Posted: March 05, 2010By Mark Batinick
I once lived in a place where I could vote, but my vote didn't count. Elections were held, but they didn't matter. They were basically an orchestrated play. They looked real and official, but they weren't. Even if an overwhelming number of voters voted against the candidate chosen by the leaders, the numbers would simply be "adjusted" to make it appear as though the leader's candidate had achieved a great victory.
Did I live in the former Soviet Union? Or maybe Venezuela or Iran? No, I live in Will County, Illinois. Everything I just described occurred at the Will County Republican Convention on Wednesday, March 3, 2010.
I had never been to a political convention. I was excited to attend as an elected Precinct Committeeman. The agenda was short. We were to elect a County Chairman, County Secretary, and then a State Central Committeeman for each of the three Congressional Districts within Will County.
I was really looking forward to the event and was very interested in the process. I assumed (my mistake), that there would be discussion during the nomination process for County Chairman, and Secretary. There was not. The current County Chairman was nominated and that was followed by a second. This was quickly followed by a motion to close the nominations - and for a call to declare the vote unanimous. The length of time from the end of the initial nomination speech to the vote could have been measured in seconds.
Going into the meeting, I had thought that I might speak during a discussion period. I figured that someone would speak. I was disappointed that the Chairmen did not even ASK for any discussion. I had intended on voting to reelect Chairman Dick Kavanagh. However, I did want someone to mention that it was contrary to Illinois law for him to vote the vacant precincts during the contests for State Central Committeeman. But no one got the chance.
The election for Secretary was similar to that for Chairman. That was followed by an uncontested race for State Central Committeeman from the 2nd U.S. Congressional District. Since there was only one candidate (the incumbent) - that process was mostly a formality.
It was during the election for the State Central Committeeman for the 11th U.S. Congressional District where problems arose.
That race was between long-time incumbent Bobbie Peterson and challenger Cory Singer. Both were allowed to speak, but discussion amongst committeemen was not allowed. Cory spoke of getting back to core Republican values. He spoke of encouraging primary challenges. He said we have to stop being Democrat-Lite. He spoke directly towards all of the newly involved, energized people who have been working hard against the Obama agenda over the last 12 months. While it is my understanding that Bobbie has worked hard for the Republican Party for decades, Cory's speech won the room.
The vote was an open roll call. Despite the fact that everyone who voted for Cory was going to be the scorn of the establishment, the weighted vote total was approximately 9,000 to 4,000 - a margin of better than 2 to 1 in favor of Cory Singer.
The elected Precinct Committeemen had given Singer a landslide victory in Will County.
That is of course until newly reelected Chairman Kavanagh decided he had the right to exercise votes for not only the vacant precincts, but also for the committeemen not in attendance! That was over 13,000 weighted votes! No matter how the committeemen voted, it didn't matter. The Chairmen was going to decide the winner. In one swoop, one person wiped-out the clear preference expressed by the entire body of elected Precinct Committeemen.
In a normal political environment, this might have gone by with only minimal complaints. But this is not a normal environment. These aren't the same "do nothing" committeemen.
The place went up for grabs. Attendees shouted, "THIS IS WRONG!" "THIS IS A TRAVASTY!" "THIS IS WHAT DEMOCRATS DO!" People were kicking chairs and booing. Some left in disgust. Many directly addressed the Chairman in anger. One committeeman even grabbed the microphone after the meeting to protest.
While the exact tally was being counted, people debated back and forth. An attorney sitting next to Bobbie Peterson kept showing people the State Party's internal rules. I countered by showing people Illinois law.
The most telling quote came from an elected party official who I did not expect to object to the process. He said, "There are going to be consequences to this!" This was not some new "tea party" committeeman. This was an established public official on the top half of the Republican ladder.
I have read the law regarding these elections. To me the law is clear. Some people like to "read things into" the law. They massage for their own benefit. They even outright ignore it sometimes. Those people are called "liberals." Or, "Democrats" - take your pick. But I guess they can sometimes also be called Illinois Republicans.
The saddest part is that we want to complain when Barack Obama changes bankruptcy law during the auto bailout, or wants to use reconciliation on Health Care. Sadly, a few selfish Republicans think they can do the same thing - and what can be worse than disenfranchising your fellow Republicans!
My township worked hard for Adam Andrzejewski during the Governor's race. Tom Cross, our State Representative and the House Minority Leader, endorsed Andy McKenna. Nevertheless, Adam beat McKenna 29% to 19% in my township.
It's the hard working committeemen who win elections - not the party "leaders" with the big titles.
The day after the convention I received calls from fellow committeemen who say they are done. They simply can't work for a party that is run this way.
And we wonder why Republicans keep losing elections in Illinois.
Mark Batinick is a real estate professional and Republican Precinct Committeeman from Plainfield, Illinois.
[Editor's note: We thank Mark Batinick for sharing his experience from the field. We encourage you to share your story. Send us your stories to talk@championnews.net.]
