Ray Hanania

Ray Hanania

GOP has no chance with Morrison

Spread the love

By Ray Hanania

The headlines were encouraging for Republicans back in July. The Cook County GOP organized one of its largest candidate slates to challenge Democrats in November.

It all sounded good on paper, and came at the right time, as the Republican Party was coming apart not just in Cook County in recent years but in Will and DuPage, too.

There was a time when Republicans had a strong voice on the Cook County Board.

Today, only two Republicans remain on the 17-member board: Sean Morrison, who is also the Cook County Republican chairman; and Pete Silvestri, who saw the writing on the wall and retired.

RayHanania 1

Ray Hanania

Rebuilding the Republican Party in Cook County would restore a two-party system that forces accountability and prevents people like Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx, with her pro-criminal and anti-law-abiding citizen platforms, from winning office.

It would also help Darren Bailey in his fight to undermine Democrat Gov. JB Pritzker, or “Daddy Warbucks,” who doesn’t really run in elections. He buys elections.

Illinois is ranked as among the worst states on almost every criteria. Dumping Pritzker for Bailey could bring change.

Morrison bragged in July about slating the “highest number of candidates in more than a generation.”

But Morrison doesn’t really have the skills to save the Republican Party. He didn’t slate Republicans in the primary because he was too busy dealing with his own scandals. So, he waited until after the primary to fill November ballot vacancies.

Morrison began with what the Chicago Tribune called two “party switchers” to fill gaps in the November GOP ballot. Bob Fioretti, a Democrat and former alderman of Chicago’s 2nd Ward who served two terms from 2007 until 2015, was chosen to revive his career as Republican in a suicide challenge against Democrat County Board President Toni Preckwinkle.

Morrison tapped former Democrat who turned Republican Tony Peraica to challenge incumbent Democrat Cook County Clerk Karen Yarbrough, who like Preckwinkle, is very popular.

Peraica is known more for his headline grabbing than winning elections. He ran as a Democrat in 1994, then as a Republican in 1998 for treasurer against the Democrat’s most popular County official, Maria Pappas. Peraica lost in 2002 for the County Board in 2002, and lost for board president in 2006. He lost for County State’s Attorney in 2008. He lost a board return in 2010.

But Morrison’s real problem isn’t slating weak has-been candidates. It’s his ineptness as a party chairman. He can’t even get the candidate paperwork right.

Seven candidates Morrison slated for various races with no Republicans in the June 28 primary all had problems that could have been avoided.

Two withdrew while five others were tossed from the Nov. 8 ballot for an assortment of avoidable issues, like improperly filed petitions and failure to submit enough signatures. One was disqualified for becoming a Republican after voting Democrat in the June 28 election, a legal no-no.

These were all stupid mistakes a skilled leader could avoid. But Morrison isn’t very skilled at politics. He defeated Gorman, one of the Republican Party’s best and most qualified elected officials, by using lies and distortions to deflect from his own scandals.

In November, Morrison is being challenged by Democrat Dan Calandriello, who has a strong chance of winning.

Four years ago, Morrison barely clung to his seat against unknown Democrat Abdelnasser Rashid, who lost by only 1,377 out of 121,767 votes cast. Rashid has moved to the center and easily defeated incumbent Mike Zalewski to become the candidate in the 21st Illinois House seat.

There are only two incumbents remaining on the Cook County Board’s 17 seats. Morrison has an uphill fight to hold the seat and Silvestri’s is a toss-up brawl between Democrat Maggie Trevor, who ran for the seat before and is known to voters, and Republican Matt Podgorski, a newcomer.

Morrison’s leadership is bad news for Republicans. But there is still time for Bailey to reverse Morrison’s downward spiraling trajectory.

Bailey should force Morrison to resign, replacing him with someone with better GOP credentials, someone like the late Maureen Murphy, the first woman to head the party (2002-2004). It was Morrison’s pal, Peraica, who led the campaign to unseat Murphy.

Murphy died in 2008. Murphy’s ally, Liz Gorman, who helped ensure Rauner’s 2014 victory over Pat Quinn, chaired the county GOP (2007-2008).

Morrison’s GOP fiasco would never have happened under Murphy or Gorman or even Lee Roupas, who was Morrison’s predecessor as Palos Township GOP chair.

Morrison’s backing of Peraica is a double shame for the GOP.

Republicans have no chance of rebuilding the party or restoring accountability in Cook County with Morrison or Peraica at the helm.

