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This update, which follows the same format and methodology as the 2012 Primary Election Survey, is still a work in progress and, as with the prior survey, is intended to provide information to interested voters rather than as an endorsement of any particular candidate.
Survey results that had been included as part of the Primary Survey are included here generally without change. This new effort reduces the number of entries by eliminating candidates that did not progress past the primary election, but also includes several write-in candidates, candidates that were formerly associated with a party but are now running as an independent, and candidates appointed to fill vacancies. In some cases these candidates will be new to the list.
New survey responses are now included for:
House
Rita Mayfield (D60)
Jack Burleson (R60)
Jeff Thirtyacre (D64)
Donald Jensen (R76)
Pat Fee (R84)
Jennifer Groves-Allison (D91)
Ryan Stookey (R114)
Senate
Tom Cullerton (D23)
Jim O’Donnell (R28)
Don Castella (R30)
Steve Stadelman (D34)
Gary Forby (D59)
Notes about a few of the candidates are in order:
> Rita Mayfield (H60) is “working on this issue” and will vote her district. She indicates that “undecided” is not the best answer to describe her position but I have included it as such for lack of a more defined answer. She was a previous "No" vote on HB148.
> Gregg Bedell (H15) answered neither the initial nor updated survey. In the initial survey, however, I included a link to an old campaign site indicating that he was very much opposed to Right to Carry. In fairness to the candidate I draw equal attention to his new website which states that he will support concealed carry, leaving to the voters in his district the job of discerning his intentions.
> Senator Noland (S22) expressed qualified support for Right to Carry with mention made of a ballistic registry. I continue to indicate this as a "technical" yes though, in practice, it may prove to be a no.
Notes and Abbeviations
Status indicates if the candidate is new (as previously defined) or incumbent in the strictest sense (ie the same person running for the same office in the same district). In cases where the candidate is incumbent in a district/office that differs from that being sought, the current office is indicated in the form H23 to indicate 23rd House District, etc. New to this Column is the /Ret indicator to indicate a previously filed candidate who has since left office. An appointment to that office, when known, will immediately follow.
District indicates the district in which the candidate is campaigning which may differ from their current district.
Web Sites are included in the data and are clickable. Phone numbers and email addresses have also been recorded but are not displayed as some include personal contact information.
2008 NRA indicates the grade assigned by the NRA based on their 2008 survey. Their current survey is underway and Todd promises to share the result when available.
Support RTC? - RTC means Right to Carry, of course, and this column indicates the candidate's answer to the survey question merged with the actual vote if the candidate was a House member when the HB148 vote was taken. This merging of data occurs in both House and Senate spread sheets as some representatives are now running for Senate. In addition to obvious entries in this column, NA is used to indicate that contact was successful but the answer given did not answer the question, and XXXX indicates that the candidate is no longer active.
Lines in bold show those candidates who are Illinois Carry members.
As always, accuracy is of paramount importance and all candidates are invited to contact me if they believe a correction is in order.
Those wishing to link to the survey may do so as long as Illinois Carry is attributed as the source of the information.
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EDITED TO ADD:
While Illinois Carry does not endorse any candidate for office, we do value our sister groups' opinions in this matter. This post has been edited to provide a link to the NRA Polical Victory Fund Grades and Endorsements page for the 2012 Elections, as well as the Illinois State Rifle Association 2012 Firearm Owners' Voter Guide. On the NRA site use patience as the data loads on your first click, then click the tabs to view national, state and local races.
NRA Political Victory Fund Grades and Endorsements
ISRA 2012 Firearm Owners' Voter Guide
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Edited by mauserme, 02 November 2012 - 04:06 PM.
