Schneider's path to GOP chair job cleared
Cook County Commissioner Tim Schneider of Bartlett has a clear path to become the Illinois Republican Party's next chairman after the only other candidate dropped out Tuesday.
Blair Garber of Evanston said he is focused on trying to get Winnetka businessman Bruce Rauner elected governor and appeared to want a smooth vote for a new chairman Saturday.
"Never allowing our internal deliberative process to be mischaracterized as showing wavering, hesitation or lack of support for our agenda is part of my commitment," Garber said in a statement. "I am happy to support Tim Schneider for Illinois Republican Party chairman."
Illinois GOP Chairman Jack Dorgan, a Rosemont village trustee and Springfield lobbyist, announced Monday he'd not run for another term and instead will work more directly on Rauner's finance committee.
Schneider and Garber had both filed to run for the volunteer job, but when both Dorgan and Rauner announced support for Schneider, he became the clear front-runner.
The Republican State Central Committee still will meet Saturday in Springfield to officially vote Schneider into the chairman job, a spokesman said.
Dorgan was elected to the post a year ago at a similar meeting. He succeeded Pat Brady of St. Charles, who was nearly oustered by party leaders after lobbying lawmakers to support same-sex marriage.