Rolling Meadows Mayor Tom Rooney | Daily Herald photo
PALATINE – Republican township GOP committeemen agreed with Governor Rauner and picked Rolling Meadows Mayor Tom Rooney Thursday night to succeed resigning Senator Matt Murphy.
Governor Rauner's staff did reach out on behalf of those making the decision Thursday night, Wheeling Township Committeeman Ruth O'Connell confirmed. O'Connell's first preference was State Rep. David Harris (R-Mt Prospect), who dropped out of the race earlier this week, as did State Rep. Tom Morrison (R-Palatine).
O'Connell put her hefty Wheeling Township GOP support behind Rooney as did the other committeemen after Palatine Township GOP Committeeman Aaron Del Mar pulled out of the race, telling local news sources "unity was important" for the district.
Governor Rauner, Senate Minority Leader Christine Radogno and Illinois Policy Institute's John Tillman interviewed each of the six Republicans in the district that sought the appointment. After the interviews, Rauner made known his pick was Rooney.
Conservatives familiar with Rooney told Illinois Review that they were confident he would be a stalwart conservative vote in the Senate.
