Remember the General Parker vs. Kevin Lyon case...

A refresher:

John "General" Parker filed suit in U.S. District Court in Peoria claiming Lyons, School Board member Debbie Wolfmeyer and judges worked against him to ensure he could not run as a candidate in April, 2011.

Parker was bounced from the ballot Feb. 23 after Circuit Judge Scott Shore found he was ineligible to run for the board because of prior felony convictions. He appealed to the 3rd District Appellate Court in Ottawa, which did not take the matter in an expedited fashion.

The suit asks a judge to rule Parker is eligible to run for any office as well as to strike down existing Illinois law that blocks felons from running for municipal office or school boards.

The suit also seeks to nullify Wolfmeyer's election to the board last spring and to award Parker $250,000 in damages. In his suit, Parker alleges Wolfmeyer's petition to run for School Board contained several invalid signatures.

Named as defendants besides Lyons and Wolfmeyer are the 10th Judicial Circuit and Peoria County government. Parker filed the lawsuit pro se, meaning he is representing himself. He also submitted a request for a judge to waive filing fees.

In 2009, Lyons sent Parker a letter asking the then-mayoral candidate to withdraw from the ballot. No action was ever taken, and Parker ended up receiving less than 10 percent of the votes in the election. Source

Where the case is now:

United States District Court Judge Joe Billy McDade has allowed the case to continue against Lyons for Counts II, III and V. Parker is currently working on his Writ of Certiorari to the Supreme Court for the appeal of, what he defines as, "the illegal State Court's decision."

History of case on EmergePeoria:
School Board candidate General Parker summoned to the State's Attorney Office
Audacity of Illinois politicians - The General John Parker edition
General Parker granted a continuance
All gadflies are not created equal
Posted in full without comment...
Letter from General John Parker
Lawsuit filed against former States Attorney

General Parker granted a continuance

General Parker made an appearance today in Judge Brandt's courtroom to answer the Summons issued against Parker by the States' Attorney, Kevin Lyons.

As posted earlier, the State is seeking to stop Parker's name from being on the ballot for school board. It also seeks to stop Parker from campaigning for or taking the office of School Board and fines him $1000, plus court costs for claiming that he is "legally qualified" to hold the seat.

Lyons is looking to overlay Election Law (which refers to "infamous crimes") over School Code, which states that "All school elections shall be governed by the general election law of the State." However, the only crime that School Code says would deem a person unelectable is if they are a convicted child sex offender.

In an earlier press release Parker raised issues as to how/why the State's Attorney chooses his battles, implying that this is a personal vendetta that Kevin Lyons is waging. Parker also points to recent infractions by Mayor Ardis and others that have not been as closely scrutinized by the State's Attorney office.

Related article: Ardis may have broken law

“Impunity is a factor in charging. These attempts to use your position for your personal thrust is very appealing, it’s very inviting, but wrong is wrong. “You’re elected to a position and it’s not enough to use your own personal persuasion, your own personal strength, you want to use the office that apparently you think you now own. The public owns it.”

State's Attorney Kevin Lyons
talking about Mayor Jim Ardis
October 20, 2010

School Board candidate General Parker summoned to the State's Attorney Office

UPDATED: See Lyon's Complaint and General's Response

I must admit, I was disappointed to hear that the State's Attorney has summoned General Parker to his office. Some of the problem in the black community is that after folks do their time, they are often the first to be "pulled over and/or in" when they are just walking down the street. This thing with General and Kevin Lyons reminds me of that exact same type of relationship - only General is not committing crimes or being pulled over by the police - he is being pulled in by the State's Attorney for attempting to having a voice in his community. I don't know, but somehow this does not seem to be fair.

The Press Release below is from General Parker, a candidate for the second district BOE seat that is currently held by Debbie Wolfmeyer. Parker, frustrated by the prospect that he has turned his life around, but feels that the powers that be, won't let him move forward and he questions their motives...

Peoria County States Attorney Playing Plantation Politics

PEORIA, Ill. – With the April 5 election just six weeks away, voters are being left in the dark about the political backdoor dealings that are manipulating County Board races to help the status quo remain in power.

2nd District candidate, General Parker, a previous mayoral candidate, has been summoned by the Peoria County State’s Attorney office to appear in courtroom 203 of the Peoria County Courthouse to answer a complaint seeking and injunction to bar him from not only holding office for school board but to keep him from being on the ballot also.

