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I just don’t see his path

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Illinois

* Republican state treasurer candidate Bob Grogan reportedly met with Tom Cross yesterday afternoon, hours after Cross told his caucus that he would run for the statewide job. Shortly after the meeting, a defiant Grogan issued this statement…

After visiting more than 40 counties listening to voters, I’m ready to make it official .. Next week during the Du Quoin State Fair, I’ll be announcing my candidacy for State Treasurer, details to follow. While others can talk about political money raised, I’ll be talking about safeguarding the people’s money. As a CPA and Certified Fraud Examiner, I’ll be standing strong against the corrupt status quo. I hope I can count on your support as we make a break from the old politics of Illinois!

A red flag should always go up when a candidate dismisses the importance of campaign money, and that certainly applies here. Grogan is, to put it simply, a lousy fundraiser.

Grogan raised just $21K in the last quarter and had $19K in the bank. He raised just $4,800 in the first quarter, and about $5,000 all last year.

* On paper, Grogan could make an impressive state treasurer…

“(B)eing the County Auditor in DuPage, I’m a CPA and a certified fraud examiner. I have a strong record as far as financial acumen so I will be able to keep and watch over the people’s money. I have a strong record of transparency putting DuPage Counties checkbook online when others said it couldn’t be done.”

From his campaign bio…

PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATIONS

• Certified Public Accountant (2002)
- Passed all four sections of CPA exam on first attempt: FARE- 95, ARE- 93, Audit- 92, Law- 92.
• Certified Fraud Examiner (2010)

CIVIC EXPERIENCE

• Commissioner, DuPage County Zoning Board of Appeals (2005-2008)
• Staff Assistant, Rep. Harris Fawell, 13th Illinois Congressional District (1996-1997)
• Secretary, Clarendon Blackhawk Mosquito Abatement District Board (2001-2006)
• Board Member, DuPage Regional Planning Commission (2003-2005)

EDUCATION

• Miami University (Ohio)
-Bachelors of Arts Degree
-Double Major: Economics and Political Science
• College of DuPage
-Advanced Accounting Certificate
-4.0/4.0 GPA
-Phi Theta Kappa

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

• Illinois CPA Society
• American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
• Association of Certified Fraud Examiners
• Government Finance Officers Association
• Illinois Association of County Auditors

But if you have no money, nobody is ever gonna know who the heck you are. And you gotta win in order to change things. Down-ballot statewide races are almost always about name recognition. No money, no name ID. It’s as simple as that.

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Aug 22, 13 @ 10:54 am

Comments

I hope he files papers to add “CPA”

How fun!

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Aug 22, 13 @ 11:04 am
A very smart man who doesn’t have a clue as to politics in the real world. He’s from that insular, DuPage Co. GOP group where everybody looks/talks/thinks the same, and he has a good network with the hard-right crowd. He doesn’t understand that they do not contribute money. He thinks all the right-wingers are going to send him checks and that he doesn’t need an active, major fund-raising operation. After speaking with him at the Fair, I am convinced he is clueless and not getting out. He won’t be any threat to Cross and may allow Tom to bump up his ID, etc. These aren’t the days of Pate.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Aug 22, 13 @ 11:04 am
Running on competence and transparency — Good

Running on rooting out fraud and corruption — in the Treasurer’s office?

Comment by walkinfool Thursday, Aug 22, 13 @ 11:08 am
Grogan has been at every political event that I’ve attended for months now and comes across in a very serious but good-natured manner. He is also running for an office he is trained and qualified for. Don’t underestimate him.

Comment by William j Kelly Thursday, Aug 22, 13 @ 11:16 am
Somewhere in Springfield, Bill Holland is smiling at all of this.

Comment by woodchuck Thursday, Aug 22, 13 @ 11:18 am
Well, at least Bob knows who the “other” anonymous is. I know you’re not supposed to take politics personally, but I’m defending my position based on the old saying “if you wanted my vote, you should have asked for it.” Same applies to “public” facebook pages. This race is going to be the toughest for me.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Aug 22, 13 @ 11:20 am
==I’ll be talking about safeguarding the people’s money. As a CPA and Certified Fraud Examiner, I’ll be standing strong against the corrupt status quo.==

I’m not aware of any issues with “safeguarding” the money in the treasury as far as the Treasurer’s office is concerned.

