You’d think this was “fight the smears”, LOL! Take a look at this mailer!

Poor Sandy. Since she can’t fight what it is that voters have realized (that she doesn’t represent the republican platform), she resorts to sweeping generalizations about Mitchell…that he’s somehow making false accusations against her.

At the candidate forum last week-the first and only time thus far that she shared the stage with Paul Mitchell in Lake County, she resisted any temptation to acknowledge that he was even there. In fact, she was down right rude to him; and condescending in the typical liberal manner when she wanted to ’set the record straight’.

Calling someone a liar without demonstrating how they’re lying, or about what it is they’re lying about makes it rather difficult to confront, now, doesn’t it?

Examining her voting record regarding abortion and the Illinois FOCA bill still being pushed by personal PAC, the fact that she was the swing vote in committee to bring it to the house floor…he said that on stage, declaring that he is the only conservative in the race.

She fumbled on her explanation for voting for in-state tuition for illegals, which left many in the audience afterward questioning what it is that she’s talking about. She appears to not even know what it is she’s talking about.

Rather than confront the specific allegations, she accuses Mitchell of ’slinging mud’ without presenting any specific evidence that this is true.

Full disclosure: I am volunteering for Mitchell and I have seen Sandy Cole up front and personal. She has very little online presence; she has no blog; she isn’t on facebook or twitter the way Paul is. She hasn’t been communicating or campaigning much at all. But with all the endorsements from conservative organizations in Illinois that Mitchell has received, I suppose she had to do SOMETHING…even if it is completely disingenuous.

Let’s take a look at the record of hers:

Sandy Cole

As Rep in the Illinois House of Representatives

Be specific, Sandy! Is this mudslinging or sharing facts?

Connecting the Dots

Endorsements from 2006

• IEA (Illinois Education Association)
• REP-America (Republicans for Environmental Protection) Illinois Chapter
• AFSCME People
• Alliance PAC (School professionals)
• Daily Herald Newspaper
• Sierra Club Illinois
• IPACE (Illinois Political Action Committee for Education)
• Chicago Tribune
• Illinois Committee for Honest Government
• Illinois Coalition for Jobs, Growth and Prosperity
• Grayslake Journal, Gurnee Journal, Lindenhurst Journal, Round Lake Journal, Lake Villa Journal (Northwest News Group – Lakeland Media)
• United States Senator John McCain
• US Congressman Mark Kirk
• Former Illinois Governor Jim Edgar
• Lake County Board & Forest Preserves Commissioner Steve Carlson
• Lake County Board & Forest Preserves Commissioner Bob Powers¹
• Former Lake County Forest Preserves President Al Westerman²

1. Sandy Cole did not include Planned Parenthood’s endorsement of her when she published her 2006 endorsements online.³
2. In 2008 in preparation for the 2010 February Primary, Medill Reports shows Sandy Cole was endorsed by both Sierra Club Illinois and the Illinois League of Conservation Voters. ⁴
3. In 2008 Sandy picked up the endorsement of the Womens Campaign Forum. ⁵
4. In 2010, Sandy picked up the endorsement of Planned Parenthood.¹

Sandy Cole’s Assignments and Biography

Committee assignments: Approp-Elementary & Secondary Educ; Human Services; Adoption Reform; Tollway Oversight; Environment & Energy; Computer Technology; Renewable Energy; Tourism & Conventions.

Biography: Full time legislator. Born Dec. 29 Green Bay, WI. Former Lake County Board & Forest Preserve Commissioner (1996-2006), serving as Vice-chairman of the Board, Finance Committee Chair and Forest Preserves Treasurer. B.S., Rockford College 1976. Alumni of the Year 2001, Rockford College. Former director Lake County Soil & Water Conservation District. Member Republicans for Environmental Protection (Rep-America). Married (Steve) and has two daughters and one son. ⁶

