Whaaaaaa! Jim and Phil at odds! The odd couple of Springfield politics
–Gov. Thompson and Senate President Phil Rock (D., Oak Park)–are about to have a spat. Don`t bet the ranch yet that Jay Hedges, who was named by Big Jim to become head of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Community Affairs on April 1, is going to get the job. INC. hears Rock not only is concerned about the department`s revolving door but is going to call for a statewide search for ”the very best candidate to direct the state`s top economic development office.” The hook? Although the post, which has been occupied by a succession of young appointees, is filled by Thompson, the Senate must approve all gubernatorial appointments. ”Rock was supportive of Thompson`s overseas forays to lure state business–despite Adlai Stevenson`s criticism–but this time he`s had it. The spot should not be used as a training ground for the young, and he fears DECCA is losing its credibility in the business community,” an INC. source said.
THE CITY MAUL . . .
The new major-domo at City Hall? None other than press secretary Alton Miller, who now not only has the mayor`s constant ear but seems to be orchestrating every political pirouette the mayor makes. Miller not only advises the mayor on the FBI probe strategy but lunches with the mayor as well. Isn`t it amazing what happens when you take the sunglasses off your head? . . . Here`s a note to put on your calendar. Overshadowed by the recent holiday hoopla over Dr. Martin Luther King`s birthday is a little-publicized fact. There is a little-noted but big holiday coming up March 3! And this is the first year it`s being observed. Give up? It`s an Illinois state holiday in honor of Gen. Casimir Pulaski, who led the cavalry during the American Revolutionary War.
THE STREET BEAT . . .
— Ooops! What goes on in the Streets and Sanitation Department Snow Command? Didn`t it dispatch a 100 percent snow-alert detail early Friday morning when it wasn`t even snowing, then salted wet streets before the freeze hit and the streets froze! Jane Byrne must be rubbing her political mitts together and praying for flakes to hit the day before election.
— Next time you pass the city parking lot at Elizabeth and Randolph Streets, where the salt spreaders are parked, please note the Streets and San laborers and drivers who are polishing the cars of the commissioners and superintendents. Isn`t that true, head honchos Mattie Thompson, Leo Clark and Bob Woods? Aren`t these city workers supposed to be loading garbage trucks and cleaning crosswalks instead of shining the chrome? Huh?
THE POL MAUL . . .
— The latest chapter in our continuing saga of pin-stripe patronage finds the law firm of Chadwell & Kayser Ltd. named counsel to the underwriters of the Metropolitan Sanitary District`s recent $233 million re-funder bond sale. That`s the outfit that hired a new part-time legal consultant last year: Cook County Assessor (and 19th Ward Demo domo) Thomas C. Hynes.
— Look for the respected Illinois Public Action Council to end its neutrality in the March primary judicial elections by endorsing Circuit Judges Mike Howlett Jr. and Aaron Jaffe for election. IPAC had been planning to take a hands-off approach in the primary campaign, but it now plans to go all out for Jaffe and Howlett. They have been highly recommended by area bar associations and are involved in hard campaigns in a big field of candidates. STAR TRACKS . . .
Bazooka operators–and you`d be surprised at just how many there are out there–are getting a chuckle over the print ads for the Chuck Norris-Lee Marvin movie ”Delta Force.” If Marvin shot the bazooka as he`s holding it, his nickname would be ”Lefty” because he`d incinerate his right arm. . . . Ernest Borgnine was honored by the Veterans Administration for his work with the VA`s visiting committee program. He and pal Martha Raye spend a lot of their spare time visiting hospitalized vets. . . . There`s talk that Barbra Streisand and Stevie Wonder may be teaming on an album. . . . Are we really surprised that two not-so-well-known record companies are about to release albums of long-forgotten Tina Turner stuff, including an LP of Tina doing country songs? . . . Ali MacGraw is being seen around Los Angeles with Jeff Wald, Helen Reddy`s ex.
BEVERLY HILLS BUZZ . . .
Only in America: One of the floats in Beverly Hills` second annual St. Patrick`s Day parade, which will take place on a green curb-to-curb carpet, will feature a two-story bottle of men`s cologne, spraying spectators along the route. Pia Zadora, Merv Griffin and Zsa Zsa Gabor will be among the marchers. Sorry, you have to wait until March 16. . . . Valerie Perrine, who has been living in London for the last several years, came back to the States over Christmas to put her Beverly Hills home on the market and film a segment for George Burns` CBS-TV show with Harvey Korman. Days after Perrine accepted an offer on the house, CBS execs saw the segment and decided it should be a series, called it ”Leo and Liz in Beverly Hills” and signed Perrine and Korman. Now, in a town where a lot of people have a home in Beverly Hills and no TV series, Perrine has a TV series, a houseful of furniture in storage and no home. Life is hard.
INC.LINGS . . .
Former Lake Forestite Mark Schriver guest stars on Thursday`s episode of
”Night Court” on NBC-TV. . . . Monday birthdays: Jim Brown, 50; Alan Bates, 52; Hal Holbrook, 61; Gene Pitney, 45. . . . The American Ballet Theatre`s premiere of the David Gordon ballet ”Murder” will feature Mikhail Baryshnikov and Glenview`s Amy Rose, but the premiere will take place Feb. 27 in San Francisco.
