April 30, 2006

Rep. Mike Boland discussion

This will be a permanent home for discussion of Representative Boland. Please keep comments civil and responsible. I will provide a link to this discussion as well as discussion threads and links to web sites for State Senator Jacobs, State Congressman Verschoore, and Congressman Lane Evans in the sidebar for future reference.

The following is a portion of Boland's submission in response to my request.
--------------------
Hello Inside Dope and Inside Dope readers. I am Mike Huntoon. I serve as the Chief of Staff for Representative Boland's Legislative office located at 4416 River Drive in Moline. I'll be making the initial responses on Representative Boland's behalf, in order to fulfill the request by the Inside Dope for comments from local politicians and/or their staff.

I would like to begin by thanking the Inside Dope for this opportunity to present Representative Boland's recent record of accomplishments in greater detail than is often allowed in small news bites on television, or on radio, or even in newspapers. Representative Boland prides himself on providing quality public service for his constituents, and he has brought a wonderful background of public service to his job as our State Representative. His past record of service before being elected to serve as State Representative includes:
  • Being one of the original founders of the Citizens Utility Board (C.U.B.)
  • A 30 year record of service as a school teacher, as well serving on the local school and library boards, and a wide variety of Democratic political activities.
So perhaps in order to give the readers of the Inside Dope the best possible picture of Mike Boland, it would be best to begin with a brief biography as an introduction to our current State Representative.

Full Name: Michael J. Boland
Occupation: Educator, State Representative
Past Government Experience: School Board, Library Board
Education: B.A. in History, Upper Iowa University . M.S.ed in Social Science (History, Political Science, and Sociology) from Henderson State University. 48 semester hours Post-Masters from Western Illinois University and University of Iowa.

Committee Assignments
Financial Institutions (Chairperson)
Appropriations-Public Safety
Labor; Telecommunications
Agriculture & Conservation
Workers' Compensation and Unemployment
Pay Day Loans, Subcommittee (Sub-Chairperson).

Past Committee Assignments
Appropriations-General Services - Vice Chair
Appropriations-Higher Education
Elections & Campaign Reform - ChairGaming
Chairman - Elections and Campaign Finance Reform
Tobacco Settlement Proceeds Distribution
Registration and Regulation
Veterans - Vice Chairman
Elementary and Secondary Education
State Government and Elections
Commerce and Labor
Transportation
Insurance
Children and Youth

Honors/Awards
"Outstanding Legislator of the Year" - Associated Fire Fighters of Illinois
"Taxpayers' Friend" - National Taxpayers United of Illinois
Advisory Board for the Boys & Girls Club 2001
Retired Teachers Award
Veterans of Foreign Wars- Loyalty Day Award
National Alliance for Mentally Ill Award
Farm Bureau Activator Award
Exemplary Friends of Libraries Award
American Legion Award
"Golden Helmet" Award from Firefighters

Mike Boland was born on August 20, 1942 in Davenport, Iowa. A former teacher with the East Moline school district, Representative Boland is married and has two daughters.

Mike Boland has been active in his community throughout his entire life. In 1970 he was elected delegate for the District, County and Iowa State Democratic Conventions. Boland served several years on the East Moline Library Board and was also elected to the United Township High School Board of Education. In 1976, Boland was a member of the East Moline Bicentennial Committee. Boland was elected as an alternate delegate to the Democratic National Midterm Convention in 1978 and as delegate to the Democratic National Presidential Nominating Convention in 1980 & 2000.

Boland was one of the founders of the Citizen's Utility Board (C.U.B.) and served on the Board of Directors for ten years, including two terms as Vice-President. Boland's tenure as State Representative is a perfect compliment to his outstanding 30-year teaching record. Mike Boland has represented the 71st District since January of 1995.

**NOTE** Due to space constraints, the above is only a portion of the material submitted by Boland Chief of Staff Mike Huntoon. The complete text of the submission, which includes further background information as well as press releases, can be read HERE.

Return to The Inside Dope home page.

50 Comments:

At 10/21/2005 3:53 PM, Blogger The Inside Dope said...

At 10-21 10:16 Huntooner wrote:

In my earlier submission on behalf of Representative Boland I briefly mentioned legislation Representative Boland had passed in a prior session of the General Assembly creating a Military Family Relief Fund. As the following news release will describe in further detail, this legislation provided Illinois Taxpayers with the ability to make voluntary donations to a state fund to assist National Guard and Military Reserve families across Illinois.