Why? Because rumor has it the Democratic Leadership wants to teach Parker a lesson that no one runs, especially a black man, without their approval. “You know, I can understand if they choose not to support me like they didn’t for mayor, but to actually do things to harm me is beyond comprehension” Parker said. I am really hurt if Dave (Senator Koehler) has any part in this. He’s like a father to me even calls me his Godson and vice-versa.

Kevin Lyons seems to have different rules for different people in this town. He seemed to want to give Mayor Ardis a pass for something he was quoted in the paper as saying was a “felony if committed by an elected official. “Me, I guess I’m not light enough for his liking” quips Parker.

What’s hard to understand is are the organizations that supposedly stand up for a person’s rights? Do we just stand back and allow Lyons to misuse this office and the taxpayer’s money. Shouldn’t Parker be allowed face the will of the people and not Kevin Lyons? Shouldn’t the office of the State’s Attorney use its resources as a shield for the people by prosecuting active crimes and criminals and not be allowed to be used a weapon for personal vendettas against minorities or those who don’t support you politically? That’s the question that will be answered today in Courtroom 203 of the Peoria County Courthouse, located at 323 main St., Peoria, IL 61602.

Dan Fishel, mayor of Brimfield, IL had a felony conviction and held that office for eight years until a complaint was made and he gave it up and sought a pardon by Blagojevich and was able to run again for mayor of Brimfield again uncontested in 2009. Kevin Lyons office allowed him to hold office for eight years without saying a word even though there was a statute that prevents him from holding municipal office. There seems to be no such requirement for school board.

Parker is an activist and was recently leading a rally in the State Capitol on February 10, 2011 in support of the Steven Watkins’ Bill. This bill increases the penalty for visitation interference for custodial parents attempting alienate their children from the non-custodial parents. Being an activist, Parker has called out Lyons on unfair practices in prosecutions of cases and his disparities in applying the death penalty and charging minority youth as adults.

Related article: Parker — a convicted felon — has week to withdraw from mayoral race

Lyons' Complaint (click thumbnails to view document)














General's Response (click thumbnail to view document)

Another child hit by gunfire, as shooting up the streets of Peoria regardless of innocent people being in the vicinity continues

Shooting up the streets of Peoria regardless of innocents being in the vicinity continues. For the second time in the last two months another child has been hit by gunfire. You will recall that on October 14, 2010, an early morning shooting resulted in the injury of a 4-year-old as someone fired shots into a home on West Proctor Street around 4:30 in the morning.

I find it amazing how babies are the victims of shootings in Peoria and there is no sense of outrage from the community.

Another child hit by gunfire
Sat, Dec 11
A 3-year-old child was shot in the head Friday night on North North Street.

In what Peoria police Chief Steve Settingsgaard said “was probably a drive-by,” a child at 1311 N. North St. suffered a gunshot wound to the head.

The house was fired upon numerous times and a car parked on the street outside of it also was hit. A neighbor who would not give his name said it sounded like a machine gun was going off because of the number of shots fired. Source

Peoria man will face charges in shooting
Sat, Dec 11
PEORIA - A Central Peoria man was ordered held on $200,000 bond for allegedly shooting someone in the buttocks early Friday. Source

Man shot in the buttocks during robbery attempt
Sat, Dec 11
A man was shot in the buttocks after a gunman attempted to rob him Thursday night.
Source

Two survive separate, unrelated shootings
Mon, Dec 06, 2010
Two men survived being shot during separate and apparently unrelated incidents Sunday night. Source

Shots fired during South Peoria liquor store robbery
Tues, Nov 30, 2010
Three men robbed a South Peoria liquor store after firing shots into rows of bottles behind the cash register Monday evening. Source

Citizens won't be charged for running through the streets firing a weapon
Fri, Nov 26, 2010
Lyons sees both sides. "I won't be seeking criminal consequences for defensive gunfire erupting from this event." Source

Do people in Ann Arbor use Google?

Chase Ingersoll, former City Council gadfly, whose goal was to destroy State's Attorney Kevin Lyons' career, is now living in Michigan and is running for the 53rd District Michigan House of Representatives. The 53rd District represents portions of Ann Arbor, Pittsfield and Scio Township.

Ingersoll ran unopposed in the August 3rd, 2010, primary on the GOP side of the ticket and in November he will face Jeff Irwin a Democrat, who won in the August 3, 2010 primary runoff.

