GOP leaders give Lauzen elections plan a cold shoulder
SPRINGFIELD - Even as the Illinois Republican Party continues to demand a special election to replace embattled Democratic U.S. Sen. Roland Burris, top party leaders are resisting a proposal that would allow Republican primary voters to elect the party's central committee.
State Sen. Chris Lauzen, an Aurora Republican, wants GOP voters to decide who controls the party organization. Currently party ward, precinct and township leaders choose the Republicans' 19 central committeemen.
"When you want a change in management, the first thing you do is change the board," Lauzen said. "Over time, the Republican Party's leadership - the guys calling the shots - have gotten further away from the grass roots."
Lauzen's plan would have Republican voters in each congressional district pick a representative to the party's state central committee. Illinois Democrats elect their central committee in a similar way.
State Senate Republican leader Christine Radogno, of Lemont, signed on as a co-sponsor of Lauzen's proposal in February. But this week, Republicans on the Illinois Senate's Elections Committee asked to postpone consideration of the plan. The plan could be revisited when lawmakers return to the Capitol next week, but a similar plan languished in committee last year.
A spokesman for the state Republican Party said party leaders would not comment directly until supporters could show the plan could clear initial hurdles.
It's been clear the party organization does not support Lauzen's idea.
"Right now we have people calling the shots, unfortunately, who keep losing lots and lots of elections," Lauzen said. "There are a lot of Republicans that are tired of getting beat."
Lauzen said he was particularly disappointed Republican leadership couldn't capitalize on former-Gov. Rod Blagojevich's alleged ethical lapses when Blagojevich ran for re-election in 2006. Blagojevich was impeached and removed from office in January for abuse of power.
Lauzen said if GOP voters directly controlled the party organization Republicans would compete more effectively against Illinois Democrats. Currently Democrats hold all five statewide executive offices and enjoy large majorities in both houses of the General Assembly. Democrats also hold a majority on the state Supreme Court.
"Steadily it seems like we've been losing steam," Lauzen said. "The party big wigs have only delivered failures and disappointment."
In 2008, Lauzen lost a Republican primary contest to Jim Oberweis, of Sugar Grove, over who would succeed outgoing U.S. Rep. Dennis Hastert, of Plano. U.S. Rep. Bill Foster, a Geneva Democrat, beat Oberweis in the general election.