The Illinois Primary Races and My Thoughts:

US Senate

The slate of Democratic Party candidates to replace Illinois Senator Roland Burris represents the diversity of Chicago and changes within its political system.

Alexi Giannoulias, State Treasurer, Boston University, banker, financial reformer, quasi-environmentalist:

Alexi is currently the Treasurer for the State of Illinois, having run on a platform of financial reform. He was elected to the position just before it was discovered that his running of his family’s bank in Chicago had suffered some “irregularities”. Also, he hasn’t done much in the way of accomplishing fiscal reform in his time in the Office of the Treasurer. This makes it difficult imagine how much of a true reformist platform he can claim.He is well connected to both the Chicago and Illinois “machines” and was an intimate of now disgraced former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevic as well as Tony Rezko. He would almost certainly lose to the GOP contender Mark Kirk, as the GOP plans on running against the corruption of current and former Democratic politicians.

http://www.alexiforillinois.com/splash/general?gclid=CPKAqe2Aqp8CFQYeDQodenXy1g

David Hoffman, Inspector General of the City of Chicago, former federal prosecutor,

Yale University, University of Chicago Law:

David Hoffman is currently the Inspector General for the City of Chicago. He was previously a federal prosecutor who focused on matters of corruption, both corporate and government, in Chicago and Illinois. He is definitely the strongest candidate when one talks about integrity and reform of the system. However, his dedication to the Progressive movement and the Democratic Party sometimes seem to be more politically motivated than an actual attachment to principles. In many ways Mr. Hoffman appears as a boilerplate Progressive with few fresh ideas and no plan.

http://www.hoffmanforillinois.com/

Cheryle Robinson Jackson, Urban League President, Amtrak officer, Community activist:

There is absolutely nothing in Ms. Jackson’s resume to suggest that she should be a senator for Illinois nor even the Democratic candidate in the general election. She has done outstanding work in the community, but I believe that she would be out of her league in the Capitol. She presents nothing original in the way of ideas or plans to improve Illinois governance.

http://www.cheryle2010.com/

Jacob Meister Attorney, BA American University, JD University of Wisconsin, practicing attorney, the Law of Offices of Jacob L Meister:

Jacob Meister has spent his life as an attorney and, subsequently, a small business owner/operator. Of the candidates, Jacob Meister seems most well versed and practiced in the conduct of business relations and law. Before any of the other candidates had done so, Mr. Meister published a list of goals and a plan of action to see those goals met. He is a proven, dedicated, and passionate Progressive. In his professional career, Jacob has demonstrated a mastery of the argument that makes debate and compromise largely irrelevant; he seeks what is right. As a business owner and litigant for both business and employees, he understands the necessary balancing act that other candidates may ignore.

http://www.meisterforsenate.com/home

In the end, I believe that Jacob Meister will do the best job representing Illinois in the U.S. Senate. David Hoffman is, I believe, more electable and has better name recognition. Still, I do not believe that Mr. Hoffman would sell Illinois out, so he is a valid option. Either of these candidates would serve Illinois well as U.S. Senator, though I prefer Meister. As for Giannoulias and Ms. Jackson, I believe that they both are too much students and adherents of the old way of doing business in Chicago and would drag their local connections to undeserved influence in Washington.