The milkman is now on the central committee
Thursday, Mar 4, 2010 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Jim Oberweis finally won something yesterday…
Local Republicans also elected a new Republican representative to the State Central Committee for the 14th Congressional District in the form of dairy magnate Jim Oberweis. Oberweis has run for several government offices over the years. Most recently, he lost to Democrat Bill Foster for the 14th Congressional District seat. Oberweis defeated Kane County Clerk Jack Cunningham by about 3,000 votes to win the spot of the State Central Committee. As chairman, Kenyon was able to cast a block of about 13,000 votes representing the precincts not currently filled by a local committeeman. He said he split that block between Oberweis and Cunningham in pretty much the same margins as the final vote came out.
One can’t help but wonder how long it’ll be before the milk magnate announces that he’ll use the post to springboard himself to the state party chairmanship.
* We learned yesterday from the Daily Herald that an Evanston condo owned by 8th District Republican congressional nominee Joe Walsh was foreclosed upon and he was subsequently evicted. He issued a long press release last night which included this slap at the Daily Herald…
I knew getting into this race that the local media would do Melissa Bean’s dirty work for her. And the Daily Herald has now lived down to my expectations. The media elites are part of a dysfunctional political establishment that has destroyed our economy in pursuit of reshaping America into a country working people don’t even recognize and cannot afford.
Former Lake County Republican Chairman Dan Venturi and Walsh’s former primary opponents weighed in on the media bashing point…
[Venturi] called the revelation newsworthy, despite Walsh’s insistence in the Wednesday statement that “the local media (is doing) Melissa Bean’s dirty work for her.”
“It’s something that needs to be addressed,” Venturi said. “And if it’s something (Walsh) addresses, it could be a positive for him.”
Two of Walsh’s opponents in the GOP primary - Long Grove Village President Maria Rodriguez and Barrington resident Chris Geissler - said they knew nothing about the foreclosure during the winter campaign.
“I do believe … this kind of information should be divulged by the individual candidate,” Geissler said. “Anyone seeking public office needs to take a hard look at their personal history as well as motivations and be able to reconcile that with the public trust they seek.”
* Walsh and other Republican congressional candidates are currently badgering their Democratic opponents to return contributions from Congressman Charles Rangel, who has stepped aside from his powerful Ways and Means Committee chairmanship because of ethics problems. 10th District Democrat Dan Seals is returning the direct cash, but the GOPs want more…
Seals’ campaign announced Wednesday that the Wilmette business consultant gave $14,000 to local charities in the 10th District, which reaches from northern Cook County into Lake County. That falls short of the $55,000 amount that Seals’ Republican opponent Robert Dold, a Kenilworth businessman, has called on him to return.
Seals deputy campaign manager Jamie Crain said they are giving up only direct contributions from Rangel that have come in over the last two election cycles. This is Seals’ third run. The other $41,000 came from fundraisers associated with Rangel.
* Related…
* Cook Democrats retain Berrios as chairman: The vote was unanimous for the county board of review commissioner and assessor candidate. Yet what was surprising is he was nominated by Chicago Alderman Toni Preckwinkle, the party nominee for county board president.
* Lake County Dem, GOP leaders elected
* Cook emerges as Lake County Republican Party’s new leader
* McHenry Co. parties choose new leaders
* DuPage party chairs back for second round
* RI County Republicans, Democrats elect chairs
* Republicans pick Frese, Democrats choose Peters to be chairmen for local parties
* Libri, Moody re-elected as county party chairmen
* County political parties choose leaders, turn attention to November mid-term elections
- GOPJay - Thursday, Mar 4, 10 @ 9:25 am:
Someone may want to look in to the way Tazwell County GOP took their votes last night. I may be mistaken, but I thought it was supposed to be a roll call vote. hmmm….secret ballot, smells a little funny to me.
- Amalia - Thursday, Mar 4, 10 @ 9:25 am:
et tu toni?
- wordslinger - Thursday, Mar 4, 10 @ 9:41 am:
Walsh on the Daily Herald:
–The media elites are part of a dysfunctional political establishment that has destroyed our economy in pursuit of reshaping America into a country working people don’t even recognize and cannot afford.–
Congratulations to the Daily Herald for its elevation to the media elite. I didn’t see it coming.
- train111 - Thursday, Mar 4, 10 @ 9:53 am:
Funny how ‘conservatives’ like Walsh are always parrotting that we need to take responsibility for our own actions, instead of foisting them on the government, then he takes responsibility for his own actions by um….. blaming the media.
My Walsh–you want to be congressman. Why don’t you start by growing up and not blaming someone else for your decisions!!
The whole political circus, from both sides of the aisle, this year has gotten stale pretty fast and has definitely put this train’s attitude on the wrong track.
train111
train111
- GA Watcher - Thursday, Mar 4, 10 @ 10:27 am:
The editorial slant of the Daily Herald makes the Tribune look like a bunch of flaming liberals. Now because the Herald published something negative about Mr. Walsh, it is part of that evil cabal conservatives like to call the media elites. Gimme a break.
- Whatever - Thursday, Mar 4, 10 @ 10:37 am:
Milk Dud = Republicans: aim gun, pull trigger, shoot foot.
- Ela Observer - Thursday, Mar 4, 10 @ 10:44 am:
Walsh must be writing his own press releases.
- VanillaMan - Thursday, Mar 4, 10 @ 10:47 am:
I like Bean.
Walsh needs to step down though.
How can anyone propose sending a foreclosed Republican to Washington to handle our multi-Trillion dollar debt?
- Honest Abe - Thursday, Mar 4, 10 @ 11:04 am:
I am not a fan of Walsh, but “The Daily Herald” article was pretty much a hit piece. In raising the issue of Walsh residing outside of the 8th Congressional District, the reporter conveniently omitted to remind his readers that the same was true of US Representative Melissa Bean, herself, when she was elected.
The bigger question is what type of campaigns did Walsh’s Republican opponents run? Did any of them do any opposition research at all? Some of these items can be searched on the Internet!
Walsh’s inability to sell his condo after he bought a new home is not particularly newsworthy. It happened to many people in recent months when the real estate market tanked. Walsh did not have a real estate fairy like Tony Rezko to bail him out when he could not support making payments on two residences.
- Boone Logan Square - Thursday, Mar 4, 10 @ 5:26 pm:
Does Jim get a helicopter with this new gig?