BRADY BUNCH PARTIES WITH TAPROOT

by George Kocan, Communications Director, TAPROOT (WESTMONT, IL)

Two high-ranking leaders in Illinois politics, both with the name ‘Brady’ partied with TAPROOTers at their annual Christmas Party, December 7. They agreed that Republicans have great potential to win future elections, because Illinois voters tend to lean conservative. Party goers heard the speakers at the Orchard Brook Club House in Downers Grove.

Pat Brady

TAPROOT likes to present a variety of political activists at the meetings so that members can look them over closely and ask questions that the mainstream press is unlikely to ask. Past events saw spirited debates, for example, between candidates for governor like Jim Oberweis and Joe Birkett.

This time Pat Brady, Illinois committeeman on the National Republican Committee, and Bill Brady, state senator and candidate for governor, visited with conservative activists from around the Chicago suburban area.

Pat Brady, who lives in St. Charles, defeated former state senator Steve Rauschenberger for the committeeman job. He replaced Bob Kjellander, who declined to run after generating controversy over his ties and deal-making with prominent Democrats in Illinois. Pat’s goal as a committeeman is to exert some clout on behalf of Illinois Republicans. “This is not Massachusetts,” he explained. “Illinois is not a blue state.” It is much more conservative than the politicians who sit in Washington, many of them from Chicago.

He set another goal, to win back the 14 congressional district from the Democrat Bill Foster, who defeated Jim Oberweis. His top goal is to win the presidency of the Cook County Board for the Republican Party. Pat noted that the past election was unusual because 6 million Republican voters stayed home. “Its time to get back to work,” he said.

Sen. Bill Brady represents the area in and around Bloomington. He echoed Pat’s observation that Illinois is not a Democrat state. It tends to vote down the middle. A survey showed that respondents identified themselves as 25% conservative, 24% liberal, and 51% in the middle.

Voters look for their CEO to be a little more conservative. “Republicans can win,” said Bill. He also emphasized that the party needs to recruit more minorities. In most cases, all they need is to be asked. Apparently, Republicans do little to contact them, even though most blacks and Latinos lean conservative on family and other social issues.

Bill expects to make an official announcement of his candidacy for governor in the near future. Contact: www.citizensforbillbrady.com; (309)664-8544.

Before the speakers began, Chairman Dave Diersen reviewed TAPROOT’s activities for the past year. They included a summer picnic where immigration reformer Rosanne Pulido spoke. The group also benefited greatly from appearances by Sen. Chris Lauzen, Sen. Carole Pankau and Rep. Mike Fortner, among other bright lights in the conservative firmament.

Also, the following officers and directors have been re-elected for the following year: Dave Diersen, Chair; Jack Mcinterney, 1st Vice Chair; Carolyn Connell, Secretary; Bob Graham, Treasurer; Elden Brauer, Byrd Parmelee, Dennis Driscoll, Rich Johns, George Kocan, Directors.

TAPROOT is especially grateful to those volunteers who helped set up the room for the party and make it a success: Carolyn Connell, Judith Ross, Dave Diersen, Byrd Parmelee and others who escaped this reporter’s attention.