SB600: Let Illinois GOP Voters Control Their Own Party, Not the Insiders and Bigwigs

-By Warner Todd Huston

We’ve talked about SB600 many, many times here on the blog and with the end of the legislative session in our Springfield-based Capitol coming to an end, we need to make another push for this worthy bill.

SB600 would return to Illinois’ Republican voters the responsibility to again vote for their own members of the state central committee, a vote that was taken away from us by the good old boy network of the Illinois GOP powermen in the 1980s. As it stands today only GOP committeemen may vote for the members of the state central committee, the group that controls the agenda for the state party. This insider’s control of the central committee has taken away from the voters the right to affect what their own party does. SB600 would cancel this backroom dealing and again see state central committee members go before the voters to gain their positions.

Interestingly, while the Illinois GOP has taken the vote away from the voters to fill the spots on the state central committee, Democrat voters still do and always have been able to vote for their central committee members.

In any case, the list of those in the state that support SB600 is always growing despite that the powerful GOP honchos refuse to bring it to a vote.

Be sure and call your representative and tell him or her that you want to give democracy back to Illinois’ Republican voters.

Doug Ibendahl has been following this from day one and has assembled a great list of those that have announced support of SB600. (See his post HERE)

Doug’s List:

Greg Abbott, State Senate Candidate 2008/Precinct Committeeman (DuPage)
Janness Abraham, Conservative Activist (McHenry)
Bob Allen, Plainfield Township Chairman (Will)
Joe Alger, Conservative Activists (McHenry)
Mary Alger, Conservative Activists (McHenry)
Bill Alstrom, Republican Activist
Pamela Althoff, State Senator
Anthony Anderson, Precinct Committeeman (Boone)
Dave Anderson, Precinct Committeeman (Kane)
Adam Andrzejewski, Candidate for Governor 2010
Greg Baise, President, Illinois Manufacturer’s Association
John Bambenek, Co-Founder, Illinois Citizens Coalition
Mark Batinick, Precinct Committeeman (Will)
James Becker, Precinct Committeeman (McHenry)
Bruno Behrend, Co-Founder, Illinois Citizens Coalition
Ken Bellaire, Chicago 41st Ward Committeeman Candidate 2008
Diane Benjamin, Tea Party Activist
Bob Bergman, Republican Activist
John Biver, Precinct Committeeman (Kane)
Paul Bonilla, 48th Ward Committeeman (Cook)
Christine Boreland, Precinct Committeeman (Lake)
Michael Brown, Republican Activist (Lake)
Eric Burgess, Precinct Committeeman (Lake)
Brad Burzynski, State Senator
Nancy Cahalan, Precinct Committeeman (Madison)
Dennis Canfield, Lifelong Republican (Cook)
Dan Carbol, Chicago 19th Ward Committeeman Candidate 2008
Don Castella, Vernon Township Chairman (Lake)
Tony Castrogiovanni, Cook County Vice-Chair/Berwyn Township Committeeman
Bob Cherry, Precinct Committeeman (DuPage)
Bob Churchill, former State Representative
Mike Clark, Republican Activist (Lake)
Lloyd Collins, Chairman, Peotone Township (Will)
Phil Collins, Executive Director, Illinois Center Right Coalition/Precinct Captain (Cook)
Eunice Conn, Republican Activist (Ogle)
Michael Connelly, State Representative
Dennis Cook, Candidate for Lt. Governor 2010
Cedra Crenshaw, Precinct Committeeman (Will)/Candidate for State Senate 2010
Jack Cunningham, Kane County Clerk
Mark Curran, Lake County Sheriff
John Curry, Cook County Vice-Chair At Large/Chicago 32nd Ward Committeeman
Jeff Davis, Republican Activist
William Davis, Republican Activist (Kendall)
Kevin Dawson, Coordinator, Republican Young Professionals
Demetra DeMonte, Republican National Committeewoman
Deb Detmers, State Central Committeeman
