Conservative challenges Doody Gorman for Cook County Board as filing closes

A conservative primary challenge to Cook County Board District 17 Commissioner Elizabeth “Liz” Doody Gorman could be one of the hottest Northwest suburban races in the March 2014 primary — even though both candidates live nowhere near the Northwest suburbs.

Gorman, of Orland Park, was first elected to the county board in 2002. She is being challenged by fellow Republican Barbara Bellar of Burr Ridge, who has run and lost campaigns for state representative, state Senate and Burr Ridge mayor.

Monday was the final day of filing for the March 18, 2014, primary election that will feature party races for Illinois governor, statewide offices, the state legislature, county offices, several county board seats and in Cook County, township committeemen.

The 17th District includes almost all of Des Plaines, plus parts of Elk Grove Village, Park Ridge, Rosemont and O’Hare International Airport. The district runs more than 40 miles from north to south.

There are no primary races in the two main Northwest suburban Cook County Board districts — the 14th and 15th. Republican Commissioner Gregg Goslin is running unopposed in the 14th district, and in the 15th district Commissioner Tim Schneider of Bartlett is the lone GOP candidate. In November 2014 he will have a Democratic opponent, Michael Urban of Elk Grove Village.

In the 17th, Bellar — who says she is a former major in the Army Reserves, a doctor and a lawyer — said she is running for county board as a “real Republican.” Gorman is seeking a fourth term and says the primary will be a great opportunity to get out her record and talk to the voters.

“In another term I’d like to continue to transform Cook County government into the model government it is today — who would have thought that a few years ago?” she said.

Gorman said she didn’t expect Bellar to challenge her for the seat.

“There are so many open seats that Republican candidates are needed in, so for her to needlessly target me is kind of surprising, especially when I’ve supported her in the past,” Gorman said.

Bellar declined to address Gorman directly as her motive for running.

“I think the voters deserve a real Republican,” said Bellar. “This is America and anyone can run. I just want to give the voters a better choice.” Bellar said her experience as a physician would help reform and audit the Cook County health system.

Bellar tried to run for Burr Ridge village president in 2013 but did not have enough signatures to be placed on the ballot. She ran for the 18th District Illinois House seat in 2011 and for a state representative seat in 2010.

A YouTube video of Bellar speaking against President Barack Obama’s Affordable Care Act went viral in 2012 with more than 3.5 million views. According to Illinois Review, former U.S. Rep. Joe Walsh endorsed Bellar for the county board seat earlier this year. But, on Tuesday Walsh said he is no longer supporting Bellar because he doesn’t see a path for her to win the primary.

“I’m someone who really walks the walk and talks the talk, a fiscal conservative concerned about keeping down taxes. I’m someone that voters can know what they are getting, there is no mask,” Bellar said.

Gorman has offices in the south and north portions of the 17th District. Bellar said she’ll travel the length of the district to campaign.

“I’ll put in whatever time it takes,” Bellar said.

While Gorman said she is confident in her financing and that she has the support of the local GOP committeemen, she isn’t brushing off the competition.

“Anybody that is on the ballot you can’t take lightly,” she said. “I’ll continue to work as hard as I have in the past.”