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Setting the record straight on Shaw choice
Updated: August 13, 2012 2:48PM
Setting the record straight on Shaw choice
Aimee Messner’s letter regarding Mark Shaw’s selection as the replacement for Lauren Turelli as the Republican candidate for the 58th District Representative position in a recent Lake Forester is factually challenged and misleading.
For openers, there were never any closed-door meetings to select Turelli’s replacement. In fact, the three meetings held by party chairman Robert Cook were open to all party members. Secondly, there was nothing unethical about the selection of Shaw over the other candidates.
Political parties are groups of like-minded people seeking to influence the political process for the betterment of society. Membership in a political party is not open to all, but only to those agreeing to work within the party’s framework and “pay their dues” by actively engaging in party activities. Political parties attempt to“grow their own” for political office, but also welcome others who support their goals and agenda.
Occasionally a non-member believes they are better qualified than a party’s candidate and will mount a challenge in the primary election. And even though it’s not chiseled in stone, the party will generally support a non-member winner if they meet the party’s criteria. Yes, there are times when the opposite is true, such as what happened in the recent Democrat primary in Tennessee. When an “outsider” won the state senate primary, party leaders announced they wouldn’t support him because of his extremist views: he did not support same sex marriage!
I was a supporter of Dr. Mark Neerhof in the primary and in fact, lead the opposition against having the local party endorse his opponent, Turelli. I also wrote a letter of support for the Neerhof campaign and hand-delivered it to all Republicans in Bannockburn, Del Mar Woods, and a sliver of Highland Park. Finally, I raised my hand in support of Neerhof at a meeting the Lake County Republican Party chairman called to gauge support for each of those wishing to replace Turelli.
But occasionally something happens which can force one to re-evaluate a position. And that is exactly what happened in the case of Dr. Neerhof. When the tyrannical Speaker of the Illinois House singlehandedly killed bipartisan legislation surrounding cell towers in Lake County, it became clear we have a serious problem. Not only has Speaker of the House Mike Madigan led the way to financial ruination in Illinois, but the majority of Democrats went along with him. And now we have King Madigan ignoring the legislative process in an attempt to expand his dictatorial powers. Sending a political neophyte to Springfield is simply out of the question.
The man selected, Mark Shaw, has not only distinguished himself as a proven leader and organizer, but is also a legal scholar.
Jack Koenig, Communications Chairman
Lake County Republican Party
