Skoien, Del Mar to face off for committeeman post

Gary Skoien's political career has been marked by plenty of controversy.

There was the $10,000 bounty he offered as then-Cook County Republican chairman for information leading to the indictment and conviction of Mayor Richard M. Daley in 2005. And in March, Skoien made national headlines for an unusual domestic dispute at his Inverness home.

Neither incident is going to keep him from seeking a third term as committeeman of the Palatine Township Republican Party in February's primary election.

However, Skoien, 55, will have competition in the form of political newcomer Aaron Del Mar, a 31-year-old Palatine councilman who announced his candidacy this week.

"I was very surprised to see him run for re-election after everything that's gone on," Del Mar said, adding that he was prompted to run by the feeling that Skoien should be opposed. "The party is divided under his leadership."

Del Mar said he doesn't want to dwell on personal issues. Still, his news release says the community has been "tainted with the stain of scandal" and notes Skoien's negative publicity, including jokes by Jay Leno on the "Tonight Show" about a physical altercation that resulted in the arrest of his wife, Eni Skoien. The charges were dropped and a divorce is pending. Skoien said he wouldn't discuss the issue because of his children.

"It brought a negative light to the township and to the Republican Party," Del Mar said.

As committeeman, Del Mar said he would bring more people into the organization (known as TOPPER) and facilitate fundraising opportunities to promote the party's ideas and values. He also wants to rebuild the Web site to improve communication.

Del Mar said he's already raised $18,000 and he's checked with Palatine's attorney to make sure he could legally hold both posts.

Skoien, who said he's only seen Del Mar at a few TOPPER events, said the organization has never had more money, precinct captains or people attending meetings. The Republican slate also easily secured every office in the township in April.

"I'm always suspicious when a person who's never really been active in the Republican Party wants to run it," Skoien said. "He must be bored with that job (as Palatine councilman) already."