From Senate Republican Leader Frank Watson's email newsletter, Capitol Connection - 8-28-07:
Governor Blagojevich, known for avoiding Springfield whenever possible, apparently decided to spend some time at the Du Quoin State Fair.
But, aside from venturing out to sign utility rate legislation on Tuesday, fairgoers might have had a hard time knowing the Governor was in town.
According to the Southern Illinoisan , Blagojevich was at the Fair on Sunday but “spent the day out of public view, poolside early in the afternoon and then indoors at the state-owned Hayes mansion, which is gated off from the public at the center of the fairground.
“The Governor's Day inside the mansion came a day after a party held at a neighboring mansion inside the same compound attended by about 200 local government leaders from across the state,” the newspaper reported.
“Access to the compound was blocked by State Police while members of the governor's security team from Chicago and Springfield occasionally circled the perimeter on golf carts.
“One woman who identified herself only as a state employee said on her way out of the compound that she was instructed not to talk to the press. Another person inside the gates wearing serving attire said she could not say what she was doing there and was also told not to speak to any media.”