Dave Diersen, Precinct Committeeman (DuPage)/Chairman of TAPROOT
Greg DiLaura, Precinct Committeeman (Kane)
Kirk Dillard, State Senator/Candidate for Governor 2010
Gordon Dillon, Republican Activist
Jim Dodge, Candidate for State Comptroller 2010
Lidia Downs, Republican Activist (Kane)
Lora Drobetsky, Republican Voter
Michael Duncan, Republican Voter
Liz Eilers, Precinct Committeeman (Sangamon)
Roberto Enriquez, Candidate for Secretary of State 2010
Rich Evans, Precinct Committeeman (McHenry)
Peter Fitzgerald, former U.S. Senator
Mike Fortner, State Representative
Michael Gadzinski, Norwood Park Township Committeeman (Cook)
Glenn M. Garamoni, Precinct Committeeman (Lake)
Kurt Giehler, Prospect Heights Deputy Committeeman (Cook)
Les Golden, President the NEW Oak Park GOP (Cook)
Norma Goodale, Precinct Committeeman (Peoria)
Robert Gordon, Republican Activist
Liz Gorman, Commissioner, Cook County Board
Rhonda Graff, Republican Activist (DuPage)
Steve Greenberg, 8th District Congressional Candidate 2008
Andy Haaf, Republican Activist
Sue Hamilton, Williamson County Chairman
Brent Hasse, Precinct Committeeman (Kendall)
Art Havenhill, Tea Party Activist (LaSalle)
Isaac Hayes, 2nd District Congressional Candidate 2010
Cynthia Hebda, Candidate for State Representative, 59th District
Brian Heckert, Washington County Chairman
Joe Hedrick, Niles Township Committeeman (Cook)
Drew Heidgerken, Coordinator, Republican Young Professionals
Chuck Hernandez, Candidate for State Central Commitee 2010
Robert Hoban, Community Representative, Mark T. Skinner Elementary School
Leland H. (Lee) Hoffer, Precinct Committeeman (Kendall)
Bill Hogan, Precinct Committeeman (Will)
Jim Hollenbeck, Republican Activist
Roy Horras, Concerned Citizen and Republican Activist (Cook)
Patti Howard, Precinct Committeeman (Williamson)
Patrick Hughes, Candidate for U.S. Senate 2010
Randy Hultgren, State Senator/14th District Congressional Candidate 2010
Warner Todd Huston, Republican Activist
Linda Hutcheson, Republican Activist (Clay)
Doug Ibendahl, Republican Activist (Cook)
Jean Ibendahl, Republican Activist (Perry)/former Candidate for State Representative
Sue Ibendahl, Republican Activist (Washington)
Mel Ingram, Conservative Activist (McHenry)/former Arkansas GOP County Chairman
Wayne Johnson, Republican Activist
Ralph Jones, Vice-President, Stickney Regular Republican Organization (Cook)
Wendell Jones, former State Senator
Mary Joestgen, Republican Activist
Andy Kaczmarek, Precinct Committeeman (Kendall)
Gary Karlin, Republican Activist

Peter S. Karlovics, Precinct Committeeman (Lake)

Bill Keck, Kane County Auditor
Mike Kenyon, Kane County Chairman
Jan Klaas, Winnebago County Chairman
Gene Koprowski, Committee Member, Draft Sarah Palin 2012 (Cook)
Joe Kordik, Precinct Committeeman (Will)
Andy Korte, Conservative Activist
Maida Korte, Conservative Activist
Andrew Kovari, Precinct Committeeman (McHenry)
Deb Kraulidis, Tea Party Activist (Will)
Tim Kraulidis, Precinct Committeeman (Will)
Carolyn Krause, former State Representative
Peter LaBarbera, Precinct Committeeman (DuPage)
Linda LaFianza, Evanston Township Committeeman (Cook)
Ray LaHood, former U.S. Congressman
Chris Lauzen, State Senator
Gary Lewis, Superintendent, Shiloh CUSD #1 (Edgar)
Don Lowery, Candidate for U.S. Senate 2010
Dave Luechtefeld, State Senator
Dr. Spomenka Luedi, Republican Activist (DuPage)
Jake Mabus, Illinois 19th District Coordinator, Campaign for Liberty
Gary MacDougal, former Chairman, Illinois Republican Party
Jim MacRunnels, Candidate for Kane County Board Chairman 2008
Peter G. Malone, Conservative Activist/Precinct Committeeman (Kane)
Jack Martin, Executive Director, Republican Assembly of Lake County
Sharon Martiniak, Precinct Committeman (Will)
Jim Mathis, Precinct Committeeman (Edgar)