Not only was this effort a success in Illinois, it has served as a template for many other states to follow suit in creating similar funds. Here is the full news release announcing the signing of the Military Family Relief Fund into law.....
-snip-

Due to the length of the comment, I've deleted the original post and added the press release cited by Huntooner to the bottom of the full Boland statement found here. Please read it there.

 
At 10/23/2005 2:48 PM, Blogger The Inside Dope said...

Puh-leeze! That's an absolutely ridiculous statement and you know it.

Either you're utterly unfamiliar with what Fawell was convicted for or you're just trying to intimidate people, as usual.

Rather than trying to intimidate other politician's staff, you'd be better off submitting the information for your beloved Sen. Mike.

This blog is clearly an independent jounalistic publication and is not affiliated or coordinated with any party or campaign.

Rather than running scared and assuming that some ethics would be violated, you could have simply asked and I would have told you as much.

So it's you who is missing the boat. If you want to run scared and pass up this opportunity to publicize Sen. Jacobs bio and accomplishments, and in so doing leave the impression that Sen. Jacobs doesn't have anything to show for his time in office, so be it.

If you need any assurances from me in order to allow you to submit the bio and accomplishments of Sen. Jacobs... by all means, get in touch

 
At 10/27/2005 5:36 PM, Blogger The Inside Dope said...

Reality is a relative thing for you, isn't it, HU? Something to be stretched and beaten and sliced and diced as much as it takes to try to make some silly point.

I'm quite aware of Fawell's troubles. But what you are apparently not able to comprehend, is that what he was pinched for doing hasn't the slightest relationship to what you're suggesting happened here. You're not arguing apples and oranges, you're arguing apples and nuclear submarines. Nothing to do with the Fawell case even remotely applies here. Sorry. Nice try. See ya.

As to the "I employee you" and "it's is not proper" part of your comment, I sometimes wonder if you're really, really, really drunk when you write. No offense, but, know what I'm sayin'?

Sometimes your stuff just zooms out into the stratosphere and you lose me completely.

It makes my head hurt trying to make sense out of it, and it wastes my time because, try as I might, in the end, there's none to be found.

It's like spending days trying to find a needle in a haystack when there was no needle there to begin with. It wastes time, and it's very frustrating.

So if you must comment, try to tighten it up a little and at least write something capable of being understood by an average person. I for one, would appreciate it.

And since this is a thread devoted to discussion of Rep. Boland, it would be cool if your comments had something to do with that subject. Otherwise, they're off-topic and subject to immediate deletion.

Bottom line? If you want to be taken seriously, try being serious.

You've become to this blog what kids who bust up picnic tables and playground equipment and leave graffitti are to public parks.

You're free to be here, but please follow what few rules there are and don't abuse the priviledge.

Otherwise, you're not welcome.

 
At 10/29/2005 5:29 AM, Blogger The Inside Dope said...

You're nothing but a pain in the ass to everyone here. You're trying to make a mountain out of a molehill with this just like you do with Jacobs himself.

So what if the blog deals with political topics? So does every damn newpaper in the area! Does that mean that THEY can't ask any candidates for information? Is it illegal for a politician's staff to respond to them?

Please explain, oh Head, in your ultimate wisdom, just why this situation is any different than any other publication.

Otherwise shut up, go away, and get a different hobby.

 
At 10/29/2005 8:22 AM, Blogger The Inside Dope said...

You're blowing smoke and you know it. Now stop messing up this thread. How would you like it if someone went to the Jacobs thread and clogged it up with bullshit like this?

Hell, maybe it'll happen. It would only be fair.

 
At 10/31/2005 12:40 PM, Blogger The Inside Dope said...

Yeah, but he said, "for now". CRAP!

Almost got my hopes up there for a second. ha!

He's officially on the "delete on sight" list now. So hopefully we can at least clean up the messes he makes.

 
At 11/13/2005 8:48 AM, Blogger The Inside Dope said...

At 31/10/05 17:03, stilltheheadusher said...

Like you control this blog!

---------

Just curious, if you don't think I control this blog, who do you think does?

 
At 11/16/2005 12:02 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

mike boland - if you read this blog - run for treasureer! be all that you can be! I know you don't believe in staying stagnated in the same elected position for the rest of your life. reach for the sky!

 
At 11/16/2005 2:33 PM, Blogger The Inside Dope said...

"reach for the sky"??!! Sounds like you're sticking Boland up.

