By Margaret McCarthy -
Over the weekend, attorney Dan McConchie announced his 2016 GOP primary bid for the 51st House District at two events.
The first was the Republican Assembly of Lake County’s annual picnic at the Lakewood Forest Preserve Saturday afternoon. The second was held at former Congressman Joe Walsh’s home in rural Mundelein, where McConchie officially announced his candidacy.
The Republican Assembly's president Dan Sugrue introduced Congressman Randy Hultgren (IL-14) to the picnic attenders. Hultgren pledged to continue the fight to protect our freedoms and to try to rein in spending that is destroying the country.
Other candidates told the conservatives group about their candidacies, including Lake County Sheriff Mark Curran, who said he is challenging incumbent Lak County State's attorney Mark Nerheim for Lake County State’s attorney in the March 2016 GOP primary. He criticized Nerheim as not "cleaning house,” which has led to false prosecutions, sullying the office. Mrs. Nerheim defended her husband, saying he had done a good job in office and deserved to hold his position.
Rod Drobinski will be running for House District 62 against State Rep. Sam Yingling. Tom Handyside of Zion said he will be candidate for State House District District 61, also had an opportunity to describe how he has worked to reduce or at least not increase taxes since serving on the Zion-Benton Township High School Board and the Zion Police Pension Board. He said he wants to take that experience to Springfield to stop the deficit spending there.
Lake County Board member Nick Sauer introduced himself as a GOP candidate in the 51st House District, and said he was determined to help Gov.Rauner fight for the fiscal health of the state.
McConchie, who is seeking the same post, was warmly received by the RALC members.
The majority of picnic-goers then traveled to the McConchie announcement event at former Congressman Joe Walsh's property. The standing-room-only crowd gave him a resounding welcome. Joe Walsh introduced him as someone he could praise as a “fighter,” not someone who talks the talk, but one who will do all that he can to bring conservative values back to the political situation.
After Walsh's glowing introduction, the candidate asked “Am I blushing?” as the applause subsided. He had the crowd chuckling as he recounted how he shoveled sidewalks, cut grass, even sold food from his high school locker to earn spending money.
McConchie asked, “How do you know you can trust me?” He then told of his life-long, deeply-held religious beliefs that have shaped his work and life. These are what brought him to work for Americans United for Life, he said.
He said he believes that social values are definitely part of the conservative cause, but that fiscal values are moral values as well. It is morally wrong to spend now so that the burden of payback falls on future generations. "We owe it to the poor to provide rungs on the ladder of achievement so that they can climb out of poverty and lead lives of fulfilling careers, while not neglecting those who are truly unable to care for themselves," he said.
Attendees were encouraged to take packets prepared for their precincts to gather signatures for petitions to put Dan on the ballot.
Joe Walsh endorses Dan McConchie for 51st House seat
Reception for McConchie at Joe and Helene Walsh's home in Mundelein
