
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 3rdDistrict 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 18th 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.
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