Two potential contenders for the Republican nomination for Governor spoke to Party faithful at the McHenry County Country Club Wednesday.
During the cocktail time before dinner State Treasurer Dan Rutherford spoke after an effusive introduction by Party Chairman Mike Tryon.
Rutherford left before dinner.
After dinner State Senator Kirk Dillard was introduced as a potential candidate for Governor by Tryon.
But not before Tryon said,
“We’re fixing to have a right turn.”
The former DuPage County GOP Chairman, State Senator and Republican gubernatorial primary candidate who was barely edged out by Bill Brady spoke of the importance of McHenry County in statewide races and why Illinois needed a Republican Governor after Democrat Pat Quinn.
Although Republican Precinct Committeemen were told that Congressmen Peter Roskam and Randy Hultgren would be attending the event, they weren’t there after I arrived at about 4:20.
I was looking forward to chatting with them.
State Senator Pam Althoff enjoyed my comparison of her happy dance to that of Snoopy.
Kane County Board Chairman Karen McConnaughay was in attendance making post State Senate primary connections.
Also speaking to the group after dinner was GOP State Rep. candidate David McSweeney.
Rumors that Independent opponent Dee Beaubien might attend the event were found to be incorrect.
McSweeney has developed a good “stump speech” which takes first aim at replacing Democrat Mike Madigan as Illinois House Speaker.
I continue to bemoan the fact that besides electing McSweeney, a sure vote for Madigan’s opponent Tom Cross, with no opposition being fielded against Democrat State Rep. Jack Franks, the only thing McHenry County residents for major chance in Springfield can do is help Mike Tryon put together the $10,000 he is assessed annually for GOP House races elsewhere and the $20,000 that Pam Althoff has to provide for State Senate races where a Democrat might be taken out.
There were a number of McHenry County Board members at the event.
With the possibility of having missed some County Board members and candidates, here are the ones I saw or heard introduced:
- Mary Donner
- John Hammerand
- Tina Hill
- John Jung
- Ken Koehler
- Donna Kurtz
- Mary McCann
- Anna May Miller
- Nick Provenzano
- Ersel Schuster
- Michael Rein
Most countywide officers and candidates were present, too:
- Katherine Keefe
- Dr. Anne Majewski
- Pam Palmer
- Kathie Schultz
- Phyllis Walters
Missing were the two men:
- Lou Bianchi
- Keith Nygren
Leslie Schermerhorn, the newly-appointed Regional Superintendent of Schools was in Springfield meeting with Illinois State Superintendent of Education Christopher Koch and attending Health/Life/Safety inspection training, she told me.
The winner of the main door prize was newly-elected Republican Precinct Committeeman from Fox River Grove Andrew Gasser. It was a Jack Daniels barbeque kit, complete with a pint of the real stuff.
The 50-50 raffle was won by Woodstock’s John Cole. He took home $445.
GOP Executive Director thanked Crystal Lake Committeeman Jim Thompson for making the calls to make the event the best in the last six years.
Jim Thompson, is one of the hardest working, loyal Republican Precinct Committeeman.
He has worked behind the scenes, at Headquarters, and in other countless efforts.
I think it’s time he should be appointed to an Executive board, or elected as an officer of the Party.
Those thanking him at the dinner should support him in the party elections.
I second the comment about Jim.
The Party would be well served to have Jim on the Executive Board!!
I hope that Sen. Dillard won’t run for governor, in 2014, since he’d lose.
Too many Illinois Republicans ran, statewide, lost, and ran, in a later statewide campaign, thinking that their first campaign would help them win the second campaign.
However, those candidates usually lost their second statewide campiagn.
This happened to Jim Oberweis, Al Salvi, Joe Birkett, Steve Rauschenberger, Bill Brady, and Andy Martin.
I hope that Sen. Dillard will run for Congress, in the 11th District.
It doesn’t matter whether Rep. Biggert or ex-Rep. Foster wins, this year.
Both of them are more liberal than Sen. Dillard.
Ev = you are right on.
Jim Thompson was willing to serve several years ago and was pushed out by “the boys”.
We need some FRESH AIR.
“We need some FRESH AIR.”
Best comment posted!
We also need a thorough house cleaning, and a throwing out of the garbage.
The “good ol’ boys club” era is over…any politician that does not recognize this…is doomed to failure, not success in the future.
Our state and country needs REAL LEADERS, with REAL PLANS to address the course of our state and country…not party hacks and wannabe’s.