By Illinois Review
Like a scene out of the movie The Skulls, where Senator Ames Levritt tells a group of young men, “Our rules supersede those of the outside world” – embattled Illinois Republican Party Chairman Don Tracy, in a letter to Lake County GOP Central Committee Chairman Keith Brin on Wednesday, conveniently hid behind party rules stating that he did not have the authority to remove Mark Shaw as vice chairman despite the party changing its rules during the state convention last month to allow Tracy’s close friend and ally Vince Kolber, who votes in both Illinois and Wisconsin, to remain on the ballot for national committeeman despite failing to meet the candidacy requirements as outlined by the IL GOP’s own bylaws.
On Monday, Brin – who replaced Shaw as chairman, wrote a letter calling on all 102 county GOP leaders to demand Shaw’s resignation or removal, writing, “We have crossed a rubicon.” On Wednesday, Tracy responded to Brin’s letter, writing, “I have done my best to remain neutral in this process because, based on the bylaws of the Illinois Republican Party, it is the sole purview of the seventeen (17) individual members of the State Central Committee to elect and remove a Vice-Chair.”
The embattled state party chairman also made a point to defend Shaw, who faked a delegate badge, cast illegal votes and threatened to beat up a fellow state central committee member during the state convention – acts that have embarrassed the Illinois Republican Party and directly violated party rules, writing,
“Mark has accepted every assignment I have given him, and to my knowledge, has executed such assignments faithfully and skillfully…Mark has continued his longtime training of PCs and candidates and has been one of the State Party’s larger donors.”
Tracy and many state party leaders have always placed an emphasis on money over people – and as a result, the Illinois Republican Party – and under Tracy’s leadership, has slipped further into irrelevance as the Democrats continue to expand their super majority control in both the Illinois House and Senate – and control every statewide office – leaving Republicans voiceless on local and state matters. And for major donors like Vince Kolber and Mark Shaw – rules and party bylaws can be broken – because, as Tracy has proven, “our rules supersede those of the outside world.”
Immediately after Tracy’s letter went public, Brin – in an exclusive statement and shared with this publication, said, “I read the chairman’s letter and I agree that we need Party unity. However, I think the only way to achieve Party unity is for the state central committee to remove Mark Shaw.”
State Rep. Jed Davis (Dist. 75) and the chair of the Kendall County Republican Party, posted, “I stand with Keith Brin. Mark Shaw should resign from his position in party leadership. There’s no excuse for casting illegal votes during our state convention.”
Christina Clausen, Chairwoman of the Will County Republican Central Committee issued a statement as well, writing,
“As Chairwoman of the Will County Republicans, I stand with Lake County Chairman Keith Brin, demanding the immediate resignation/removal of Mark Shaw from all his positions within the party, including Vice Chair and 10th State Central Committeeman. Our call for resignation is not just about holding individuals accountable but about setting a precedent for future leaders. It is about ensuring that our party remains true to its values and that we can stand proudly before the voters, confident that we have upheld the highest standards of integrity.”
Republicans across the state had hoped that Tracy would have shown some leadership and removed Shaw from his leadership positions, but Wednesday’s letter proved that he was more concerned about processes than doing what’s right and necessary. For Tracy, it’s much easier to point out the wrongdoings of Illinois Democrats than addressing wrongdoings within his own leadership ranks. And as a result, Republicans suffer and the party falls deeper into irrelevance. And under Tracy, the party of Lincoln is now the party of lawlessness.
