Durkin headlines Grant Twp. dinner

The impeachment of former Gov. Rod Blagojevich expects to be the hot topic Saturday when State Rep. Jim Durkin headlines as guest speaker of the Grant Township Republican Club's 62nd annual Lincoln Day Dinner.

Durkin, a Republican from Countryside, was in the news often in the last three months as the GOP spokesman on the impeachment panel against Blagojevich.

Blagojevich was voted out of office for allegedly trying to sell President Barack Obama's U.S. Senate seat after being elected to the highest office in November.

Durkin also has been the state representative for the 82nd District since 2006, and is a graduate of Illinois State University and John Marshall Law School.

"We are very excited to have Representative Jim Durkin as our keynote speaker," said Angela Kubalanza-Rappe, spokeswoman for the township club. "Not only because of his impeccable record in the House, but also because of his involvement as Republican spokesman on the impeachment committee."

Kubalanza-Rappe said the dinner will be an overall celebration of Lincoln's 200th birthday. She said Lincoln served four terms in the Illinois House and one term as a congressman before being offered the post of governor of the Oregon Territory.

He turned down that post, she said, because he wanted to return to Illinois. From there, Lincoln worked in the private sector before winning election as the 16th president of the United States.

Kubalanza-Rappe said the dinner comes just as the 2009 consolidated election gets into full swing, and most - if not all - candidates in Grant Township will be represented. State Republican Chairman Andy McKenna also is expected to attend the event.

Kubalanza-Rappe said, while Lincoln's birthday will be discussed, she expects the impeachment to be the hot topic.

"We look forward to hearing, firsthand, his comments on the recent impeachment of our Illinois governor," Kubalanza-Rappe said.

The dinner kicks off at 6 p.m. on Saturday at Maravelas Banquet Hall at 4 Washington St., Fox Lake. The cost is $40 per person.

For more information or to purchase tickets, contact Nancy Kubalanza-Rappe at (847) 587-5954.