Monday, September 28, 2009

Ant Simonian Retires; Bill Cadigan Nabs Endorsements from Steve Rauschenberger, Patrick Collins, In 10th District Announcement

There was certainly a lot going on this weekend, and I have to say that I really felt some energy among the local GOP that seems to have been lacking for some time. Maybe this is a sign of better times ahead.

Lake County Republican Federation: First, the Lake County Republican Federation held its 48th annual meeting at Conway Farms Country Club in Lake Forest. I have been going to that breakfast meeting for about 10 years and it was a bigger, and more enthusiastic crowd, than I can ever remember. Of note, longtime Executive Director Antonietta "Ant" Simonian passed the ED torch to Chelsea Stanley, who will take up her duties at Lake County GOP Headquarters later this week. Ant received a long and loud standing ovation from the assembled crowd in recognition of her years of service carrying water for the elephant.

For those of you who know Ant, you know that she has been the heart and soul of the Lake County Republicans for the past decade, and earlier. But if you know Ant, you also can predict that after a bit of a rest, she will no doubt be back in Lake County politics in some capacity, so watch this space for her next move. Good luck and best wishes to Chelsea, who I know will do a great job, even though she has enormous shoes to fill.

Bill Cadigan Announces: As we noted here earlier last week, Winneka Attorney Bill Cadigan officially announced for the 10th District race to succeed outgoing Congressman Mark Kirk. Cadigan was present at the Federation breakfast meeting on Saturday, at which former Asst. U.S. Attorney (and the guy who put former governor George Ryan behind bars) Patrick Collins was the keynote speaker. Cadigan and Collins then hotfooted it over to Olive - Mary Stitt school in Arlington Heights, where he made his official announcement and received endorsements from Collins, former State Senator Steve Rauschenberger, and popular and well-respected Wheeling Township Supervisor Mike Schroeder.

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

Having Collins and Rauschenberger on his side will get Cadigan the Chicago Tribune endorsement.

Anonymous said...

I don't think anyone in the district knows who rauschenberger is, and pat collins failed in a big way on this reform commission of his. If mark gets hoffman in the general, he's going to destroy the commission on its failure to do anything other than yell.

It's an awful endorsement for cadigan and highlights the fact that despite his talk of experience, when push came to shove on an easy thing to get done, the guy fell flat on his face.

FOKLAES

Anonymous said...

With Rauschenberger, Collins and Schroeder behind him, Cadigan will do well in Wheeling Township and the western part of the districut.

Anonymous said...

TA, you're absolutely right, Chelsea has enormous shoes to fill. I've never seen someone work as tirelessly and with as much dedication to Republican candidates as Ant.

Best of luck to Chelsea, we'll be there to help you any way we can!

Anonymous said...

Anon 11:08, the biggest part of the endorsements for Cadigan is Mike Schroeder. Schroeder carries alot of weight within the Republican Organization of Wheeling Township and Wheeling Township produces the largest GOP vote of any township in the 10th. None of the other current 10th field will get backing like this in Wheeling.

tikkunolam said...

FOKLAES, you're killing me, man. You must have an extensive golf trip set up for this election cycle, judging by your take on the GOP candidates so far. If this field holds (which is looking more and more likely), are you just gonna sit out?

Anonymous said...

I try to be a super voter-including township elections for the precinct committeemen who run for things like city council to show support for the local grassroots republicans.

I am proud to have never voted for a democrat in my life and never left a republican unvoted for. But as a Republican who feels betrayed by the McKenna's and Hasterts of late, I want to make sure that our return to power is with quality people so that our reign lasts a generation. No sense in working our ellens off to get back in power only to see us destroyed because of weak leadership. Get power to stay in power to exercise power.


FOKLAES

Anonymous said...

Let's see, Democrat Pat Collins prosecuted Republicans ruthlessly, and then was appointed by the Dems to a Gov. Quinn commission, and then failed to get ANY of his proposals enacted. And now an endorsement by this liberal Quinn Democrat is supposed to help a candidate in a GOP primary? It will be a millstone in a primary.

Anonymous said...

If Collins is such a millstone to a Republican like Cadigan why did the Lake County Federation invite him to its breakfast Saturday to keynote right after Mark Kirk?

Anonymous said...

Hey FOKLAES - I have the same voting record as you. We must have met someplace but at my age I don't remember why I've gone to the kitchen after leaving the bedroom so if I've met you -- well you know the rest!

I know this blog is about the 10th and Lake County but since I live about one mile south of Lake County I have to vent about what's going on on this side of the metro area.

Why is that man who lives in the White House still campaigning -- TV late night talk shows, Sunday AM Get Smart shows all in one day, and now flying off to Denmark to lobby for Chicago Olympics (how much is that flight costing the tax-papers).

That brings me to Chicago -- not a day goes by that some young black person on the south side gets shot by gangsire or beat up. Chicago has no money, roads are terrible, the CTA is a disaster and now we are expected to believe that Chicago can handle the 2016 Olympics without taxpayer money. Do they really think we are that stupid? Instead of trying to fix those problems we want people from all over the world to come here -- what's going to be done to protect them from this senseless slaughter of our citizens? Are we going to build walls around the whole Olympic venues, have armed police on public transportation? I realize I'm probably being farfetched but Chicago needs to clean up its act before the city is showcased to the world. OK, downtown and Michigan Avenue are beautiful but I don't go much past Congress Parkway any more. I pray that one of the other cities gets the nod.

Then there's Cook County and all it's problems but I've vented enough and the dogs want to be petted as they keep coming up and just looking at me with those puppy dog eyes so I'm done.

Baxter and Beau's Mom

Anonymous said...

Cheer up baxters mom. I had the same concerns watching obama's campaign launch in 2007, then I remembered everything in chicago is based on corruption, and sure enough it's all fallen apart for them.

What's good is that now we don't have our awful leaders like mckenna or hastert or hopefully not the blago/acorn republican coulson. People like Mark and murphy until he became an idiot and ran with mckenna, are good leaders to take us back to promised land.

FOKLAES

Anonymous said...

The Republican Party of Lake County has lost a lion.
Good luck in retirement Ant. You've earned it.