Ray Hanania: Republican candidates will make races interesting

I’ve known Sharon Brannigan a long time. She owns one of

Orland Park’s best flower shops, Sherry’s, where I often buy flowers for

family, friends and especially to remember my mom on Mother’s Day.

I hadn’t spoken to her in a long time, but last week at the

Orland Days Parade, which had a strong Republican presence that included the

powerful and popular Cook County Commissioner Elizabeth “Liz” Doody-Gorman,

Brannigan and her husband walked up to me to say hi.

Now, a lot of politicians intentionally avoid me, which is

fine. As a writer, many don’t appreciate the U.S. Constitution, the First

Amendment, Free Speech, or loyalty. So, I understand when a congressman walks

up to where my wife and I are sitting, grimaces, and then walks on without

giving my 13-year-old son candy at the parade.

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Brannigan, who is the Republican Candidate for the 3^rdDistrict congressional seat, is different. She came up and said hello. It

didn’t matter that I had never written about her before, good or bad.

“I read your column all the time,” she said and reached out

to shake my hand.

Wow. Respect from someone in politics? I’m not used to it.

Usually all I get are whiny complaints from congressmen, legislators, aldermen

and others wanting to know why I “criticized” them, as if I am the cause of the

criticism.

When you do something stupid, you get criticized.

The best politicians are the ones who can take the criticism

and brush it off. The worst are the little babies who think the world owes them

a career and a pay check.

I’ve met some tough politicians. Those are the ones I

usually work with now as a media consultant. I admire the way they brush off

criticism for what it is, just one person’s opinion, and they do what they

believe.

Brannigan has a tough, uphill battle for sure, and that’s

despite some great issues on her website at www.branniganforcongress.com.

Yet, even if someone doesn’t win, they can act with honor

and respect for voters, raising important issues and forcing incumbents to

stand up and speak out on the issues that impact our lives as taxpayers.

Other Republican Races of Note

Shaun Murphy announced his own uphill candidacy for the

Illinois Senate in the 18^th District.

Murphy is a CPA and Vice President of the Evergreen Park

Community High School District 231 school board. He is also the Worth Township

Republican Committeeman.

“I look forward to providing a real choice for the voters on

the November ballot and a healthy debate of the issues affecting our local

community and Springfield throughout the campaign,” Murphy stated.

Murphy continued, “My campaign will focus on the issues that

matter most to our community: job creation, lower taxes, term limits and

responsible government spending.”

Murphy believes his background as a forensic Certified

Public Accountant and a former small business owner provides him with the

skills necessary to attack the budget issues confronting the state.

Murphy concluded “The status quo of one party rule in

Springfield is simply not working. I hope to provide a competent, in dependent

voice to Springfield that properly represents the Southwest Side and Suburbs of

Chicago.”

Ray Hanania is an

award winning former Chicago City Hall reporter and political columnist. He can

be reached at www.TheMediaOasis.com.