At the Thursday night Grand Opening of the fall Headquarters for the McHenry County Republican Party, State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi gave a short speech. He was introduced by McHenry County Republican Chairman Sandra Salgado. You can read it below:

The only disappointment for the evening is that I do not think I would qualify as one of the “young faces” in the crowd that Sandy referred to. I want to first, thank all elected, and appointed officials, committeemen, friends, and republican supporters for all the work that you have done to achieve our recent victories.

Lou Bianchi

You have worked hard walking, talking and putting up signs during a very harsh, and unrelenting winter.You did it and you did a great job. I want to share with you when I look out here tonight how I see the Republican party and myself as part of that Republican party…..right here and now, this very moment. Before that I want to tell you what I do not believe it is:

• It is not about the old guard verses the new guard.
• It is not about…most importantly…it is not about taking over the party.

What is it about?

• It is about a rejuvenated Republican party.
• It is about committeemen who believe in the Republican party, less government, honest government and a commitment to conservative values.
• It is about making Illinois a State to be Proud to live in.
• It is about transparency and inclusiveness.

During the last 15 months I heard our newly elected officers, individually, and as a group, repeatedly state two of their primary goals- transparency and inclusiveness. This is how I see the Republican Party. I am not going to try to convince you that we can win in November. You already know that by looking back at how hard you worked, our accomplishments, and where we are today.

Among the crowd at the Grand Opening of the McHenry County Republican Headquarters Thursday night were fall candidates Mary McClelland and Glenda Miller. Not up for election, but there anyway, was Circuit Clerk Kathy Keefe.

We are once again on the starting line. We are more experienced and better prepared, but in addition to keeping up the same momentum, we need to notch it up every day as we end the summer and begin the campaign season in September. With this newly rejuvenated party with new energetic leaders, committeemen, and supporters, we can bring victory here for Republicans in our county and for Springfield.