Jim Mayer, Republican Activist

Donald Metzler, former Madison County Chairman
David McAloon, 11th Dist. Congressional Candidate 2010/State Director, Tea Party of Illinois
Mayo McCarthy, Treasurer, Republican Assembly of Lake County
Rebekah McCaw, Henry County Board Candidate 2010
Chris McNeil, Republican Activist (Will)
Rob Mikyska, Republican Activist (Kane)
Lillian Milam, Republican Activist (Union)
Joe Miller, Political Activist
Sherri A. Miller, Carroll County Chairman
Steve Miller, 7th District Congressional Candidate 2008
Bob Mitchler, retired State Senator/Precinct Committeeman (Kendall)
Shane Montgomery, Chicago 42nd Ward Committeeman Candidate 2008
Robert Moon, Tea Party Patriots
Andrew Moore, Republican Activist (Cook)
Joseph Morris, Founder, Chicago Conservative Conference
Tom Morrison, Candidate for State Representative 2010
Rich Morthland, Candidate for State Representative 2010
Ruth Munson, former State Representative
Fred Murino, Republican Activist
Ed Murnane, President, Illinois Civil Justice League
Shaun Murphy, Worth Township Committeeman (Cook)
Jim Nalepa, Republican Activist (DuPage)
Myron Neff, Monroe County Chairman
John H. Nickels, Republican Activist
Charlie Nystrom, Republican Activist (Lake)
Jim Oberweis, Republican State Central Committeeman
June O’Donoghue, Northfield Township Committeeman (Cook)
Michael Olik, Stickney Township Committeeman (Cook)
Patrick O’Malley, former State Senator
Carole Pankau, State Senator
Terry Parke, former State Representative
John Parrott, McLean County Chairman
Garrett Peck, Precinct Committeeman (Will)
Tony Peraica, Commissioner, Cook County Board
Beverly Perlson, Republican Activist (Kane)
George Perros, Precinct Committeeman (Will)
Bill Peterson, former State Senator/former State Central Committeeman
Karl Pfizenmaier, Conservative Activist (Kendall)
Jason Plummer, Lt. Governor Nominee 2010
John Polsene, Republican Activist
Tony Pomonis, Precinct Committeeman (Champaign)
Dennis Presley, Precinct Committeeman (Williamson)
Dan Proft, Candidate for Governor 2010
Nick Provenzano, McHenry County Board Member
Mike Psak, U.S. Senate Candidate 2008
Rosanna Pulido, Republican Activist (Cook)
Jim Purcell, Republican Activist
Christine Radogno, State Senator
Steve Rauschenberger, former State Senator
Aakash Raut, Precinct Committeeman (Sangamon)
John Reeves, Republican Activist (Kendall)
Mark Rhoads, former State Senator
David Rickert, Kane County Treasurer
Dale Risinger, State Senator
Jay J. Rodriguez, President, Republican Hispanic Organization
Jack Roeser, Republican Activist
Chapin Rose, State Representative
Jim Rowe, Republican Activist
Dennis C. Ryan, Secretary, Western Kane County Republican Organization
John Ryan, Precinct Committeeman (McHenry)
Kathy Salvi, 8th District Congressional Candidate 2006
Cathy Santos, Republican Activist (Cook)
Joe Savino, Republican Activist (Cook)
Arlene Sawicki, Republican Activist