Connections

• Cole is associated with Michael Bond, a democrat in the House in the 31st District.
• Since 2006, Bob Powers, formerly the Lake County Board and Forest Preserves Commissioner, has become the Avon Township GOP Chairman and Sandy Cole’s Campaign Manager. Sandy herself is a former Lake County Board & Forest Preserve Commissioner (1996-2006).
• The Sierra Club has endorsed a few republicans aside from Sandy Cole such as: Bob Powers, Mark Kirk and Beth Coulson, but has endorsed mainly democrats such as Dick Durbin, Barack Obama and Melissa Bean and many other democrats.
• At the Lake County Fair over the summer, Sandy Cole complained that Paul Mitchell was in the GOP booth, calling Dan Venturi, the Lake County GOP Chair,⁷ who then called Bob Powers, who was in the booth, and they then had Paul Mitchell and his campaign materials thrown out of the GOP booth.⁸

Issues: the Political Courage Test

Sandy took the “Political Courage” test in 2007 that was published online by “Project Vote”. Here are the results of what she voted on, and what she chose not to answer. On the Project Vote website, it says she has refused to answer since 2007.⁹

Abortion

• Abortions should always be legal.
• Require pharmacists who stock contraceptives to disperse emergency contraception without delay to anyone with a prescription for it.

Budget and Taxes

State Budget: Indicate the funding levels (#1-6) you will support for the following general categories. Select one level per category.

• Greatly increase Education (K-12), environment, transportation and highway infrastructure
• Maintain status on Higher Education, Emergency Preparedness, Law Enforcement, Welfare, Corporate Taxes
• Slightly increase Health Care.

State Taxes: Indicate the tax levels (#1-6) you will support. Select one level per tax.

• Slightly increase Alcohol Taxes, Cigarette Taxes.
• No answer on Capital gains taxes, Gasoline taxes, Income taxes (below $75,000), Income taxes (above $75,000), Property taxes, Sales taxes, Vehicle taxes
• Undecided on whether sales taxes should be extended to Internet sales or for college students in Illinois earning a B average to receive a $1,000 annual tax credit in their first two years of college,
• No on whether accounts such as rainy day funds should be used to balance the state budget and fee increases to be used to balance the state budget
• Yes for a $500 sales tax rebate on the sale of certain fuel-efficient cars in Illinois.

Campaign Finance and Government Reform

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding campaign finance and government reform.

1. Yes on term limits for governors, Illinois state senators and representatives.
2. Yes on limiting the following types of contributions to state legislative candidates:
• Individual
• PAC
• Corporate
• Political Parties
3. Yes for supporting full and timely disclosure of campaign finance information
4. Yes for imposing spending limits on state level political campaigns
5. Yes for adopting statewide standards for counting, verifying and ensuring accuracy of votes
6. Yes for prohibiting media exit polling of voters until all polling locations in Illinois are closed.

Employment and Affirmative Action

• Reduce state government regulations on the private sector in order to encourage investment and economic expansion.
• Provide low interest loans and tax credits for starting, expanding, or relocating businesses.
• Provide tax credits for businesses that provide child care for children in low-income working families.

Education

• Increase state funds for capital improvements (buildings and infrastructure).
• Provide state funding for tax incentives and financial aid to make college more affordable.
• Support sexual education programs that include information on abstinence, contraceptives, and HIV/STD prevention methods.
• Undecided on public employment, state college and university admissions and state contracting.

Environment

• Promote increased use of alternative fuel energy.
• Use state funds to clean up former industrial and commercial sites that are contaminated, unused, or abandoned.
• Increase funding for improvements to Illinois’ power generating and transmission facilities.
• Support funding for open space preservation.

Same Sex Marriage

• Undecided on whether or not Illinois should recognize civil unions between same-sex couples.

Capital Punishment

• Did not answer.

Guns/2nd Amendment

• Maintain and strengthen the enforcement of existing state restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns.

Crime

• Support programs to provide prison inmates with vocational and job-related skills and job-placement assistance when released.
• End parole for repeat violent offenders.
• Minors accused of a violent crime should be prosecuted as adults.
• Require that crimes based on race, ethnic background, religious belief, sex, age, disability, or sexual orientation be prosecuted as hate crimes.
• Strengthen sex-offender laws.
• Support the restriction of the sale of products used to make methamphetamine (e.g. tablets containing pseudophedrine, ephedrine and phenylpropanolamine).

