The second in our occasional features on new GOP leaders brings us to newly-minted GOP State Senator Dan Duffy, 42 (middle, between Keith Gray and Steve Greenberg). If you haven't met Dan yet, you're in for a treat if you do: he's the prototype for a new kind of leader for the Republicans: young, energetic, a business-oriented, can-do attitude, and a talent for figuring out what works and then running with it. (full disclosure- Dan was a college classmate and fraternity brother at Augustana college. And, actually, his brother Mike was one of my law partners. Small world. Of course, if you have 8 siblings, like Dan, they are going to get around)As noted in the Daily Herald this morning, Dan outraised his opponent, Round Lake Beach Mayor Bill Gentes by $638,000 to $157,000. A large chunk of that came from the Illinois State Republicans who were bound and determined not to let retiring Senator Bill Peterson's seat fall into Dem hands. On the other hand, early on, Gentes was favored by the Dem machine and seen as the guy who could do it. So, if anyone tells you that Gentes was a lay-down, don't believe it. The credit for winning this race belongs to Dan and his team, who spent hundreds and hundreds of volunteer hours doing voter identification and other grassroots activities that made sure that by election day, Dan knew exactly where he was.
Dan knew he was going to win even before Gentes self-destructed by being caught in a lie about getting fired from his job. But that's not to say Dan had a big head. Far from it. Rather, it's a testament to the power of knowledge, voter identification and a well-organized GOTV effort. Running the table with the newspaper endorsements also helped. They tend to know a winner when they see one.Dan, Keith Gray, and others like them are the bright young future of the GOP. Nicely done.
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11 comments:
Duffy's hundred and hundreds of volunteer hours were spent in primarily red precincts. He certainly didn't show up in the NW area of his district.
My guess he will be a one term Senator and will lose his seat after re-districting after the 2010 census.
Is that you, Bill Gentes? Sorry you got crushed, liar.
It's funny how all of the Dems seem to think that redistricting for the 2012 election is going to eliminate EVERY Republican. It's the same voters, guys, it's a just a question of how they are split up. Moreover, for state districts, it's not the same as the congressional districts where Illinois may lose a seat due to population shifts. Duffy's district is not going to disappear and any GOP voters taken from him will help others elsewhere. In fact, it seems like Duffy has voters to spare, so maybe it would help Keith Gray in the adjoining 30th District.
I think Gentes should focus on saving his Mayors job instead of commenting here. Gentes has opposition in April. Real good chance his opposition will be gettin help from the local republicans, which Duffy is obviously one of.
By the way, if Gentes loses the Mayors job would that mean he is now completely unemployed? At least he wouldn't have to lie about being fired. the public would be doing the firing!
I think the Mayor (Gentes) has some real problems facing him this year. What about that real estate transaction in which he had his wife's real estate broker represent the Village in the purchase of the land that Advocate Hospital was eyeing....
Hmmm...I wonder what the referal fee was....
I checked with 10 municipalities several townships, school districts and other local governments and NOONE EVER USED A REAL ESTATE AGENT AND PAID A COMMISSION FOR THEIR SERVICES.
What's up Bill? Taking lessons from Patti Blagojevich?
What does any of this have to do with the 10th?
"A refined, intelligent open forum for discussion about (mostly) local politics in the Tenth Congressional District and Lake County, Illinois."
Good stuff, I wish this guy got some p.r. savvy and started laying waste to the local democrats. I can think of a few hideous losers I'd like to see off the public payroll.
One thing, 42 is young for the U.S. Senate, not the Illinois Senate.
On Fri., someone said, "What does any of this have to do with the 10th?" The 10th Congressional Dist. and the 26th St. Sen. Dist. include Libertyville and Long Grove.
Phil Collins
TA-
I know you have committed to posting some feature-style stories on the up-and-coming GOP leaders in the 10th district. Would you be willing to do a special post on some well-respected elected officials who are women? I can come up with a huge list off the top of my head and would love to see some of them get some kudos from you, i.e. Rep. Joann Osmond and Rep. Sandy Cole, Lake County Clerk Willard Helander, County Board members Susan Gravenhorst, Bonnie Thompson...there are too many to name. I'd love to see them get some attention for their on-going efforts. Thanks!
That's a good idea, and also highlights the fact that with our new emphasis on recruiting future leaders, we need to do a better job of attracting women and minorities to those ranks.
He didn't need to show up in the NW area of the district, we had plenty of volunteers up here working hard for Dan. We had numerous requests for signs in Gentes' own neighborhood which would be reflected in the fact that Gentes couldn't even win his own precinct.
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