Illinois Issues - October 1996 - Volume XXII, No. 10

FEATURES
12 Patronage lite by Tom Brune and Jennifer Halperin Gov. Jim Edgar's appointments to more than 200 boards and commissions form a shadow government and a political base that few people know about.

22 On target by Jennifer Halperin Democrats are focusing on a few Senate and House district races in an effort to regain a majority in the General Assembly. We look at the Senate's 40th.

26 Spotlight On the 20th by Michael Hawthorne This congressional district, running south and west of Springfield, mirrors the rest of the state. The two parties are evenly matched here, though the seat has been held by a Democrat for the past 14 years.

30 Ideological divide by Rick pearson Giving Illinoisans a clear choice of political philosophy, the two candidates for the open U. S. Senate seat in this state share little common ground.

34 Developing a Latino electorate by Rob Paral Our review essay argues that Latinos could become apolitical force.

DEPARTMENTS
3 A Conversation With Our Readers by Ed Wojcicki

4 Editor's Notebook by Peggy Boyer Long

6 State of the State by Jennifer Halperin Recycling legislative issues

8 Briefly by Donald Sevener

38 People by Jennifer Halperin

40 Letters

41 A View From the Suburbs by Madeleine Doubek The road to the White House

42 Politics by Charles N. Wheeler III Campaigns and crime

Credits: Our cover was designed by multiple media artist Keith Whaley. He began with photographs and a press release, which he scanned