I remember well the joy Ingersoll took in taunting City Hall when he was the owner of the now defunct Grandview Hotel. I also recall when Polly Peoria shared with all what she felt about him when she posted this In my humble opinion: Chase Ingersoll is an evil bastard, and this post ... the PollyPeoria Golden Cockroach Award Goes To.... Chase Ingersoll (of course).

A little bit about his platform:

Chase Ingersoll
Office sought: 53rd District Representative, state House.
Political affiliation: Republican.
Place of residence: Ann Arbor.
Occupation: Small business, labor and consultation.
Previous elected office: None.
Community service: None.

Experience:
12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous. In the current political and social client, I would argue that this is more relevant than any other experience, offering in support such notion the undeniable collective insanity of legislative bodies and the public that denies that the vast majority of legislators obtained that status by lying.

Education:
WDYTTIR? Why do you think this is relevant? Are we to believe that someones opinion on a matter is better served by courses attended and degrees received, or should we consider that such may serve them a greater ability to lie and mis-inform the public about those issues to which they sound "more educated" and about themselves in general? Knowing what I know now about higher education, I am actually somewhat embarrassed how I naively participated in the "higher education racket" or "rat race".

Community Involvement:
What is "Involvement" and what is "Calculated Political Pandering" ? Was Myshkin involved in the community of St Petersburg?

Police arrested in connection with beating a citizen

Driving home one night in my sporty mommy mobile, the little one strapped in the back, happy and singing (as usual); we are behind a truck that is going slow. The person driving the truck puts on the blinker and turns left into a driveway, then I see the police car sitting in the street. I proceed to drive slowly, pulling to the right to go around the police car. Out of no where, a policeman approaches my vehicle - arms spread wide, chest in the air, walking hard. I stop and roll down my window:

Me: Oh, I'm sorry officer is the street closed....

Officer: What the hell are you doing (shouting) caint you see the damn street is closed?

Me: Officer, had I known the street was closed, I would not have proceeded, I am not sure why you are getting loud with me, but could you please keep it down, I have my child in the car.

Officer: (not as loudly) The street’s closed, turn it around.

I roll my window up feeling crunchy. There's a whole different vibe in the car and of course, the singing has stopped. I turn around to go in the opposite direction, feeling highly pissed, with no outlet. As I head back in the other direction, I notice there are at least five other cars behind me, so clearly the officer had not properly closed off the street. Why was it necessary for him to come at me like that right off the bat? Didn't the mommy mobile and the child in the back indicate that I more than likely was not a threat?

This is just my latest story about how delightful the Peoria police can be and it's mild compared to stories that other people I know and love could tell. From where I sit, it's not a much of a reach for me to believe that a Peoria police officer beat a black man.

AND let me go on the record right here and debunk the myth that it does not matter how nice you say "Yes sir", or "No sir", or “Mr. Officer”. Unfortunately, all that matters is the disposition of the officer at that given time.

_____________

Today there is a report in the PJStar about Peoria Police Officers being fired for allegedly beating a black man. Commenters on blogs are going on and on - "Kevin Lyons is trying to get back at the police"; or "that perp was attacking the officers"; or “he should not have run”. People did you not see this headline:

POLICE OFFICERS ARRESTED IN

CONNECTION WITH BEATING A MAN...

They were ARRESTED, both of them and booked on identical charges of four counts of official misconduct, aggravated battery, battery and mob action.

There was an investigation conducted before these charges were brought and before they were ARRESTED. Obviously there is some truth to Bryce Scott's (the beat up black man) story. Not to mention the video, that clearly shows police officers stumping the *hit out of something/someone.

I know the officers are innocent until proven guilty, but… (okay, I am going to stop that thought right there, because that will take me off on a tangent about how black folks are seldom ever called to serve on a jury in Peoria).

Sure there are a lot of great police officers in Peoria and God bless them, they have a difficult job. However, my prayer is and always has been, that if I, or any of the people I know and love, should happen to deal with a police officer, Lord please let it be one of those good ones we keep hearing about.