==I have a strong record of transparency putting DuPage Counties checkbook online when others said it couldn’t be done==

There is already a ton of stuff online. I wish somebody would tell me what else they are looking for because I can find just about anything I want to find.

Comment by Demoralized Thursday, Aug 22, 13 @ 11:22 am
I agree with Rich, I don’t see the path for Grogan. Between Tom Cross’ statewide name recognition and Michael Scott Carter’s insurmountable lead in 8 Illinois counties, it’s going to be tough for Grogan to come out on top.

Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, Aug 22, 13 @ 11:26 am
Please tell me Grogan is his own Campaign Manager too!

If Grogan adds the “CPA” officially to his ballot name, someone tackle him & tell him he doesn’t haveta do it!

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Aug 22, 13 @ 11:34 am
Grogan, just drop out. You’ve got to give us a chance to vote against Cross.

Comment by Norseman Thursday, Aug 22, 13 @ 11:36 am
Grogan is polite, pleasant and qualified. He’s also working hard traveling the state.

He offers a viable alternative to well informed Republican primary voters unhappy with recent leadership.

Will those be enough to pull out a victory? Not likely. But he may earn a surprising number of votes.

Comment by Keep Calm and Carry On Thursday, Aug 22, 13 @ 11:39 am
Hmmmm…not saying whether I agree or not, but Norseman has a very interesting perspective on this race. Must be tough for him.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Aug 22, 13 @ 11:51 am
Especially, I’d imagine, in instances where you’ve met and personally, really liked both as individuals and potential candidates for office.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Aug 22, 13 @ 11:53 am
I’m guessing he’ll do worse than Chris Lauzen, CPA.

Comment by 4 percent Thursday, Aug 22, 13 @ 11:55 am
There may be some value to having your name on the ballot statewide and all of the free media opportunities that come with it. Lightening strikes once in a while. Mark Fairchild/Janice Hart proved that. He’s a congenial and well qualified guy. Yep, he needs a lot more money, but don’t underestimate someone else in the race making a big dumb mistake; unlikely but possible. It may be good to position himself for the future or any unusual circumstance he might benefit from.

Comment by A guy... Thursday, Aug 22, 13 @ 11:58 am
Jason Plummer is his campaign manager, FWIW.

Comment by Edwardsburg Thursday, Aug 22, 13 @ 12:20 pm
(Fell off chair, reaching for the ‘beyond reach’ Plummer Meds, hoping to stop an episode that may lead to a prolonged hospital stay until the twitching stops…)

Did you mean …. Jason Plummer… LG Candidate and former GOP Congressional Nominee…. Jason Plummer?

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Aug 22, 13 @ 12:27 pm
Attention GOP Candidates. 65% of the job ofrunning for office is raising money! The party is broke! It is up to you to raise money for your campaign. You will be running against a Democrat in the General who’s party does have money and people who work for Government in the off season and take leave of absence to work and run campaigns. The state parties are not the same. Yes the GOP state Senate and house do the same thing but they don’t have the bench or the money the Democrats do.

Comment by votecounter Thursday, Aug 22, 13 @ 12:29 pm
Oswego Willy,

I wonder if there is a “Jason Plummer” version of “rick rolled” as in “You’ve been Plummered”

Comment by Bill White Thursday, Aug 22, 13 @ 12:34 pm
Does Cross actually have much name ID? It seems that his edge is primarily his fundraising contacts, which may or may not support him for Treasurer. But I’m not sure that many people know of him, and for those who do there are definitely some pretty strong negatives.

Comment by CPA This Thursday, Aug 22, 13 @ 1:25 pm
Never mind the lack of clear path for Grogan. I’m still trying to figure out the clear path for Cross in the general. Could someone lay that out for me?

Comment by Hamilton Thursday, Aug 22, 13 @ 2:16 pm
Oh, there is a path all right, it is the path traveled by Jim Dodge, Patrick Hughes and Jeff Ladd, etc. It is the road to political irrelevance. He will get no more than 30% in a two person race and 20% if Michael what’s his name stays in. And in the process, Grogan, who was a rising star, will make himself a joke. It’s too bad because he really has been a hard worker for the GOP.

Comment by Raising Kane Thursday, Aug 22, 13 @ 2:32 pm
- Bill White -,

If you “coin” it, I am sure it will pop up more.