 
At 12/12/2005 1:39 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

so mikey didnt have the balls to run against jacobs, and didnt have the balls to run for tres. what words can you beleive from mikeys mouth... 2 more years, yea

 
At 1/18/2006 4:23 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Everytime I read a post it seems that the topic gets back to Senator Jacobs? What gives?

 
At 1/18/2006 4:40 PM, Blogger The Inside Dope said...

You must be "newhere" or else you'd know the answer to your question is simple.
(of course, you're not new here, as judging from your other comments, you're just another Jacobs troll)

The answer is that the Jacobs trolls are incapable of discussion of anything other than Jacobs.
And from that it's plain that Jacobs simply has no interest AT ALL in any of the dozens and dozens of important issues related to the country and the district. They are interested in one thing and one thing only, and that is posting an endless stream of faked comments trying to build up Jacobs.

I can't even remember the last time they even offered a thought about any topic which others were trying to discuss. Other than Jacobs, they have no interest in any issue of the day.

No matter what the topic, issue, or subject, these trolls come in and trample all over comments in dumb efforts to change the subject to Jacobs.

Of course, as readers can see, it's usually some sort of dishonest and dubious claim about Jacobs or a dirty smear attempt against his enemies of the moment.

So of course this prompts sane people with a strong dislike of utter bullshit to respond and point out how false and goofy the statements are.

Then it's off to the races.

But the bottom line is that the only reason even unrelated discussions turn to Jacobs is that Jacobs turns them that way.

Go read any number of threads, it's as plain as day.

Now go and wonder no longer.

 
At 1/18/2006 8:15 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Well I see Bolands Keno idea, that he began pushing over two years ago is seeing the light of day and being illuminated as another numb-skull, hair brained populist idea that won't stand a chance in the GA. Much in line with his unicameral idea some ten years ago, and term limits for state reps, and soy bean ink legislation, and on and on and on ...Oh where oh where have you gone Mike Richardson, you could get into Mike Bolands head like no other. If you were still around we might have had a new rep by now. But it appears boland wants to hang on now for another few terms. Too bad Mr. Ahern aint got no money, and Mr. McNeil is hamstrung by his past Madigan connections to run. With Mikey Lite Jacobs, and the man they call squish now in S'Patch as your local officials, good luck qc's

 
At 1/20/2006 10:25 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I feel Boland is doing a great job. He has been lock step with Jacobs onthe important issues such as WIU, the Pig plant, and now the High speed train to Chicago. I have seen that they both have supported the brave firemen of this state. So I feel these great men are making their own luck in S'Patch bringing $20 million Illinois dollars and $180 million of Federal funding. What a great venture for the QC. Everybody get on board the Train.

 
At 1/22/2006 10:17 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I feel that Boland, Vershoore, and Jacobs are a great team in Springfield. Keep fighting for the people of the 36th.

 
At 1/24/2006 10:01 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I heard that Boland was at the Rumler breakfast. I wonder if Mike Madigan will put him over his knee for it.

 
At 1/27/2006 11:01 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I don't think that it is fair that you put all of this press on your blog for Mike Jacobs and leave Mike Boland out in the cold. Why won't you put his legislative mail piece on your site like you did for Mike Jacobs. It is not fair.

 
At 1/28/2006 12:39 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

It is time for Mike Boland to step aside after he wins in the fall. Brunsvold, now Verschoore, to give way eventually to Darrow. Denny Jacobs to Mike, and Boland Ahern. All capable of doing the job, all in my estimation good for the future. Unity man unity, yes I have been smoken man, unity...

 
At 1/28/2006 6:10 AM, Blogger The Inside Dope said...

ANON 23:01,

I have addressed this previously but will restate it here. I have not seen, nor have I received, a Boland mailing.
A previous comment in another thread suggested it was unfair that there was nothing from Boland or Verschoore.

I pointed out to them that I'd be happy to post a legislative "wrap up" for them, IF i had one.

I invited them to send something to me via e-mail.

I've not receieved a thing.

It's hard to be "fair" when you have nothing to post and the campaigns do not respond.

 
At 1/28/2006 1:06 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

The only real choice and the best candidate to fill the shoes of Vershoore is Pat O'Brien. He has the network and base to win in the 72nd District. He also has the best name ID in the area for the race... my money is on O'Brien as a winner here!!

