Rodriguez says gender matters in GOP race

Maria Rodriguez says she's the best Republican candidate to beat Democratic U.S. Rep. Melissa Bean in November because, in part, she's the only other woman running.

"As a woman, it's a different race," said Rodriguez, the two-term village president of Long Grove.

Rodriguez made the comments Friday during a candidate interview at the Daily Herald and expanded on them in a follow-up interview. She also touted her campaign skills and her elected experience.

Not surprisingly, the other Republican candidates for the 8th District seat don't think gender should be a factor when voters cast ballots in the Feb. 2 primary election.

"I respect the heck out of you, but this isn't the year for a woman, a man, a giraffe or whatever," Republican Joe Walsh responded during the same candidate interview. "It doesn't matter what sex you are. This is going to take an energetic fighter to hit Melissa Bean over the head, respectfully, and an energetic Republican to yank the Republican Party back to its conservative roots."

A Bean spokesman declined to comment.

Six Republicans are seeking the party's nomination in the 8th District. They are: Rodriguez; Walsh, of Winnetka; Dirk Beveridge of Barrington; John Dawson of Barrington; Chris Geissler of Barrington; and Greg Jacobs of Mundelein.

All of the Republicans except Dawson attended Friday's discussion at the Daily Herald. Dawson was interviewed earlier in the week.

Walsh was the only one who responded to Rodriguez at the meeting. The others commented in follow-up interviews.

Being a woman creates "a level playing field" for a run at Bean, Rodriguez said. Her gender could especially be helpful at a debate, she added.

"A woman can say something to another woman that a man cannot," she said without elaborating.

Bean, of Barrington, has never faced a female Republican opponent. She defeated incumbent Republican Phil Crane in 2004, challenger David McSweeney in 2006 and challenger Steve Greenberg in 2008.

Democrat Randi Scheurer unsuccessfully challenged Bean in the Democratic primary in 2008.

Beveridge called Rodriguez's comments naive.

"I believe that this race is so important to the families of the 8th District that gender is not going to be a factor," he said. "And I think it's naive of Maria, or anybody, to think gender levels the playing field."

Jacobs called Rodriguez's comments "a load of hooey."

"If you're debating the issues, it makes no difference (what gender) you are," he said.

Geissler said voters should care less about Bean's gender than her voting record in Congress. And just because a candidate is a woman, he added, doesn't mean other women will vote for her.

"In this specific race, there's going to be so much more at stake than gender," Geissler said.

When told of Rodriguez's comments, Dawson said the women in the 8th District "will make decisions on candidates based on their merit and not their gender."

Bean is seeking a fourth term and will be the only Democrat on primary ballots. Jonathan Farnick of Woodstock is running a write-in campaign.

Green Party candidate Bill Scheurer of Lindenhurst - Randi's husband - also will be on the ballot.

The 8th District includes parts of Cook, Lake and McHenry counties. The seat carries a 2-year term.