* When allegations of perjury surfaced against US Sen. Roland Burris, Republicans were quick to call for his resignation. Now that a powerful township GOP committeeman and former Cook County Republican Party Chairman has been accused of hosting a late night visit by two prostitutes in his children’s playroom, Republicans all of a sudden remember the innocent until proven guilty stuff…
Local politicos have been buzzing about a domestic dispute between Palatine Township GOP Committeeman Gary Skoien and his wife, but most stopped short of publicly calling for Skoien’s resignation.
Even Inverness Village President Jack Tatooles, whom Skoien unseated as committeeman in 2002, said only that he doesn’t agree with allegations the police messed up.
“He’s made some innuendos about the police department, but these are good men and women who don’t lie on reports,” Tatooles said, adding he hasn’t had much contact with Skoien in the last seven years.
Palatine Mayor Rita Mullins also ran and lost against Skoien in the 2002 election. She called the situation “very unfortunate” and said, “My heart goes out to his wife.”
State Rep. Suzie Bassi, a fellow Palatine Republican, went further to say she was “not willing to endorse him in the future” and that the situation has hurt the image of the party.
“It’s about time he got his life together and spent some time taking care of his family,” Bassi said. “Step down? That’s going to be a choice he is going to have to make, but I hope he is willing to think long and hard about doing the right thing for the Republican organization and the community.”
“I hope he is willing to think long and hard about doing the right thing…” Isn’t that what Mayor Daley said about Burris?
Kinda funny that there’s no outraged rush to the cameras on this one. The Tribune editorial page, which has led the charge against Burris, has been mute. Kass hasn’t come up with any silly nicknames for Skoien like he did with Burris. And there’s been almost total radio silence at the conservative blogs.
*** UPDATE *** Thanks to a commenter, here’s part of a letter to the editor published last week year in the Daily Herald…
Recently a group calling itself the United Republicans of Palatine Township posted a full-page ad in the newspaper and sent out a mailing attacking Gary Skoien, the Republican Committeeman for Palatine Township.
We, as your Republican and local elected officials, could not be more adamant in our statement that this attack was factually inaccurate, mean-spirited and absolutely ridiculous.
Sadly, this is far from the first time that attacks in the name of “United Republicans” have been leveled against Gary Skoien, the local Republican Party, and other Republican officials working to deliver good government to the residents of Palatine Township. Since Skoien’s successful election over their chosen candidate in the committeeman race in 2002, it has been this same small group of purported leaders in this organization who have continued to attack him and anybody who dares associate with Gary Skoien.
The signatories…
Congressman Mark Kirk, 10th District
State Sen. Matt Murphy, 27th District
Mayor William McLeod, Hoffman Estates
Gregg Goslin, Cook County Commissioner
Gene Dawson, state central committeemen, 8th Congressional District
Ruth O’Connell, Wheeling Twp. Republican Committeeman
Linda Fleming, Palatine Twp. supervisor
Kevin O’Connell, Palatine Twp. clerk
Terry Kelly, Palatine Twp. assessor
John Powers, Palatine Twp. Highway Commissioner
Art Goes, Bill Huley and Lisa Moran, Palatine Twp. trustees
Cary Collins, deputy mayor, Hoffman Estates
Ald. Tom Rooney, Rolling Meadows
Sue Quinn, Dist. 15 school board
Tom Donohue, Inverness Park District commissioner
Oops.
It would be interesting to hear what these people say about Skoien now.
[ *** End of Update *** ]
* Skoien has more troubles, by the way…
Police have rejected a request from a top suburban Republican to change a police report that states he was with two prostitutes when his wife attacked him over the weekend in their Inverness home.
Barrington-Inverness Deputy Police Chief Jerry Libit said today there would not be “any changes to the report,” as requested by Gary Skoien, a Palatine Township GOP committeeman and a former Cook County Republican chairman.
Libit said Skoien met Wednesday night with the officer who wrote the report.
Skoien has disputed that the women were prostitutes. He said he was with two friends early Sunday when his wife, Eni, punched him and swung a guitar at him.
* Related…
* Former Cook GOP Chairman: No Prostitutes At Home
* Skoien hints at stepping down after wife’s arrest
* WARNING: Take it easy in comments. Follow the guidelines. In fact, stay well within the margins on this one. I’m in no mood today to deal with over the top posts. Don’t get yourself banned.