I hope and pray for a good old fashioned primary election and no more appointments to office this time. We don't need anymore "fake" incumbants who are given a free ride to office by a few old grumpy men.

 
At 1/29/2006 10:04 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I think that Pat O'Brien Should get the appointment when Vershoore leaves office. I think that he is the best man for the job. My understanding is that Boland will give up his seat to Ahearn shortly after the election. Has anyone else heard this.

 
At 1/30/2006 3:03 AM, Blogger The Inside Dope said...

Nope. And if you're trying to start that rumor, no one should believe it.

 
At 1/30/2006 5:39 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I feel that if anyone is appointed to Boland's seat it should be Porter McNeil should get the appointment. He is a good "D" with lots of experience.

 
At 1/30/2006 7:41 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

actually dope, there is more truth behind this then some will admit, including ahern. it is no secret in springfield that banazek was bolands choice to fill his shoes, has been for a couple of years. but banazeks switching parties awhile back did not really endure him to madigan/mapes et al, then when he lost to tracy best, he was scratched from the list. then boland looked at union man steve ballard, and for awhile that looked good for contunuity sake for western illinois democrats. however ballard has let it be known that he is not interested and has informed people he is supporting ahern for the future vacancy. however some have concerns over aherns inability to raise money in the last election. maybe a different story next year, but this is what i have heard as well. who knows...?

 
At 1/31/2006 7:13 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I think the above poster has the general theme, but there is no way Boland will tap Ahern. I may think he deserves it as much as anyone else, it wont happen. Ahern certainly has been a good D and has the experience of running, that should help him, but at the end of the day, it's John Gianulis appointment, isnt it? And old John G will never forget what the Ahern's did against him for CC some 18 years ago. Grudges never die. Especially in RI County.

 
At 2/03/2006 10:01 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Wow, two years removed from a potential primary and Ahearn's past is being drudged up? So what exactly did he do so bad 18 years ago? Damn people....get a life.

 
At 2/10/2006 8:21 AM, Blogger The Inside Dope said...

Huntooner, you must not be paying attention! We have some of the most hilarious commenters you can imagine! Regular Bob Hopeless'

 
At 2/10/2006 5:51 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I think ahearn would do a great job he hhas been a good D and has shown great leadership.

 
At 2/10/2006 10:09 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Ahern or McNeil whomever would be a solid move forward for that district. Simply put, Bolands time has come, and those in Springfield know it. It is interesting that Mr. Huntoon finds such humor in the face of the famous quote, often attributed to Shakespeare or Francis Bacon, I am not sure, that "... where you find humor, tragedy or drink, therein you will find the truth.." So keep laughing, but get your resume ready because from where I sit, McNeil will get the nod from Springfield, regardless of a vacancy of not. So like Thompson, and Botlo before Huntoon may be looking for a new job some time soon, unless Porter will keep him on staff. See you in the funny papers, Mike.

 
At 2/10/2006 10:54 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

huntooner, since you like rumor. Maybe you can tell us if it is true that Boland was at the Rumler pancake breakfast or was this rumor. We can only hope that you guys get Jacobs this time.

 
At 2/11/2006 2:13 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I agree with Paul Rumler in his statement concerning politicians bringing up topics prematurely for political gain and putting these delicate matters in jeopardy. Boland only days after the Rumler statement, bringing up the Governors upcoming decision on Thomson prison, is a prime example of this. If he has to write a letter to the Gov. then his relationship with the Gov must be lacking. To write the same letter to the press is shameless. Even before the Gov's deadline of valentines day has come we have Boland grandstanding to further get his name out there is an outrage. Please Mr. Boland, don't ruin this announcement before we even hear it. I thought that this was a done deal already from what the Gov. said at the WIU press conference.

 
At 2/12/2006 9:34 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Huntooner, You know all these other things but not if Boland attended the Rumler breakfast. I think you owe it to your admirers, which I am one, to let us know the truth. I think that you covering for your boss is great but don't fool the people or you look foolish.

 
At 2/12/2006 8:01 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Huntooner, you gave your word that you would not oppose Mike Jacobs "re-election" plans? WTF..? since when did mike run for election the first time?

 
At 2/13/2006 7:17 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

When he was elected by the county chairmen of the 36th district as specified by the law.

 
At 2/15/2006 9:54 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Huntooner ... How about your boy Mikey. Where does he stand on the Pig plant? He has been very quiet on this issue. Is he holding hands with the Senator or not? Inquirering minds want to know.

