Something’s missing here
Tuesday, Dec 3, 2019 - Posted by Rich Miller
* This is an odd story…
A Republican college sophomore who got clobbered in what he described as a “David vs. Goliath” aldermanic race against a member of the state’s most powerful Democrat’s ward organization is back for more.
But this time 20-year-old student David Krupa is seeking to set up a Republican beachhead in state House Speaker Mike Madigan’s heavily Democratic 13th Ward.
After losing to Madigan’s handpicked alderman in February, Krupa, a student at DePaul University, filed paperwork this week to run for 13th Ward Republican Committeeperson in an effort to “chip away” at the longtime speaker’s power in the Southwest Side ward.
“I decided that there needed to be another presence besides Madigan’s Democratic Ward Organization here in the Southwest Side of Chicago, and it needed to be an organized presence,” Krupa said Wednesday of his decision. “I ran as an independent for alderman, but I think we’re going to need more than just independent thinkers, and we’re going to need an organization behind us.”
It’s not odd because Krupa is running for Republican committeeperson. He’s a Republican, lives in the ward and it’s a free country.
* It’s odd because the story doesn’t contain even a glancing reference to Krupa’s recent past…
13th Ward aldermanic candidate David Krupa confirmed an allegation of sexual abuse when speaking to the president of College Republicans, the president said in a statement published in an article in The Gate Thursday.
Fourth-year Brett Barbin said that Krupa, a freshman at DePaul University who has garnered media attention including a Chicago Tribune editorial board endorsement, told him over the phone that he took off his condom when having sex with his high school ex-girlfriend without her consent—an allegation made in an emergency restraining order filed against Krupa in 2017.
Krupa also told Barbin in the call that he believed a judge extending the order until it went to trial was not on his side because the judge was female, Barbin said in the statement
And…
In June 2017, Krupa’s former high school girlfriend Juliet Schmidt filed a domestic violence complaint against Krupa, currently a freshman at DePaul University. Ms. Schmidt’s restraining order against Krupa references physical abuse, harassment, interference with personal liberty, intimidation of a dependent, exploitation, and stalking. Schmidt was granted an emergency order of protection; however, this has expired because a judge never ruled on the case […]
The restraining order details how Krupa called Schmidt’s friends “liberal f*gg*ts,” appeared uninvited outside her window, told her she was mentally unstable, and tried to coerce her into a car with him, only stopping when a police officer intervened.
I dare say that any other story about any other candidate running for office in any other part of the city or state would most definitely contain at least some reference to allegations such as those.
Odd.
- Long Time R - Tuesday, Dec 3, 19 @ 2:03 pm:
Another Illinois state party and Cook County mess up. Everyone giving him a pass because he is a Proft guy it’s so hypocritical
- Chicago Cynic - Tuesday, Dec 3, 19 @ 2:03 pm:
And the Trib endorsed this guy. What an awful human being.
- Eugene - Tuesday, Dec 3, 19 @ 2:05 pm:
The perfect young Republican for the Trump era.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Dec 3, 19 @ 2:11 pm:
Missing the history of the young man is exactly missing the point of the whole exercise why ironically it’s in the 13th Ward.
I’d say this was lazy but even lazy couldn’t miss some things…
- Jocko - Tuesday, Dec 3, 19 @ 2:19 pm:
Between Art Jones, Bill Fawell, and now David Krupa…I don’t get the sense that the ILGOP is bringing out their ‘A’ squad.
The Trib must have a serious case of Madigan-itis if they’re willing to throw their weight behind this sleazeball.
- JS Mill - Tuesday, Dec 3, 19 @ 2:30 pm:
=Between Art Jones, Bill Fawell, and now David Krupa…I don’t get the sense that the ILGOP is bringing out their ‘A’ squad.=
In my business (education) we will jokingly say to one another that parents don’t keep the good ones at home.
I would say this is the “A” squad for the ILGOP.
- Amalia - Tuesday, Dec 3, 19 @ 2:33 pm:
more horrible from the SW side pols.
- Thomas Paine - Tuesday, Dec 3, 19 @ 2:36 pm:
@Rich -
I would say “really odd” since before joining the Sun-Times, Rachel Hinton was the managing editor of the DePaul campus newspaper.
She surely new or should have known about the controversy involving a current student at her alma mater.
- Lucky Pierre - Tuesday, Dec 3, 19 @ 2:39 pm:
The 13th Ward looks more and more like ground zero in the War on Women
- Robert Montgomery - Tuesday, Dec 3, 19 @ 2:50 pm:
Krupa was on John Williams’ WGN show yesterday and was not asked about this. In fact, it was a rather glowing interview and friendly chat. Very David vs. Goliath indeed. Disappointing.
- don the legend - Tuesday, Dec 3, 19 @ 2:51 pm:
Oh LP. War on Women you say.
You must be forgetting your idol and our ex governor saying something about crushing or destroying a lady who dared stand up to him. Hopefully someone can post the exact quote.
- Oak Parker - Tuesday, Dec 3, 19 @ 3:11 pm:
It’s more a sign of just how insignificant Republican Committeemen are in Chicago than anything else.
- Moe Berg - Tuesday, Dec 3, 19 @ 3:13 pm:
“Credibly-accused creep takes on Madigan” just doesn’t haven’t the same clickable appeal, does it?
The photo of Krupa with the Heartland Institute dude - an organization that is a font of toxicity - is interesting. Wonder if one of their PR flacks was promoting the story of this innocent little David taking on the machine Goliath?
Also, seems like the reporter missed a chance to ask for some names in response to this Krupa Klaim: “There are many Republicans in Chicago and in Illinois who are beholden to Madigan and that’s not OK.”
- DIstant watcher - Tuesday, Dec 3, 19 @ 3:21 pm:
BUT MADIGAN (followed by so many exclamation points Rich’s computer would melt)
- Tommy - Tuesday, Dec 3, 19 @ 7:34 pm:
Rich Miller is trash
- Wylie - Tuesday, Dec 3, 19 @ 7:34 pm:
This isn’t fair at all Rich. Apologize. Resign
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Dec 3, 19 @ 7:42 pm:
The problem is that the initial filing in an order of protection case is general conducted on an ex parte basis (i.e. Krupa was not present to refute the allegations or confront his accuser). Ultimately, the former girlfriend opted not to pursue the matter to its conclusion and the case was dismissed.
- West Sider - Tuesday, Dec 3, 19 @ 9:18 pm:
“Odd” is the Sun-Times consistently tarring Democrats while (see above).
- Da Big Bad Wolf - Wednesday, Dec 4, 19 @ 8:37 am:
== This isn’t fair at all Rich.==
How is this not fair? Krupa told fellow Republican Barbin over the phone what went down.
Are people not supposed to know the morals of people running for office?
- James Knell - Wednesday, Dec 4, 19 @ 3:49 pm:
I wonder if his fellow CR’s gave Krupa a nickname like “raw dog” or “BB”?