Check out Ray Hanania’s columns and political podcasts at hanania.com.

Local News

SRP-IMAGE-Logo

College Football | Marian (Indiana) and St. Francis highlight Saint Xavier 2024 home slate

Spread the love

Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Correspondent Saint Xavier has released its 2024 football schedule, which has the Cougars opening the season in Michigan. SXU will travel to the Detroit suburb of Southfield to play Lawrence Tech on Sept. 7 in a Mid-States Football Association crossover. The Cougars’ home opener kicks off at noon on Sept.…

Morton's Nariah Clay was named to the NCJAA Division II all-tournament team as the Panthers finished fifth in the nation. Photo courtesy of Morton College Department of Athletics

Morton College women’s hoops takes fifth in nation

Spread the love

Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Correspondent For the second year in a row, the Morton College women’s basketball team finished fifth in the country. The Panthers closed out the 2023-24 campaign in Joplin, Missouri, with a 75-67 victory over Iowa Western on March 23 in the consolation championship game at the NJCAA Division II National…

Marist's Jack Meader (left) and Nathen Toth face each other during a block attempt against Downers Grove North in the semifinals of the Marist Invitational on March 23. Photo by Jeff Vorva

Boys Volleyball | Marist tops Lockport for Gold at RedHawks Invite

Spread the love

Spread the loveBy Randy Whalen Correspondent Marist enjoys getting its season going by hosting a tournament that is now in its 20th year. They had a good time again this season, going unbeaten over five matches in two days to win the Marist RedHawks Invitational for the sixth consecutive time. The RedHawks ended the tournament…

CRRNH_CosmoPhotoMDWArmory_032724

City wants to buy armory at MDW

Spread the love

Spread the love. Has been vacant since 2017 .  By Tim Hadac For decades, it served military purposes, as well as Chicago’s gateway for Presidents stopping off in the city. But the Army National Guard Midway Armory, 5400 W. 63rd St., has been mostly vacant since 2017, when the Illinois Army National Guard ceased operations…

summit police logo

2 charged in Summit junkyard burglary

Spread the love

Spread the loveBy Bob Bong Two men have been charged in connection with a break-in last month at the Pick-n-Pull used auto parts store and junkyard in Summit. George Ainalakis, 39, of Carol Stream, was arrested February 26 at the business, while Chad Wickert, 40, of Brookfield, was arrested March 13 by Hodgkins police. Police…

Mary Ellen Fox --Photo by Cosmo Hadac

A successful career serving thousands

Spread the love

Spread the love. By Tim Hadac Editor Clear-Ridge Reporter & NewsHound (708)-496-0265 . Most folks work for years at their jobs, expecting and receiving little fanfare, then retire quietly. Garfield Ridge resident Mary Ellen Fox planned to retire from her 30-year job in the City Clerk’s Office quietly; and she did, earlier this year. But…

Priscilla Steinmetz, of Orland Park's Bridge Teen Center, has fun March 7 at Congressman Sean Casten's desk in Washington. (Bridge Teen Center photo)

Casten secures $11M for district; invites Bridge Teen founder to State of Union

Spread the love

Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Congressman Sean Casten is bringing some big bucks home. Casten (D-6th) announced that he helped secure more than $11 million in federal funding for local community projects. Included in that bounty is: $1.28 million to Evergreen Park for water main replacement. $500,000 to La Grange for storm and sanitary sewer…

Forest View Village Clerk Laura McGuffey (left) swears in Maria Guzman as a full-time police officer while Chief Bianel Zarate looks on. (Photos by Carol McGowan)

Forest View swears in new police officers

Spread the love

Spread the loveBy Carol McGowan The Village of Forest View has a new full-time police officer and a newly promoted corporal on the force. In front of a full-house at their February 27 Board of Trustees meeting, Clerk Laura McGuffey did the honors swearing-in Maria Guzman as a full-time officer, and promoting Officer Jorge Sanchez…

Abraham Kiswani was sentenced to two years for income tax evasion.