Issues: Voting Record

Prayer in Schools

• Voted for a silent reflection (HB4180) voted against prayer in schools (SB1463)

Porn

• Voted against internet screening in public libraries HB1727.

Smoking

• Voted for the SB500, the Smoke Free Illinois Act (SB500) passed

Stem Cell Research, Cloning and Abortion

• Voted for Stem Cell Research and Cloning (SB4) – passed by the House 70-44
• Voted for Stem Cell Research and Human Cloning (HB138)-passed the House 67-46.
• Voted yes for the Abortion Notification Bill (HB317) –failed in the House 55-62

Gambling

• Voted not to privatize the state lottery (HB2055) –failed the house 67-8.
• Voted against Video Gambling in Various Establishments (HB255) –Concurrence vote passed House -86-30
• Voted against Fairgrounds Racetrack Authority (HB4768)-passed the House 83-28.

Veterans/Military

• Voted against property tax exemption for Disabled Veterans –Concurrence vote passed Illinois House
  (78-12)

Gun Issues

• Voted for “peace officers” to carry firearms (HB4139)-passed the House 91-18.
• Voted yes for parental responsibility accessibility (HB5191)-passed the House 74-36.

Environment

• Cole is a co-sponsor of the Illinois Climate Change Act of 2007, SB9.

Government Giveaways/Welfare

• Voted yes for Community College Student Housing (HB414)-passed House 82-32.
• Preneed Funeral Funds voted NV-Not voting-excused, absent or present—passed the House 71-30.
• Voted yes to Extend parental health care to unmarried dependents (HB5285) (this is also filed under veterans issues)-Concurrence vote passed House -70-21.
• Voted yes for Electricity relief and regulation-passed House 80-33.
• Voted against providing free public transportation for seniors (HB656)-Concurrence vote passed House 61-47.

Immigration

• Voted against drivers licenses for non citizens (HB1100)-passed House 60-56.

Legislators’ Salaries

• She voted to her increase her salary and those of the other legislators (HJR132) – Joint resolution passed, 94-8.

Sponsored Legislation

• Her biggest accomplishment to date is the passage of HB0259, which “Requires retailers that distribute plastic bags to consumers to implement a plastic bag collection and recycling program. Sets out plastic bag recycling program requirements. Provides that any retailer who knowingly violates the Act is guilty of a business offense punishable by a fine of not more than $5,000.” ¹⁰
• Sandy voted in committee for HB2354. HB2354 states that government shall not ‘deny or interfere with an individual’s right’ to an abortion or contraception. The bill would render null all common-sense legal restrictions on abortions, including health and safety regulations for abortion facilities, informed consent and parental notification laws. The bill calls for taxpayer funding of abortions and contraceptives, and hamstrings the conscience rights of medical personnel who object. The bill revamps sex education in Illinois public schools, which now is abstinence-based. Under this new law, “all Illinois public schools shall offer medically accurate, age appropriate, comprehensive sexual health education.” Sex-ed, course material and instruction must be “free of bias” regarding sexual orientation, gender identity and religion, among other issues. H.B. 2354 “follows the federal FOCA in some of its critical language and would eliminate all existing regulations on abortion in Illinois – including the physician only law, the law that limits abortion practice to physicians,” said attorney Clarke Forsythe. “If enacted, it would authorize any school nurse in any public school to do an abortion without parental knowledge.” ¹¹

