Q the Eye/06.27.12

Dear LakeCountyEye,

So the Supreme Court says corporations can give as much money as they want to politicians. OK, that works for me. What office do I have to run for to get a corporate sponsorship?

NASCAR Dad

Dear NASCAR Dad (if that's your real name),

Haha you're more likely to get rich playing the roulette wheel at the Waukegan casino than you are trying to turn a buck in politics. Not convinced? Just consider the sad story of Lake County's most-photographed State Senator, Suzi Schmidt -- who has been charged with behaving inappropriately with the neighbor's feedbag. The neighbors in question, according to the Daily Herald ...

accused Schmidt of going onto their property, taking a bag of feed and throwing it into a nearby swampy area near their home. The allegation led to Schmidt's arrest after a Lake County Sheriff's deputy on routine on patrol in Gurnee spotted her vehicle in the parking lot of a home improvement store on the 6600 block of Grand Avenue. She was released the same day after posting 10 percent of her $5,000 bond.
Lake County state senator pleads in harassment case

The way posting bail works is an accused pays a bail bondsman (typically) 10 percent. The bondsman then posts the full amount to the court. The accused is released, while the bondsman hopes they do not skip town.

In Suzi Schmidt's case, 10% of $5,000 is $500. And that is not a refundable $500. If Schmidt, for example, contracted with Da Kine Bail Bonds then they keep that $500 whether of not Schmidt shows up in court. Now your LakeCountyEye in no way thinks Schmidt is a flight risk, and that is the easiest $500 Da Kine Bail Bonds will ever realize. But the real takehome is that Schmidt -- who occupied the penthouse suite of the Lake County political totem pole for 20 years -- did not have the $5000 to post bail. Now seriously, that $5000 -- which is fully refundable -- is not a lot of money. These days $5000 is you average red-light-camera fine.

So if you think you're going to get into politics and end up with shoeboxes of cash stuffed in the freezer, just remember State Senator Suzi Schmidt. Also don't quit your day job.

If you are an elected official, or a previously elected official, or just a private citizen under indictment, send your political questions to Q the Eye c/o ... LakeCountyEye@gMail.com