Illinois+GOP

Chicago - Cook County - Democrats/Leftists - Elections - GOP - Illinois - Liberals - Republicans - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

Ill. GOP Again Moves to Safeguard Privileges of Leadership

October 17, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

The leaders of the Democrat Party in Illinois are elected by their voters. The leaders of the Republicans are not. And the GOP leaders want to keep it that way!

So, once again, we see GOP leader Tom Cross pushing back efforts to give S.B.600 a proper debate and a chance at a floor vote. We reported on Thursday that S.B.600 was slated for a third reading and a possible debate and vote in Springfield, but privilege spoke against the bill once again.

Tom Cross blamed the Democrats. He said they were trying to create “distractions” and that they were “meddling” in Republican affairs by supporting the effort to bring S.B.600 to the floor. Cross said it was “punishment.”
Continue reading “

Ill. GOP Again Moves to Safeguard Privileges of Leadership”

Budget - Business - Chicago - Cook County - Economy/Finances - Elections - State Government - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Gov. Race: Schillerstrom Signs the No-Tax Pledge

October 14, 2009 by

Gubernatorial candidate Bob Schillerstrom recently signed the No-Tax Pledge sponsored by Americans for Tax Reform.

Schillerstrom, current DuPage County Board President, joins several other candidates for governor in signing a pledge that promises not to raise taxes once in office. Bill Brady and Kirk Dillard have both signed the No-Tax Pledge in the past.

Bob Schillerstrom’s campaign website.

Chicago - Cook County - Elections - Illinois - Republicans - Warner Todd Huston

In Focus: Steve Kim, Republican for Attorney General

October 10, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Mundelein area resident Steve Kim announced his effort to become the next Illinois Attorney General not long ago. Thus far he’s the only Republican candidate announced for the position. In an election where nearly every race, both state-wide and local, has a plethora of candidates coming out of the woodwork, Kim’s entrance in the race as the lone GOP candidate shows how solid the GOP thinks current AG Lisa Madigan’s (D) bid for reelection is.

Initially, long-time GOP DuPage County State’s Attorney Joe Birkett was going to run when it was assumed by many that Madigan would vacate her office for a run for U.S. Senate or the governor’s ofice.

The Chicago Tribune reported:

Kim served a fellowship in Gov. Jim Edgar’s administration and went on to work in international trade relations in state government. He also served as Edgar’s advisor on Asian affairs. Later, Kim was elected to the Northfield Township board and held executive positions with the Illinois State Chamber of Commerce, AT&T and Time Warner Cable.

Steve Kim is a Korean-American and also belongs to a number of Korean-American groups in Chicago and the Midwest.

Steve Kim’s campaign website: stevekimforag.com.

Steve Kim’s FaceBook page.

For more information on Kim’s race:

Email: info@SteveKimForAG.com

Office Location: Citizens for Steve Kim, 1906 Armwood, Lane Mundelein, IL
Continue reading “

In Focus: Steve Kim, Republican for Attorney General”

Chicago - Cook County - Elections - GOP - Illinois - Republicans - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

Illinois GOP Chief Sets Aggressive Agenda for Victory

October 9, 2009 by 1 Comment

-By Warner Todd Huston

Earlier this week, Illinois Republican Party Chairman Pat Brady addressed the City Club of Chicago.

Here is the text of his prepared remarks:

“My rise to the leadership of the Illinois Republican Party and within the Republican National Committee has been fast – and somewhat of a surprise.

Although I never contemplated a leadership role in party politics, I have been active in supporting Republican candidates since 1970 when I first walked precinct 27 in Bloomington with my Dad.

In 1999—after continually working on a variety of races and fundraisers— State Representative Jim Durkin called me at work one evening and asked if I wanted to accompany him and “this guy from Arizona who is running for President” as they tried to fundraise in Illinois. I had met Senator McCain in 1984 and thought even back then he would be a good President — so I agreed to help. This began my 10-year effort on behalf of the McCain for President campaign.
Continue reading “

Illinois GOP Chief Sets Aggressive Agenda for Victory”

Chicago - Conservatives - Cook County - Elections - GOP - Illinois - Republicans - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

Website Lists of Illinois GOP State Wide Candidates

October 7, 2009 by

U.S. Senate

John Arrington – arringtonforsenate.com

Patrick Hughes – patrickhughesforsenate.com

Mark Kirk – kirkforsenate.com

Tom Kuna – w-e-r-co.com

Don Lowery – judgelowery4ussenate.com

Andy Martin – andyforussenator.com

Kathleen Thomas – kathleenthomasforsenate.org

Ed Varga – e-varga.com

Eric Wallace – wallaceforillinois.com

Robert Zadek – robertzadek.com

U.S. House

Peter Roskam – oskamforcongress.com

Governor

Adam Andrzejewski – adamforillinois.com

Bill Brady – bradyforillinois.com

Kirk Dillard – dillardforgovernor.com

Frank Edwards – edwardsforillinoisgovernor.com (Pulled out of race)

Andy McKenna – mckennagov.com

Dan Proft – proft2010.com

Bob Schillerstrom – bobschillerstrom.com

Lieutenant Governor

Brad Cole – teambrad.com

Dennis Cook – citizensforcook.com

Deb Leticia Gordils – debforillinois.com

Matt Murphy – murphy2010.com

Jason Plummer – jasonplummer.com

Don Tracy – tracyforillinois.com

Randy White – randy4ltgov.com

Attorney General

Steve Kim – stevekimforag.com

Secretary of State

Robert Enriquez – enriquez2010.us

Comptroller

Jim Dodge – jimdodge2010.com

William Kelly – friendsofwilliamjkelly.com

Judy Baar Topinka – udybarrtopinka.com

Treasurer

Dan Rutherford – danrutherford.org

Congress - Conservatives - Cook County - Elections - GOP - Illinois - Republicans - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

2009 Cook County GOP Convention

September 26, 2009 by 2 Comments

-By Warner Todd Huston

I just got back from attending the Saturday session of the Cook County Republican Party Convention (and before you ask, yes, there IS a Cook County Republican Party). It appeared that about 1,000 participants had come and gone during the day.

