County GOP needs strong leadership

County GOP needs strong leadership

A political heist of the Cook County Republican Party took place last month. It is a concerted effort by a single township chairman, Liz Doody Gorman, to control by proxy the party. This was three in a row for her. Lee Roupas was a nice young attorney from Palos Township. He failed to organize the party for victory. He was followed by a one-term person from Palos Township — similarly unqualified, also selected by Gorman. Chairman Aaron Del Mar appears to have been elected not with a majority of the total votes that might have been cast but with a plurality.

This plurality was engineered before the previous chairman’s firing before the meeting of his previously appointed New Trier Township Committeeman, Mr. Cadigan. Vacant New Trier’s votes could not be counted. If they had been counted, a different chairman with a majority would have been elected. One other of the 31 townships was vacant — Calumet — but the New Trier votes would have made the difference.

Organizing for victory requires a county chairman able to coordinate message, men and money. There is no evidence that Chairman Del Mar has these skills. Cook County holds the key to rebuilding the statewide party. Two incumbent Republican freshmen — Bob Dold and Joe Walsh — need a coordinated party effort. Many townships have vacant precinct captain jobs and have had for a long time. There are gerrymandered state legislative races as well.

The lower the turnout for Republican candidates in Cook County and the city of Chicago, the easier it will be for the Chicago-Cook County Democrat machine to continue control the entire state of Illinois.

Pete Speer

Mount Prospect