Jim Dey: Auditor's job safe; now, how about county exec's?
Nov. 11—Had enough?
After a contentious 2024 election, most normal people are tired of the noise and ready for peace and quiet.
But not computer whiz John Bambenek of Mahomet.
He announced last week that he's gearing up for another political campaign, this one aimed at collecting the "required signatures to place on the 2026 ballot a referendum to dissolve the office of Champaign County executive."
Bambenek is hoping voters are ready to go back "to the previous form of county government," that is county government overseen solely by the county board.
The office of county executive is somewhat akin to a mayor for the county. Champaign County is one of only two counties of Illinois' 102 counties to have an elected executive.
Bambenek, who likes to tilt at political windmills, calls Champaign County's version an "abject failure."
"Instead of bringing order to county government, it has increased the chaos, acrimony, and has introduced a rampant culture of corruption into county government," he said.
Bambenek did not explain his reference to "corruption," although there have been concerns about the vast growth and increasing costs of the executive office.
Bambenek is not the only local politico to express concerns about the office. Recently, Democratic state Rep. Carol Ammons expressed similar reservations.
He said those interested in joining his effort can reach him by email ( ). The petition drive will require more than 4,500 signatures. Nothing is going to happen right away because the filing deadline is not until "late summer of 2026" for the November 2026 general election.
You like me, you really like me
Fresh from her convincing re-election win, 13th District Democratic U.S. Rep. Nikki Budzinski put out a self-congratulatory press release in which she cited her popularity and made it clear she'll fight President-elect Donald Trump tooth and nail.
"... I'll push back on any efforts to undermine our democracy or restrict the fundamental rights and freedoms we hold dear," she promised.
Budzinski bragged that she won her race against a GOP neophyte by 15.3 percent, a larger margin than she won her first race in 2022.
Politicians are endlessly impressed with themselves. But given how the deck was stacked in her favor, Budzinski's re-election effort isn't that impressive.
She's running in what The Washington Post called the "most gerrymandered" Democratic congressional district in the country, a district drawn just for her by Budzinski's Democratic sponsors.
Plus, she had virtually unlimited money to spend against a penurious candidate who was abandoned by the National Republican Congressional Campaign Committee.
Budzinski certainly deserves credit for being energetic and astute. But, in fashioning her self-image, she'd better not read too many of her own press releases about her wonderfulness. She might start believing them.
Redbird TV review
St. Louis Cardinals baseball fans got some good news last week when the Post-Dispatch reported that the Cards will "stay with the FanDuel Sports Network," formerly known as "Bally Sports."
But the team's broadcast package also will include "direct-to-consumer streaming."
The P-D reported that "the lack of direct-to-consumer streaming is part of the reason for the team's significantly declining viewership levels" over the past two years.
The new arrangement will allow would-be cable cord cutters to continue to watch the games through FanDuel Sports as long as they are in "the team's television territory," which includes all or parts of nine states.
Pricing has not been set, but the P-D estimated it would be "about $20 a month," roughly what's charged by other MLB teams.
The Cubs will continue on the Marquee Channel while White Sox games are caught up in confusion involving the new sports network that will air their games.
Dollars for doggies and cats, too
The Champaign County Humane Society held its annual "Fur Ball" fundraiser Nov. 1 at the I Hotel, and it was quite a sight.
It was so spiffy that even the tuxedo cats were wearing tuxedos. Just kidding.
But the money that was raised was no joke.
Mary "Tief" Tiefenbrunn, Humane Society executive director, estimated the society raised $150,000. She said she was "very happy" with the outcome.
It's not too late to send a check to the Humane Society. As a completely self-supporting organization, it can always use extra assistance. It's located at 4003 Kearns Drive, Champaign, IL 61822.
Who is that unmasked man?
Thousands of people have seen him. But just who is that fellow in the Red Grange uniform and helmet who runs races against challengers in the second half of Fighting Illini home football games?
Don't ask.
If UI sports information director Derrick Burson told you, he'd have to kill you. Why?
The name of the speedster is top secret. All media inquiries seeking an interview are summarily rejected.
Burson explained that revealing the flesh-and-blood persona of this fleetster would undermine the image that the athletic association is trying to project. It seems fans are supposed to see the spirit of Red Grange, the legendary Fighting Illini football star celebrated just a couple weeks ago at the 100th anniversary game at Memorial Stadium.
It's not clear how many people who watch Mr. Anonymous actually perceive him as Red Grange running over Michigan Wolverines. Probably not many.
But it's still an entertaining promotion sponsored by Jimmy John's.
The kid can really fly on the field. But just imagine how fast he'd go if some curious onlooker approached him to ask his name.
Jim's Pseudo- Intellectual Book Club: 'The Hustler'
That kind of label can go both ways, and it surely did for Major League Baseball's all-time hits leader, Pete Rose.
He was first known for hyper-hustle on the base paths that alienated teammates when he was breaking into the National League with the Cincinnati Reds. But his hustling activities outside the game — relentless gambling that eventually involved baseball — led to his permanent ban from the game he loved.
Pete Rose, who died a few weeks ago, clearly thought the rules didn't apply to him, and he paid a high price when he found out they did. That story is well told in Keith O'Brien's "Charlie Hustle: The Rise and Fall of Pete Rose, and the Last Glory Days of Baseball."
Football is America's game now. But for decades, MLB was the national pastime, and there were few better players than Rose.
Raised in Cincinnati, he was taught by his dad to hustle, hustle, hustle, and Rose did what his dad told him.
From his earliest days, Rose, never a great or interested student, was single-minded in his approach to two things: baseball and gambling.
When he went to spring training, he played in exhibition games by day and then pursued a "tripleheader" — horse and dog races and jai alai — in the evening.
O'Brien's account of Rose's baseball life — his start in the minors followed by a quick rise to the majors — is fascinating. He brimmed with confidence and never took a play off.
Mickey Mantle derisively labeled Rose "Charlie Hustle," a label Rose accepted with pride.
Unfortunately, Rose's hustling knew no bounds. Based on exhaustive reporting, O'Brien thoroughly documents the ballplayer's long association with bookies overseeing illegal betting networks. No wonder baseball officials worried themselves sick for fear Rose's false image as a straight arrow would come undone.
It finally did when criminal investigations into gambling brought Rose's name to the attention of authorities. It wasn't long before Rose associates were ratting him out, and the rest is thoroughly interesting history.
Pete was quite the character, endlessly interesting but disturbingly self-centered and sociopathic. One ex-wife said — no doubt correctly — that he loved only two things: baseball and Pete Rose.
If you like baseball, this is a great book. If you don't like baseball, it's still a great book. These kinds of personalities don't come along very often.
