Current IL GOP Chairman Tim Schneider could be ousted May 19th
SPRINGFIELD – Saturday the Illinois Republican Party's State Central Committee will meet at the Illinois Realtors Association office in Springfield to decide who will be the state party's chairman – incumbent Chairman Tim Schneider or 10th CD State Central Committeeman Mark Shaw.
Despite rumors circulating that Shaw would not be a candidate Saturday, he confirmed to Illinois Review this week that he will be in the contest Saturday the 19th.
Conservatives are confident that the decision could be close, but that Shaw could win. Votes for Shaw are adding up and with State Rep. Jeanne Ives and David McSweeney's endorsements earlier this week, the conservative wing of the party could win over Governor Rauner's pick.
14th CD SCC member Stan Bond said "Conservatives are going to win."
If so, IR asked Bond, how will the IL GOP conservative wing respond?
"I believe conservatives will support candidates who support our party platform – up and down the ballot," Bond said. "We fought for the platform in 2016 and we will fight for it in the 2018 election with our get out the vote and our legendary passion for what’s right."
Will they then support Governor Rauner in order to display the strength of the conservative grassroots?
"Speaking for myself, my attention will be focused on the best chances to advance our platform and every way possible to improve the breadth and strength of our party. The clock is ticking for Illinois and especially for the IL GOP," Bond said.
The SCC's voted are weighted, based on how many Republican votes each district had in the last election. They are not distributed as based on a one person/one vote rule.
Thus far, Stan Bond (14), John McGlasson (16), Char Foss-Eggman (9) and assumedly Mark Shaw (10) will support Shaw. Bob Grogan (6) supported Jeanne Ives in the gubernatorial primary and is likely to support Ives. Shaun Murphy (1), Judy Diekelman (2), Sean Morrison (3), Jay Reyes (4) and Ryan Higgins (8) are expected to back Rauner – as is Chapin Rose (15) and Jan Weber (17) – who the Rauner campaign backed during county elections.
Saturday's meeting will be held at 11:00 am at 522 S. Fifth Street.
