Politics, Chicago Style

Democratic assemblywoman Lori Saldaña is already raising money to run for her next office, which she currently identifies as a seat on the state Board of Equalization. A November 8 fund-raising event at Hillcrest’s Terra Restaurant and Bar netted about $3500, including $1800 from Padres owner John Moores. … In his heyday, ex–Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich had some big fans in San Diego, but none of them are willing to talk now that he has been impeached and ousted from office. The biggest Blagojevich campaign backer was, perhaps not surprisingly, the law firm of Lerach Coughlin Stoia Geller Rudman & Robbins, which contributed $50,000 in October 2006. Firm principal Bill Lerach is currently unavailable for comment, doing time in a federal pen after pleading guilty to a kickback scheme. Then there is Georgette Heintz of Point Loma, who gave $1500 in June 2004, according to state records. When reached by phone, she said she wasn’t interested in talking about the matter and hung up. Elizabeth Rose Cole of the Morena Boulevard area gave $2000 in February 2005. Identified as an actress in the filings, she couldn’t be located.