To the Post,

If Grogan has (gulp) Jason (deep breath, think ‘Happy Place’) Plummer as his (can’t believe I am typing this sentence) Campaign Manager, expect pettiness, a lack of political acumen, no understanding of the “Best thing for the Party” mentality, with it all wrapped up with “Scorched Earth, CPA” as its “calling card”.

With Jason Plummer running that Shop for Grogan, I will go “Sneed” and say I am “this/close” to checking in & volunteering FOR … Tom Cross!

Yikes, did I just post that?

See, when I am off my Plummer meds, crazy stuff just comes out.

Grogan,

Get out, before Plummer ruins you with scorched earth, hyperbole, and Plummer’s tin ear.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Aug 22, 13 @ 2:55 pm
This will prove to be an interesting political experiment for future Illinois political candidates: Just how important is cash when running for office? If Grogan can pull this off against Cross, this will heavily influence the number of future political candidates throwing their hats in the ring.The key will be whether the media in Illinois gives Grogan at least minimal media exposure between now and the primary. This will be David versus Goliath. To some extent, the future growth of political media advertising will rise and fall based on the results of this contest.

Comment by A Casual Observer Thursday, Aug 22, 13 @ 3:49 pm
Grogan has a great resume - and an impressive skill set to perform the duties of Treasurer. What does Cross have except a track record of minority complainer ? I will vote for the guy with the credentials over the guy that only can raise money and has watched his party decline under his ‘leadership’

Comment by Mcleaniac Thursday, Aug 22, 13 @ 4:26 pm
Cross, with JBT, can get there with the right Gov/LtGov candidates — and a general anti-Dem/Quinn backlash.

The GOP party may be “broke”, but many of its strongest potential supporters are not. They just have to believe winning is in the cards.

Comment by walkinfool Thursday, Aug 22, 13 @ 4:39 pm
That Mosquito Abatement District experience really resonates with me, that’s for sure.

@FakeJasonPlummer-My Candidate Kills Skeeters with his bare hands! #Kool #TuffGuy #NotYouSkeeter

Comment by Arthur Andersen Thursday, Aug 22, 13 @ 4:41 pm
I’m sorry but Grogan’s resume is not at all extraordinary for an accountant (which is not the job of Treasurer). His political resume is less impressive- he holds the lowest countywide office in DuPage County… and is hardly any powerhouse there.

Whatever I think of Cross, he is statewide material from experience in state government and political experience. These two are not in the same league in my opinion.

Also, Grogan is an unlikely candidate to rally the conservative, anti-Cross crowd. When in his career has he been on the other side of the establishment? He’s a junior part of the DuPage establishment now.

Comment by JoeD Thursday, Aug 22, 13 @ 4:49 pm
Raising Kane is probably closest to being right on this one.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Aug 22, 13 @ 5:29 pm
Three things I learned today about Grogan;

Grogan is going to need his Communion Money to run this race, because he hasnt raised any money so far.

Grogan is irrational to talk to, and thinks even after meeting with a rival about the political landscape, he thinks its “good form” to issue Dopey releases to alienate more people than he had with his irrational decision to stay in the race.

Jason Plummer’s fingerprints are all over that “scorched earth” release, with very little thought of the impact long after this campaign, and what is the most sad, Jason is assisting in the ruining of a career… that is NOT his own. That is the biggest “shame” out of all these decisions Grogan is effected by, and it will lead to Grogan’s political irrelevance.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Aug 22, 13 @ 5:56 pm
Is there a link to the release you refer to, OW?

Comment by Bill White Thursday, Aug 22, 13 @ 8:50 pm
- Bill White -,

Check out Grogan’s Facebook page.

Rich already grabbed it above but I went to the page.

Further… “…corrupt status quo…”

Yikes! Rutherford is the Treasurer now, so is that slamming Rutherford? “Status quo”, is that a shot at ALL Republicans, including Tom Cross?

Scorched Earth. Like Rauner, less the millions and millions of dollars… or like Jason Plummer, with the scorched earth, less Dad’ Dollars.

All bad, taking on everyone.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Aug 22, 13 @ 9:04 pm
Tom Cross is the GOP’s version of Sheila Simon: useless, and desperate to fail upwards.

Comment by otoh Thursday, Aug 22, 13 @ 11:20 pm