Follow the Money ¹²

Campaign Contributions

Table 1 top 20 Contributors

Contributor	Total	Percentage of Total	Sector
House Republican Organization of Illinois	$17,435	27.07%	Party
Cole, Citizens for Sandy	$6,759	10.49%	Party
Sandy Cole	$2,967	4.61%	Candidate
Comcast	$2,000	3.11%	Communications & Electronics
Education Assoc	$2,000	3.11%	Labor
Illinois State Medical Society	$2,000	3.11%	Health
Illinois Chamber of Commerce	$1,250	1.94%	General Business
AT&T	$1,000	1.55%	Communications & Electronics
Associated Beer Distributors PAC	$1,000	1.55%	General Business
John Deere & Co.	$1,000	1.55%	Agriculture
Abbott Laboratories	$1,000	1.55%	Health
Caterpillar	$1,000	1.55%	Construction
Illinois Agriculture Association	$754	1.17%	Agriculture
Wine & Spirit Distributors PAC	$750	1.16%	Uncoded
Consumer Lending Alliance	$750	1.16%	Finance, Insurance & Real Estate
Baxter Healthcare	$750	1.16%	Health
Illinois Federation of Teachers	$750	1.16%	Labor
Illinois Credit Union Assoc	$750	1.16%	Finance, Insurance & Real Estate
Lake County Republican Central Committee	$675	1.16%	Party
Chemical Industry Council of Illinois	$550	1.16%	General Business

Conclusion

Sandy Cole appears to be a classic liberal: pro abortion; does not advocate the death penalty for criminals; does not trust parents to educate their own children on sex or religion. She advocates radical sex education; does not approve of parental notification; wants to strengthen gun control laws for regular citizens; wants no property tax relief for disabled veterans; voted against prayer in schools; supports hate crime laws- which includes the criminalization of quoting what the Bible says about homosexuality; and is an advocate of legislation to rein in ‘climate change’.

She previously held the position as former Lake County Board & Forest Preserves Commissioner. Her friend and associate, Bob Powers, who is now her campaign manager and Chairman of the Avon Township GOP, also held that position. She is endorsed by the Sierra Club, which not only endorsed Bob Powers, but also endorsed Barack Obama, Melissa Bean and Dick Durbin. She is strong on environmental issues, but not strong on conservative positions.

Sandy’s positions supporting education has more to do with sending money for buildings and infrastructure than they do with education; unless it’s sex education. Lake County has 197 schools in its boundaries. Out of those 197 schools, 71 schools or approximately 37% are either in AEWS status (Academic Early Warning Status) or AWS (Academic Watch Status). Out of 46 Districts in Lake County, 24 are in either AEWS status or AWS status.¹³ Those under Academic Watch are those schools or districts that did not make Adequate Yearly Progress for two consecutive years and are eligible for state sanctions. State Sanctions involve going into a program to address “process improvement”. The people who are suffering in all of this are the students. It takes three years for a school to enter into the “process improvement” stage, and how many years after that before the school’s students experience academic achievement? Elementary school including kindergarten is only 7 years in duration. Illinois-like a lot of states across the country-is lowering its educational standards to squeak through and meet requirements.¹⁴

This says nothing of how Illinoisans overall and Lake County taxpayers are being throttled by extravagant school pensions and teachers’ salaries that are way above those in the private sector; and Sandy is a toadie for the teachers’ unions.

Cole is so far out there that she voted in committee for the radical House Bill 2354. HB2354 states that government shall not ‘deny or interfere with an individual’s right’ to an abortion or contraception. The bill would void all common-sense legal restrictions on abortions, including health and safety regulations for abortion facilities, informed consent and parental notification laws. The bill calls for taxpayer funding of abortions and contraceptives, and hamstrings the conscience rights of medical personnel who object. The bill revamps sex education in Illinois public schools, which now is abstinence-based. Under this new law, “all Illinois public schools shall offer medically accurate, age appropriate, comprehensive sexual health education.” Sex-ed, course material and instruction must be “free of bias” regarding sexual orientation, gender identity and religion, among other issues. H.B. 2354 “follows the federal FOCA in some of its critical language and would eliminate all existing regulations on abortion in Illinois – including the physician only law, the law that limits abortion practice to physicians,” said attorney Clarke Forsythe. “If enacted, it would authorize any school nurse in any public school to do an abortion without parental knowledge.” ¹⁵ Even for a liberal, this bill is very extreme.

Sandy Cole’s positions on the 2007 political courage test and voting record are consistent with her liberal views.

She voted to increase legislators’ (including her own) salaries, in the face of economic hard times for the State and Lake County residents.

