Does from-the-grave endorsement in 31st District cross the line?
More than two years after her death, former Republican state Sen. Adeline Geo-Karis' name and image are being used by the re-election campaign of her Democratic successor - and it isn't sitting well with Lake County's GOP leader.
A recent campaign mailer for state Sen. Michael Bond features a photograph of Bond, his wife and Geo-Karis taken before her death. Additionally, Bond's float in Lake Villa's Memorial Day parade bore a large picture of Bond and Geo-Karis with a message about the late politician.
Bond's opponent in the Nov. 2 election for the 31st District seat is Republican Suzi Schmidt of Lake Villa, the longtime chairwoman of the Lake County Board. Schmidt declined to comment about Bond's campaign, but Lake County Republican Party Chairman Bob Cook was disturbed by the use of Geo-Karis' name and photos.
"I'm appalled that someone would resort to using someone who passed away for political gains," Cook said. "I think it's in poor taste."
Bond called Cook's comments "ridiculous" and said the complaints are purely political.
The float has been in action for two years, Bond said, and no one has complained before.
"This is a tribute that I am proud of," Bond said.
Geo-Karis, a Lake County political legend who served in the General Assembly for parts of four decades, backed Bond in his eventually successful 2006 campaign to win her 31st District seat.
She did so only after losing an ugly primary-election race to Republican Suzanne Simpson, a defeat that left Geo-Karis feeling personally stung by the GOP.
Cook was among the many Republicans who disliked the party establishment's public support of Simpson's challenge.
"(Geo-Karis) was a sitting state senator," said Cook, who was named party chairman earlier this year. "I thought it was wrong to run against her and put her in that position."
With the GOP divided, Bond trumpeted Geo-Karis' endorsement in the general election, and it helped him defeat Simpson.
"She was deeply hurt by the way she was treated (by the GOP)," Bond recalled.
The duo remained close after Bond took office. When Geo-Karis died in February 2008, Bond served as a pallbearer and spoke at a memorial luncheon.
Bond scoffed at Cook's complaints, saying they're coming from the same party leaders who were cruel to Geo-Karis and abandoned her politically in 2006.
But Cook said political affiliation has nothing to do with his objections.
"If they were Republican or Democrat, I would be upset if they were using her likeness for political gain," he said.
Bond said he hears plenty of positive comments about the parade float, which he claims to have built with Geo-Karis' godson. Some people want to have their picture taken with the float, he said. Others thank him for remembering Geo-Karis, he said.
Cook said he hopes Bond stops using Geo-Karis' image on the campaign trail, but Bond said the float will be busy this summer.
"(She) served our country with honor and distinction for nearly 40 years," Bond said. "To try to honor that is really important."
Bond also defended the campaign flier that included Geo-Karis' photograph. The eight-page brochure also detailed some of Bond's votes in the Senate, road-improvement projects he supported and state money he helped funnel to the district.
"I'm kind of happy that the chairman of the Lake County GOP has no issue with eight pages of accomplishments," Bond said.
The 31st District includes nearly all of northern Lake County.