Burbank businessman sentenced for income tax evasion

Spread the love

Spread the loveBy Bob Bong A Burbank businessman has been sentenced to two years in federal prison for willfully evading more than $3.7 million in federal and state income taxes. Abraham Kiswani, 54, pleaded guilty last year to a federal tax evasion charge.  In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Judge Manish S. Shah…

oak lawn logo

Oak Lawn ups fines for blowing off illegal fireworks

Spread the love

Spread the loveBy Joe Boyle Oak Lawn residents who blow off illegal fireworks this summer will find that doing so will be more expensive. An ordinance was passed by a 5-0 vote by the Oak Lawn Village Board on March 12 that will increase the fine from $50 to $100 for residents who are lighting…

Neighbors

Sheri Cannataro, of Cannataro Farms, demonstrates the gear she wears to extract honey from a bee hive for visitors who stopped by to see her products at the Hills Chamber of Commerce Business and Community Expo Saturday at Conrady Junior High School in Hickory Hills. (Photos by Joe Boyle)

Residents warm up to Hills Chamber Business Expo

Spread the love

Spread the loveBy Joe Boyle Spring has arrived but winter continues to leave its calling card. However, that did not prevent the Hills Chamber of Commerce from holding its 10th annual Business and Community Expo Saturday at Conrady Junior High School in Hickory Hills. While the temperatures were frigid and windy outside, the spirit inside…

Palos Park Mayor Nicole Milovich-Walters speaks about zoning codes at the March 25 council meeting. (Photo by Jeff Vorva)

Palos Park to tweak outdated village zoning codes

Spread the love

Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva The village of Palos Park has no grand plan to change the village landscape. But officials want to modernize some of its zoning codes. “The village has not comprehensively updated its development regulations since 1960,” Mayor Nicole Milovich-Walters said at the March 25 village council meeting. “Due to this, there…

Ridgeland sd122 logo

SD122 psychologist resigns over Islamophobic posts

Spread the love

Spread the loveBy Nuha Abdessalam A psychologist for Ridgeland School District 122 has resigned after hundreds of parents demanded she be fired for social media posts that were pro-Israeli and anti-Palestinian. District Supt. Joseph Matise announced at a schoolboard meeting last week that Dr. Laurie Hoke had resigned. “Dr. Hoke will no longer be working…

CRR_NH

Clear-Ridge Reporter and NewsHound March 27, 2024

Spread the love

Spread the love

Mary Stanek

Will the month of March leave like a lion?

Spread the love

Spread the love. By Mary Stanek Your correspondent in Archer Heights and West Elsdon 3808 W. 57th Place •  (773) 517-7796 . The days are getting longer and slightly warmer. But my prediction of a few weeks ago–March is certainly not leaving like a lamb–may prove to be correct. A sure sign of spring in…

Peggy Zabicki

Robin sighting a sign of new beginnings

Spread the love

Spread the love. By Peggy Zabicki Your correspondent in West Lawn 3633 W. 60th Place •  (773) 504-9327 . I saw a robin the other day. This was the first sighting of the season for me. I remember my mom saying that the first robin of spring is a promise of new beginnings. May it be so. Is…

SRP-IMAGE-Logo

Thome sweet Thome: Nazareth baseball defeats Hall of Famer Jim Thome’s alma mater

Spread the love

Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Correspondent The Nazareth baseball team took a road trip to the middle of Illinois and improved its record to 7-0 on March 23 by beating Limestone, 6-0. Limestone is the alma mater of former White Sox player and Baseball Hall of Fame member Jim Thome, who is an assistant coach…

SRP-IMAGE-Logo

Chicago Catholic League greats headed to Hall of Fame

Spread the love

Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Correspondent A handful of area stars will be inducted into the Chicago Catholic League Coaches Association Hall of Fame. The list features Kevin Bracken (St. Laurence, wrestling), Kevin Carberry (St. Rita, football), Matt Macievic (De La Salle, cross county and track), Mike McGrew (Mount Carmel, football), Dan Nicholson (Brother Rice,…

SRP-IMAGE-Logo

Fire II tops Chicago City, advances to to second round of Hunt Open Cup

Spread the love

Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Correspondent The Chicago Fire II picked up a late invitation to the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup and beat Chicago City, 6-0, on March 20 in front of an announced crowd of 810 at SeatGeek Stadium. Defender Giovanni Granda and midfielder Vitaliy Hlyut each made their professional debut and scored…

Julia Bianchi heads back on defense shortly after delivering a first-half goal for the Chicago Red Stars on March 23 at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview. Photo by Jeff Vorva

Red Stars top Seattle, open season with two wins for first time in franchise history

Spread the love

Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Correspondent Last year’s last-place finish notwithstanding, the Chicago Red Stars have had a pretty rich history of success. The franchise has seven NWSL playoff appearances and has finished runner-up twice (2019, 2021), and prior to 2022 had finished no lower than fourth in the league ‘s regular season standings for…