She is endorsed by labor unions such as AFSCME and the IEA. She received campaign contributions from the IEA, Illinois Teachers Federation, and the Illinois Credit Union Association. Two big pharmaceutical companies also contributed to her campaign in 2008: Abbott Labs and Baxter Laboratories. Her views and votes are not consistent with those of her Lake County GOP conservative constituents.

On her online list of 2006 endorsements she left off Planned Parenthood. She has not published her endorsements online for 2008, and refused to take the political courage test again after she first took it in 2007.

The United Republican fund gave her a rating of 50 in 2007.¹⁶

1. Bob Powers is not only serving as her campaign manager for the 2010 primary, he is also the Chairman of the Avon Township GOP.[back]
2. Sandy Cole published her endorsements online. Retrieved from http://www.sandycole.net/page12.html on November 15, 2009.[back]
3. Planned Parenthood Illinois Action lists “Endorsed Candidates for the February 8, 2008 primary election” includes Sandy Cole. Retrieved from http://www.ppilvotes.org/endorsedcandidates/index.html on November 16, 2009[back]
4. Josephine Lee (January 30, 2008) “Putting Green On the Ballot” 2001 – 2007 Medill Reports – Chicago, Northwestern University. A publication of the Medill School. Retrieved from the Illinois Environmental Council http://www.ilenviro.org/pressroom/inthenews/item/?item=204[back]
5. Womens Candidate Forum PAC under 2008 Endorsed Candidates, under the heading Endorsed Local and State Candidates Retrieved from WCF at http://wcf.bluestatedigital.com/sites/wcf/index.php/PAC/candidates_2008 on November 16, 2009.[back]
6. Sandy Cole’s biography from her website. Retrieved from http://www.ilga.gov/house/Rep.asp?MemberID=1530 on November 15, 2009[back]
7. Dan Venturi is the Chairman of the Lake County GOP. Lake County GOP website. http://lake.weareillinois.org/leadership.aspx[back]
8. (July 28, 2009) When will the IL GOP Get it. Reclaim Conservatism. Retrieved from http://reclaimconservatism.com/blog/2009/07/when-will-the-il-gop-get-it/ on November 19, 2009.[back]
9. Political Courage Test from Project Vote Smart. Retrieved from http://www.votesmart.org/npat.php?can_id=59149 on November 15, 2009.[back]
10. Ballotpedia. Retrieved from http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php?title=Sandy_Cole on November 15, 2009.[back]
11. (March 14, 2009) Illinois Bill Would Eliminate All Abortion Restrictions In State, Christian Telegraph. Retrieved from http://www.christiantelegraph.com/issue5147.html on November 16, 2009.[back]
12. Follow the money’s online reporting of Sandy Cole’s campaign contributions. Total Raised to Date: $64,407 Retrieved from http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?c=98636 on November 15, 2009.[back]
13. IIRC Interactive Illinois Report Card for Lake County retrieved from http://iirc.niu.edu/SearchResult.aspx?SearchText=Lake&type=COUNTY on November 16, 2009[back]
14. Sam Dillon (October 29, 2009) Federal Researchers Find Lower Standards in Schools New York Times retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/30/education/30educ.html[back]
15. (March 14, 2009) Illinois Bill Would Eliminate All Abortion Restrictions In State, Christian Telegraph. Retrieved from http://www.christiantelegraph.com/issue5147.html on November 16, 2009.[back]
16. Based on a point system, with points assigned for actions in support of or in opposition to the United Republican Fund of Illinois’s position, Representative Cole received a rating of 50. http://www.votesmart.org/issue_rating_detail.php?r_id=3690

    “Welcome to the United Republican Fund – Illinois’ oldest, independent, Republican organization. Founded in 1934, the mission of the URF is to advance conservative principles, policies, and people by equipping and electing to office men and women who endorse and promote the Republican values of individual freedom and responsibility, limited and ethical government, the rule of law and free markets.” http://www.unitedrepublican.com/index.html[back]

1. Cao (December 15, 2009) Mitchell Congratulations Opponent on Planned Parenthood Endorsement Cao’s blog retrieved from http://caosblog.com/archives/15394[back]