 
At 2/17/2006 11:48 PM, Blogger The Inside Dope said...

One of the usual trolls has sent in dozens of comments all mocking and attacking Huntooner and smearing and attacking Rep. Boland.

They've all been properly dumped with the rest of the garbage where they belong, as they can't manage to write a straight comment without including baseless smears or insults.

About 7 or 8 of these comments ask if Boland supports the hog slaughtering plant or not.

Unfortunately, they insist on writing like a grade-schooler and can't state a simple question without it dripping with hatred or disrespect.

So.... even though they don't deserve it, I thought that perhaps at least their question should be asked. They've had about 20 chances to ask it in a decent way, but are too stupid, drunk, or both to do so.

 
At 2/17/2006 11:50 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Are you calling the Kneeding and Probing not disrespectful? Just asking?

 
At 2/17/2006 11:55 PM, Blogger The Inside Dope said...

Only in your twisted mind, Chester.
And this is the Boland thread, by the way.

If you have any guts or integrity, you'd take this up with me by e-mail instead of wasting everyone's time with all your spineless comments.

This is the last one that will see the light of day. Just so you know.

 
At 2/20/2006 5:18 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

where does mike boland stand on the pig plant?

did boland attene paul rumlers fundraiser?

RUMLERS CAMPAIG MANAGER CLARK RAMSEY TOLD JOHN G THAT BOLAND WAS HELPING BOLAND. IS THIS TRUE?

BOLAND AND RUMMLER NEED TO CLEAR THIS UP. THE SILENCE ON THESE ISSUES CONCERNS ME.

WELL DOPE, ASK THEM?

 
At 2/20/2006 6:28 PM, Blogger The Inside Dope said...

To our resident screamer above, I'm not sure if it's necessary to ask the Boland campaign about this, as I feel it's safe to say that Boland is indeed, as you suggest, helping Boland.

You're free to ask them however.

 
At 3/01/2006 11:25 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

To Rep Boland. Are you for or against the pork processing plant or not. I have seen it said that you are for it on these pages. I haven't heard it from the horses mouth though. Please give us an answer.

 
At 3/07/2006 9:53 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

For the record, Representative Boland isn't the one who has had (or will have) the opportunity to vote on this issue, so it's my personal perspective that whether he personally supports or doesn't support the proposed hog slaughter facility isn't terribly important.

The Alderman of the cities needed to approve the agreement, and the members of the Rock Island County Board are the individuals who have responsibility for making this decision, so it's my opinion that the focus should be on them and their votes.

At this point, since it's not something that's going to come before the State Legislature (at least not to my knowledge), any comments by Boland could be take as meddling or grandstanding. Remember that local officials did NOT necessarily appreciate it when Mike Jacobs spoke out on this subject out of turn? Why would Boland follow suit by making the same kind of mistake?

Can we go back to actually discussing Boland now?

 
At 3/08/2006 1:17 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Boland will have to vote on it! And if he would give his support he could help bring 1000 new jobs to the area. To not step up and get a little bit dirty is something that Boland is good at.

 
At 3/10/2006 8:30 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Here is Boland sitting on the fence. To afraid to make a stand. First comes the courage. Then comes the Backbone. Then comes the pig plant in a baby carrage.

 
At 3/11/2006 7:57 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I'd like for ANON 13:17 to tell me when and where Boland's going to have to vote on the hog plant. There's certainly nothing pending on this issue waiting for attention from the legislature!

 
At 3/11/2006 11:57 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

He will have to, but that isn't the point. Boland could help the area to bring 1000 jobs to the area or help keep the smell and the pollution out of our area. He is so well thought after that his thoughts on the issue could help mold the shape of the QC pro or con for the Pig plant. To sit on the sideline on such pressing issues from a leader of the area that is in his own district is irrisponsable. I will lose respect and he will lose a vote if he doesn't weigh in. Its about leadership not staying out of hot issues that makes a leader.

 
At 3/13/2006 6:39 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Are you saying state incentives are going to the pig plant and Mike Boland isn't aware of them? Is that what you are saying?

 
At 3/13/2006 7:18 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Mike needs to get on the stick. Staying on the sidelines where it is safe is bad leadership.

 
At 3/22/2006 1:15 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

OOPS you did it again!
Good luck with that choice.

 
At 3/23/2006 2:40 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Wonder what Madigan will say to you when he sees you next? I hope you get a total butt chewing as you highly deserve it.

 

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