I was not able to make the Friday session, but today’s session featured five of the GOP candidates for governor making their pitch to the Cook delegates and convention goers. Noticeably absent was Andy McKenna whose recent announcement to join the race for gov. has caused quite a bit of consternation.

The morning got off to a rousing start with GOP Chairman Lee Roupas addressing the gathered crowd. Roupas really ginned up the attendees with a rousing address promising that the Cook County GOP is a new party, a vital party, one that can take on the corruption plagued Democrats and make a dent in the upcoming 2010 elections.

Roupas quickly turned the dais over to the always energetic Cook County Commissioner Tony Peraica who gave a rousing speech whipping up the faithful to defeat the “Crook County” Democratic machine that has been up to its rear-end in criminality and corruption for so darn long.

After Peraica we saw the first major address by Roger Keats, the Party candidate for GOP Cook County Board President. Keats did a fine job at the dais, to be sure. He is a fine candidate.
Continue reading “

2009 Cook County GOP Convention”

Chicago - Cook County - Elections - Illinois - Republicans - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

New Ill. GOP Head Speaks at Local Meeting

September 20, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

TAPROOT, a local Downer’s Grove/Lombard area Republican association, received a visit by the new Illinois GOP Chairman, Pat Brady, at its Saturday, Sept. 18th breakfast meeting. TAPROOT Board Chairman Dave Dierson published this report on his GOPIllinois.com site:

Pat Brady and Pat Hughes speak at TAPROOT breakfast meeting

Spirited questions for Brady focus on SB600 and Rule 11

Illinois Republican Party (IRP) Chairman and National Committeeman Pat Brady and U.S. Senate candidate Pat Hughes spoke at an outstanding TAPOOT breakfast meeting Saturday, September 19, at the Old Country Buffet in Lombard.

Continue reading “

New Ill. GOP Head Speaks at Local Meeting”

ACLU - Campaign Finance - Conservatives - Cook County - Democrats/Leftists - Elections - Liberals - Republicans - Society/Culture - State Government - Taxes - Unions - Warner Todd Huston

Ill. GOP Minority Leader in Bed With Criminal ACORN?

September 19, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Shockingly, it looks like Tom Cross (R- Oswego), the Republican Minority leader at the State Capitol in Springfield, has taken several large campaign donations from the criminal organization ACORN. Even worse, it looks like Cross indulged a quid pro quo to help the troubled community organization out on some of their favored legislative efforts.

Over at ChampionNews.net, Doug Ibendahl has uncovered some uncomfortable information about our Republican minority leader’s campaign coffers. Ibendahl has found that Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 880 donated $17,750 to Cross in 2003 and another $10,000 from SEIU Healthcare Illinois/Indiana PAC.

The SEIU is a public employees union that is closely linked with the troubled ACORN organization and SEIU Local 880 is close to ACORN, indeed. In fact, on the Local’s webpage you can see an email address it lists for contact info that settles the question. That email happens to be seiu880@acorn.org.
Continue reading “

Ill. GOP Minority Leader in Bed With Criminal ACORN?”

Cook County - Elections - GOP - Illinois - Republicans - Warner Todd Huston

Ill. GOP Central Committee Meeting Report

September 19, 2009 by 3 Comments

-By Warner Todd Huston

Featuring: Laughs, Congrats and Some Disapproving Stares (See end of report for the controversy)

This morning I attended the first Illinois Republican Central Committee meeting chaired by new party chief Pat Brady held at the Double Tree Hotel, Oakbrook, Illinois (Cook County, West of Chicago). Over all, the public portion of the meeting was brisk and convivial as chaired by Brady. The new GOP head seemed comfortable in the role and appeared to be well liked and respected by the committee members in attendance. Whatever behind the scenes deals that may or may not have been struck at the State Fair such a short time ago when Andy McKenna abruptly stepped down with Brady hurriedly appointed to replace him, Brady seems to have settled into the position of GOP Chairman well.

Surveying the room it appeared that about 10 members of the committee was not in attendance — so near a third of the members did not answer the roll call — and I was one of the few folks that came out to witness the public portion of the meeting. As Dave Dierson so amusingly put it, we sat in the “peanut gallery.” Dierson is best known for his daily Illinois news update email so many of us get each day in our email in-box.

The meeting began a tad later than the 11AM start date advertised and after Pat Brady called the meeting to order and introduced himself, and a few standard business items were taken care of (like approval of the minutes from the last meeting), Brady introduced the National GOP Committeewoman Demtra DeMonte to the room.
Continue reading “

Ill. GOP Central Committee Meeting Report”