republican candidates to just roll-up their little candidacies and go away. He was especially critical of those who ran before and lost. According to Wikipedia (and they are NEVER wrong) the following GOPers are also considering a run for the office: Bill Brady, State Senator, unsuccessful candidate for Governor in 2006, and party nominee for Governor in 2010: Dan Duffy, State Senator; Matt Murphy, State Senator; Christine Radogno, Minority Leader of the Illinois State Senate; Bruce Rauner, Chairman of private equity firm GTCR and businessman; Dan Rutherford, State Treasurer; and Joe Walsh, former U.S. Representative from Illinois’s 8th congressional district and a Tea Party darling.

The reaction was swift. Dillard went on the radio and called Schock’s little demand an example of Schock’s immaturity.

Ironically, Schock also said in his little interview that his young age is NOT an issue in the campaign.

Really?

Candidates for office do not decide what the issues in campaigns will be. Voters decide. And in Illinois, gubernatorial campaigns are often waged by millionaires who do not give a FIG whether or not their races are good for the party or the state. They are millionaires. They have a million dollars in their pocket and want to buy the office and will say or do anything to get it. They will not be intimidated by Aaron.

The governor’s mention must look like low-hanging fruit to the GOP. We just sent Hot Rod Balgojevich to jail. His successor Pat Quinn is wildly unpopular. Attorney general Lisa Madigan is going to run against him for the Democratic nomination, but even with help from her father Speaker Michael Madigan, it’s gonna be real hard for Quinn to NOT get the nomination (and believe me, I’ve seen cases where the elder Madigan’s “support” did a candidate no good at all).

And the odd thing is this: Shock would have to give up his seat in the U.S. House of Representatives to run for governor. He cannot seek the Republican nomination for the governorship AND the Republican nomination for the U.S. House, just in case he loses. If he run for governor, and it looks like he will, his U.S. House seat is up for grabs.

So … what Democrats are looking at running in the 18th District? Any Republicans?

Jim Maloof Hagiography

Listening to the media reports, one would have suspected that Jim Maloof was the bestest mayor ever. If you go back and read the media reports at the time he actually served, you will see reports about a mayor who let the riverboat casino locate across the river in East Peoria. You will see reports of a mayor who contributed to a class action lawsuit by commenting on the size of a female subordinate’s breasts. You will see reports of a man who didn’t have that great a grasp of how city government worked.

I just thought with the media concentrating on telling us what a saint Jim Maloof was that it might be worthwhile to remind people what he was a flawed man, just like all of us.

And here is my favorite Jim Maloof story. I was an intern at the Peoria Journal Star covering the opening of the new Hardees near the corner of North Knoxville and Pennsylvania avenues. Mr. Maloof pulls me aside and tells me that he wants Peorians to know that the subject of jobs is always “foremost in the back of my mind.”

The restaurant is now closed. You can’t find a Hardees south of Pioneer Parkway these days, a part of the great northern migration that Maloof — a real estate guy — happily contributed to as mayor.