Cook GOP begins 'uphill battle'

When the Cook County Republican Central Committee presents its slated candidates for next year's election at its convention today in Rosemont, there will be a dearth of big political names running for countywide office.

While Democratic County Board President Todd Stroger would figure to be a weak candidate if he somehow wins the February primary and Cook Democratic Central Committee Chairman Joseph Berrios could face a tough race for assessor if against a known fiscally astute, reform-minded Republican, the Cook GOP will most likely answer with two little known candidates: Roger Keats and Sharon Eckersall.

Keats ended a 16-year career in the General Assembly 17 years ago, and Eckersall gets the nod to run for county office as the sitting Evanston Township assessor.

"One of reasons why we're having this event is for you to get to see these people," said Lee Roupas, the 26-year-old chairman of the Cook Republican Central Committee. "Because I'll tell you, it's a very diverse and qualified ticket."

Roupas said Cook GOP committeemen have already endorsed Keats for county board president and Eckersall for assessor, as well as another woman, June O'Donoghue, for treasurer, black Chicago Police officer Frederick Collins for sheriff, Hispanic Angel Garcia for clerk and Dan Patlak for 1st District commissioner on the Board of Review. They'll be presented at a news conference at 2 p.m. today on the opening day of the two-day Cook County Republican Convention at the Stephens Convention Center, 5555 N. River Rd., Rosemont.

If you build a stronger Republican organization, Roupas suggested, the big names will come - or the current candidates will develop bigger names. "That's what campaigns are all about," he said. "Other than Roger, they're new names."

So is Roupas, for that matter. He was backed for chairman early last year by then-chairman Liz Gorman, a county board commissioner representing the 17th District from Orland Park. "I identified him as a young, energetic up-and-comer who has strong family ties to Republicans," she said. "I think he's done a tremendous job."

"The committeemen wanted a younger and new face in the party," Roupas added, "and they selected me."

A Palos Township committeeman, Roupas cut his political teeth working on campaigns for former U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert and President George W. Bush.

Roupas acknowledged he tried to get former Chicago Public Schools head Paul Vallas to lead the county GOP ticket in a run for county board president. "There was no doubt Paul was someone we recruited and would have been very happy with as a candidate. With that said, we're happy he's a Republican here," Roupas added, "and he's going to be supporting the county ticket and he's supporting Roger Keats."

Both Roupas and Gorman said they understand the political reality that Chicago Democrats dominate suburban Republicans in Cook County. Yet Gorman said the outcry over Stroger's increased county sales tax has acted as a catalyst in galvanizing GOP support. She pointed to a recent political picnic she and Roupas played host to in the southwest suburbs that drew more than 1,000 supporters.

"You have to look at the groundswell that's occurring in the GOP organization," she said. "People are paying attention now, in the suburbs, that city Democrats are dictating what's going on."

Roupas said next year's election is not just about trying to win countywide, but about trying to build and sustain political momentum. "The stronger we run," he said, "the more easy it is to raise money and get candidates who are interested in running countywide."

"Everybody realizes it's an uphill battle," Gorman said. "But people are paying attention now more than ever."