Audacity of Illinois politicians - The General John Parker edition

As General John Parker has made clear to the citizens of Peoria that he “will not quit”, his campaign rolls on. A quick look at Parker’s website shows the following events:

February 28, 2009 - Fundraiser for General Parker for Mayor. Join us in celebrating Peoria’s Black History! Keynote speaker is Former Fire Chief, John Parker. Located at the Holiday Inn City Centre. 500 Hamilton Blvd. Cocktails at 6:00pm; Program at 7:00pm. Come share a night with good friends, good food, networking and dancing. Retired Fire Chief John Parker will speak about Peoria’s Black History as he remembers it. TICKETS COST $35.00 each.$350.00 Table of 10 Sponsorships Available from $500 on up. To purchase tickets call: (309)397-3104

March 1, 2009 - Campaign Kickoff

March 2, 2009 - Candidate's Night, Paparazzi's Restaurant at 6:30pm, 4315 N. Voss in Peoria Heights

March 4, 2009 - Candidate's Night Moss-Bradley Resident's Association at 6:30 p.m.
____________________________________
General John Parker, the only other candidate who is running against the incumbent, Mayor Jim Ardis. I suppose I should mention, General John Parker is black and Jim Ardis is white. However, the broader issue is Parker's legal issues:

I have been letting this issue marinate for several days. However, I cannot help but continue to wonder, why is Kevin Lyons taking such a strong stance against General John Parker? We all have known for some time (since December) that Parker is a convicted felon, so why is Kevin Lyons forcing Parker’s hand at this juncture?

Why did Lyons wait until Parker's name was on the ballot? To remove his name from the ballot at this time would be costly. Absentee voting is set to begin at the Election Commission as early as Thursday, March 4.


Other bloggers are also questioning why the State’s Attorney is picking this fight with Parker now. Recently, Mr. Lyons made the following statement in the PJStar about Parker:

"I gave Mr. Parker a courtesy week to withdraw mainly because most people seek public office, you hope, in a sense of altruism," Lyons said. "You would like to afford them the opportunity to self-correct an ineligibility or conflict. I don't think anyone believes Mr. Parker was interested in self-correcting."

Really? Mr. Parker is a politician, just like Mr. Lyons and Mr. Ardis. How altruistic is any politician... really? Why is it necessary for Kevin Lyons to deal with John Parker in such a condescending manner? Is it because Parker is an ex-convict? Is this the type of treatment every ex-convict can look forward to, regardless of how much they may have turned their life around? It looks to me like Mr. Parker has done a lot of self correcting.

According to PJStar.com City Council members have barely commented on the mayoral race and Mayor Jim Ardis could not be reached for comment. However...


From what I understand, anyone could have registered a complaint about Parker's candidacy five days after the election's filing date, which was Dec. 15, 2008, and no one did.

Has some one registered a complaint about Parker's candidacy since then? Did I miss that news story? Oh, I get it, this an example of the State's Attorney, making an altruistic effort, to protect the citizens of Peoria, from the likes of General John Parker?

Neighborhoods throughout Peoria are crying out

This past Wednesday, a known felon was arrested at an East Bluff home (1123 E. Elmhurst Ave) and booked on charges of possession of weapons by a felon, possession of a controlled substance and possession and delivery of marijuana. Five other people were also arrested in connection to the case. I read about the "central Peoria drug bust" on two local blogs at least a day before information appeared in the Peoria Journal Star.

This felon had about two pounds of marijuana, 45 grams of cocaine, eight rocks of crack cocaine, body armor and five guns and was able to bail out by paying $3,000.

Most Peorians first got the story about the drug bust from the news reports of a news conference held in front of the Police Department, by Mayor Ardis and five members of the City Council. State's Attorney, Kevin Lyons feels that the news conference was politically motivated. Is it a coincidence that the Mayor and these same five members of the City Council endorsed Lyons' opponent for State's Attorney, Darin LaHood?

I am glad the Mayor's Office is showing that they intend to hold somebody accountable for crime in Peoria, but shouldn't that person be the Police Chief?

From my neighborhood, the news conference looks shady. Don't we read daily about the murders, serial rapists, drug busts, muggings, robberies, guns, and hookers on the East Bluff? Where is our news conference? Our neighborhood association, in cooperation with surrounding neighborhood associations are active. City Council members and police officers regularly show up to speak at our meetings. We have set up neighborhood watches, we call the code enforcers, we turn people in, we are fighting for our neighborhood. Where is our news conference? How did our feelings of desperation escape the Mayor and City Council? You don't think it's because we are South of Forest Hill do you?