Chelsea Schopper, Secretary, Lake County Central Committee/Precinct Committeemen

Al Schroeder, Jr., Conservative Activist
Carl Segvich, 19th Ward Committeeman (Cook)
Keith Sellers, Precinct Committeeman (DuPage)
Diane Shapiro, 46th Ward Committeeman (Cook)
Robert Shearer, Jr., 49th Ward Committeeman (Cook)
Dave Sheppard, Republican Activist (Jasper)
Craig Simmons, Coordinator, Republican Young Professionals
Brian Smith, Chairman, Will County Young Republicans
Dave Smith, Precinct Committeeman (Will)
T.R. Smith, Chairman, Western Township Central Committee (Kane)
Pete Speer, Republican Activist
Mark Stern, Precinct Committeeman (DuPage)
Steve Stevlic, Coordinator, Chicago Tea Party (Cook)
John Stevo, Calumet Township Committeeman (Cook)
Jerry Stocks, Macon County Chairman
Sam Stratmeyer, former County Chairman (Massac)
Dan Sugrue, Candidate for State Representative 2010 (Lake)
Ed Sullivan, Jr., State Representative
Mike Sweeney, Elk Grove Township Committeeman (Cook)
Dave Syverson, State Senator/State Central Committeeman
Michael Tams, Precinct Committeeman (DuPage)
Nancy Thorner, Precinct Committeeman (Lake)
Ken Toftoy, Kendall County Chairman
Don Tracy, Candidate for Lt. Governor 2010
Joe Tragesser, Republican Activist (Lake)
Douglas Troiani, Bloom Township Committeeman (Cook)
Doreen True, Secretary, Republican Assembly of Lake County
Raymond True, Chairman, Republican Assembly of Lake County
Scott Tucker, Candidate for State Representative 2010 (Cook)
Lauren Turelli, Candidate for State Representative 2010
Sig Vaznelis, Lemont Township Committeeman (Cook)
Joseph Volpendesta, Republican Activist (Lake)
Pat Wagner, former LaSalle County Chairman
Bruce Wallace, Jackson County Chairman
Leonard Wass, Republican Activist and Concerned Citizen (Kendall)
Frank Watson, former State Senator
Linda Webb, Precinct Committeeman (Lake)
Nancy Weber, Republican Activist
Jack C. Weis, Republican Activist and Reformer (Kendall)
Keith Wheeler, Candidate for State Representative 2010/former Kendall County Chairman
Andy White, Coordinator, Republican Young Professionals
Douglas Whitley, President/CEO, Illinois Chamber of Commerce
Joe Wiegand, Precinct Committeeman (DeKalb)
Dave Winters, State Representative
Gabriela Wyatt, Republican National Hispanic Assembly Vice-President
John Wyeth, Precinct Committeeman (Kendall)
Jon Zahm, Chairman, Kane County Conservative Coalition
____________

“The only end of writing is to enable the reader better to enjoy life, or better to endure it.”
–Samuel Johnson

Warner Todd Huston is a Chicago based freelance writer, has been writing opinion editorials and social criticism since early 2001 and is featured on many websites such as Andrew Breitbart’s BigGovernment.com, RightWingNews.com, CanadaFreePress.com, StoptheACLU.com, TheRealityCheck.org, RedState.com, Human Events Magazine, AmericanDailyReview.com, and the New Media Journal, among many, many others. Additionally, he has been a frequent guest on talk-radio programs to discuss his opinion editorials and current events and is currently the co-host of “Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Conservatism” heard on BlogTalkRadio. Warner is also the editor of the Cook County Page for RedCounty.com.

He has also written for several history magazines and appears in the new book “Americans on Politics, Policy and Pop Culture” which can be purchased on amazon.com. He is also the owner and operator of PubliusForum.com. Feel free to contact him with any comments or questions : EMAIL Warner Todd Huston

Fair Use: This site may contain copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. I am making such material available in my efforts to advance understanding of political, human rights, economic, democracy, and social justice issues, etc. I believe this constitutes a ‘fair use’ of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research, educational, or satirical purposes. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site/blog for purposes of your own that go beyond ‘fair use’, you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.


Copyright Publius Forum 2001