Saturday, January 21, 2006
Wheeling Township Endorsement Upset: Liberal GOP State Rep. Sidney Mathias Beaten 2-1 by Conservative Challenger Scott Bludorn; Oberweis Wins, Too
Virtually the entire legislative district is in the huge Cook County Township--largest Republican voting township in the entire state of Illinois. Its biggest village is Arlington Heights.
Bludorn himself called as many captains as he could identify. He also made two issue-oriented mailings. In his precinct captain letters, Bludorn stressed two issues on which he and Mathias have differed: abortion and property tax caps. Mathias is strongly pro-choice and has sponsored a bill that would weaken real estate tax caps.
Friday, it was clear that the incumbent was in danger of losing the endorsement, because Mathias started making negative phone calls about Bludorn, whom he beat as a Libertarian in the 2004 general election.
In his remarks to the captains, Bludorn said, “I believe that the Republican message needs to reflect the values we embrace and that I am promoting in my campaign.”
“We need to cut taxes and spending so we can revitalize the Illinois economy,” the challenger added.
Before the vote, Bludorn hit on two conservative Republican issues:
“These are exciting times to be a Republican as the Reagan generation prepares to lead,” Bludorn said after winning the nomination.
The campaign will probably end up being a direct mail and telephone spending binge by House Minority Leader Tom Cross versus a ground campaign for Bludorn.
“I am dedicated to conducting my campaign ‘the old fashioned way’ by walking precincts throughout the district so I can listen to the concerns of our residents and share my thoughts with voters,” he wrote in one letter.
Three candidates originally filed for the GOP nomination. That would have made it difficult for Bludorn backers to envision victory, because the candidate from Prospect Heights was posing as a conservative. His petitions were successfully challenged.
Bludorn’s endorsement is bad news for 8th congressional district GOP primary candidate Teresa Bartels. In the domino world of politics, Congressman Mark Kirk will have to divert resources to prop up Mathias’s re-election efforts that otherwise would have been used to help nominate Bartels.
To return to McHenry County Blog, click here.
Bludorn himself called as many captains as he could identify. He also made two issue-oriented mailings. In his precinct captain letters, Bludorn stressed two issues on which he and Mathias have differed: abortion and property tax caps. Mathias is strongly pro-choice and has sponsored a bill that would weaken real estate tax caps.
Friday, it was clear that the incumbent was in danger of losing the endorsement, because Mathias started making negative phone calls about Bludorn, whom he beat as a Libertarian in the 2004 general election.
In his remarks to the captains, Bludorn said, “I believe that the Republican message needs to reflect the values we embrace and that I am promoting in my campaign.”
“We need to cut taxes and spending so we can revitalize the Illinois economy,” the challenger added.
Before the vote, Bludorn hit on two conservative Republican issues:
I will support the US Constitution and always protect our Second Amendment rights. I am a pro-life Republican.“The best way to keep this seat Republican is to proudly promote conservative values,” he stressed.
“These are exciting times to be a Republican as the Reagan generation prepares to lead,” Bludorn said after winning the nomination.
The campaign will probably end up being a direct mail and telephone spending binge by House Minority Leader Tom Cross versus a ground campaign for Bludorn.
“I am dedicated to conducting my campaign ‘the old fashioned way’ by walking precincts throughout the district so I can listen to the concerns of our residents and share my thoughts with voters,” he wrote in one letter.
Three candidates originally filed for the GOP nomination. That would have made it difficult for Bludorn backers to envision victory, because the candidate from Prospect Heights was posing as a conservative. His petitions were successfully challenged.
Bludorn’s endorsement is bad news for 8th congressional district GOP primary candidate Teresa Bartels. In the domino world of politics, Congressman Mark Kirk will have to divert resources to prop up Mathias’s re-election efforts that otherwise would have been used to help nominate Bartels.
To return to McHenry County Blog, click here.
# posted by Cal Skinner : 1:42 PM
