CHICAGO – Another IL GOP State Central Committee member joined Sean Morrison's call for a special meeting to discuss the future of the IL GOP. The kerfuffle began after Chicago media revealed Governor Rauner tried to find a substitute to run for governor in 2018 rather than run for re-election himself.
The volatile revelation did not simmer down over the Christmas weekend. State Central Committee member John McGlasson, who represents Illinois' 16th CD, said when he learned of his fellow member calling for the Committee to regather, he immediately reached out to Morrison on December 14th.
"I immediately reached out to Mr. Morrison with a request that he join me in my call for the resignation of State Party Chairman, Tim Schneider," McGlasson said. "That message has not be answered, nor have I heard anything more about his call for a special meeting. I would urge Chairman Schneider to call for an official special meeting and announce his intention to step aside and allow the party to begin to repair itself following the terrible defeat on November 6th."
McGlasson said in a statement that "the party needs to returns to its roots as expressed in our party platform. And we need to search for a leader that will lead us back to the basics of conservativism. President Reagan said that if we could agree on 80% of the issues we could work together. Unfortunately, we have recruited candidates that do not meet that threshold."
"The conservative wing of the party willingly and enthusiastically supported Governor Rauner in his first campaign," McGlasson said. "Then, in my opinion, he broke his word and turned to liberal stances on social issues and forgot his plans to balance the budget and reform our pension system. That is why he lost the enthusiastic support of social conservatives."
McGlasson said the IL GOP leadership change is urgent.
"We need to find a leader who can bring us together while respecting the party platform. Chairman Schneider’ term lasts through the spring of 2020. We cannot wait that long to begin the transformation," he said.
Illinois Review reached out to Morrison after his December 14th statement, and he has yet to reply.
