Cook County GOP chairman mystery

by Robert Shirtliffe

Even though Cook County GOP's convention is less than two weeks away, no one knows yet who's vying for the not-so-coveted chairman's spot. 

Liz Gorman informed township committeemen that she's not running for re-election. There's talk that Tony Peraica has the votes sown up to become the new chairman, but many encourage him to focus on his state's attorney race. 

Some are saying 25 year old Lee Roupas is backed by Worthy Township committeeman and Gorman bosom buddy Maureen Murphy.  Others say a north suburban candidate could be drafted for the job.  (Who's got enemies like that?)

Here's the list of possible chairman candidates:  they're all the Cook County GOP township committeemen and Chicago ward GOP committeemen. 

Help us here. . . anybody know what's gonna happen on March 5th?    

UPDATE 1x:  Sorry we didn't catch this before, but thanks to Jimbo, we see ChicagoGOP's take on the Cook County chairman's bid here.  What's the Northfield Township chair like?  Is she interested in running people for office, or will she follow Liz Gorman's philosophy of discouraging GOP candidates from running in Cook County? Anyone know?

Comments

[Hascat]

What are the responsibilities of the county chairman?

[Jimbo]

There is a good analysis at www.chicagogop.com

It looks like June O'Donoghue from Northfield has it sown up.

[Anon]

O'Donoghue is backed by Gary Skoien, Tolbert Chisum, and Ruth O'Connell in the north suburbs. I would expect a return the more active Cook GOP seen under Skoien.

I would like to see Grace Lin from the 20th.ward become the next Republican Chairman of Cook County. Big Tent.

[Huh?]

Robert, the list of Committeemen on the Cook County site does not take into account the recent election of Ward Committeemen in the City. The accurate current list can be found at www.chicagogop.com

[Jerry]

Down here in the south suburbs of Chicago, TJ Somer is now, apparently, a Democrat. I believe that right up until he decided to run for office as a Dem, he was the head of the GOP in Bloom Township.

The Southtown quotes him as saying that the change reflects the "realities" of life in Crook County.

Pathetic.

[Pancho]

I heard and keep on hearing the names of Jim Perrelli and his number two guy Don Sloan, come up.
Is this true?
What about Tom Robbins?

[Pancho]

What about Clark Pellett or Ambrosio Medrano or George Preski? Do they have a chance? What about Bill Hogan?

[Pancho]

Case against Gorman not over yet

February 24, 2008
By Kristen McQueary
The name Elizabeth Doody Gorman does not appear in a seven-page decision released last week from the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.

But the ruling - based on facts the Gormans dispute - is a fireball aimed at Orland Park resident Gerald Gorman, former CEO and principal owner of two now-shuttered car dealerships. His wife is Doody Gorman, chairwoman of the Cook County Republican Party, Orland Township Republican committeewoman and a Cook County Board member.

The court of appeals agreed with a lower court in dismissing a case Gorman brought against DaimlerChrysler in 2002. As the previous owner of Ridge Chrysler Jeep and Dodge of Midlothian, Gorman claimed he was hamstrung by racist policies at DaimlerChrysler. The car giant refused to finance purchases of black customers, Gorman alleged, and his dealerships went out of business as a result.

But the highly respected U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit - one tier below the U.S. Supreme Court - in a decision written by Chief Judge Frank Easterbrook rebuked Gorman's case and repeatedly referred to instances in which he lied.

"Plaintiffs have behaved like a pack of weasels and can't expect any part of their tale be believed," he wrote.

It was a stinging rebuke with implications yet to be realized. Not only does Easterbrook point out, repeatedly, behavior that could be prosecutable, his ruling describes a dubious financial arrangement between Gorman and his mentor, Ed Vrdolyak, who already faces federal charges in a separate, highly charged case that has crept toward the governor's office. Vrdolyak is accused of conspiring with GOP insider Stuart Levine to extort kickbacks in a real estate deal.

Doody Gorman declined to comment on the ruling, saying only that she and her husband were "considering their options."

But the case certainly doesn't bode well for an elected official who used her experience as a business owner to sell her candidacy for Cook County Board. While she was not involved in day-to-day operations at the dealerships, she has been a chief defender of her husband's lawsuit. Many of the claims made against him in various court documents, she has said, are simply untrue.

"This ruling has nothing to do with her as a commissioner or a public official," said Burt Odelson, an attorney and friend to Doody Gorman. "This has everything to do with her husband's car business and the courts. We don't agree with the ruling, but it is what it is."

The ruling calls into question the basis for Gorman's claims of racist practices by DaimlerChrysler and asserts he abused the federal court system by filing a claim mired in deceit. Now, the Gormans may owe DaimlerChrysler more than $4.2 million.

The case centers on the demise of his dealerships - the profits of which helped finance Doody Gorman's political efforts.

As DaimlerChrysler tried to protect its investment at the dealerships, Gorman obtained $975,000 to shore up the dealership's capital, claiming it was independent of Chrysler's assets. The money, however, was largely a $750,000 loan from Vrdolyak secured against inventory in the car lot. The money was supposed to give Chrysler a "cushion," but because it was secured against Chrysler's own vehicles, it was no cushion. The example is just one case cited by the court of Gorman's efforts to deceive DaimlerChrysler.

Chief Judge Easterbrook - considered several times for a U.S. Supreme Court seat - kept the ruling to seven pages, writing: "It is unnecessary to discuss any of the other aspects of Gorman's chicanery, though they too are supported by adequate findings."

For someone like Doody Gorman, a rising star in the Republican Party once considered for statewide office, the ruling is a sharp setback.

Where it goes from here remains to be seen.

[speak softly]

Questions for chairman candidates:

1)Will you run candidates for countywide offices?
2) Will you support the sole GOP candidate on the ballot for countywide office?
3) Can any chairman staunch the continued loss of GOP votes and curb the rise of Democratic votes in "the blue capital of America"?
4) None of the 80 townships and wards will carry for Sauerberg. How many will carry for McCain?

[Michelle]

Speak Softly,
Obviously, you've given up on the GOP and now don a blue coat. Am I correct?

[Anon]

Liz Gorman should resign as County Commisioner. Now.

Let's ask a question: What did Gerry Gorman do with the money he slipped out the back door from the dealerships, and did not secure as collateral for Chrysler in 2002 and 2003, a promised to Chrysler and trhe federal court???

Could it be that the Chrysler money that went out the back door financed Liz's 2002 Campaign for County Commissioner? Just ook at Liz's campaign finance reports from the time:

Dodge of Midlothian (one of the two dealerships) 14500 S. Cicero Avenue
Midlothian, IL 60445 $125,000.00
3/11/2002 Loan Received
The Gorman Good Government Group

Dodge of Midlothian 14500 S. Cicero Avenue
Midlothian, IL 60445 $110,000.00
6/28/2002 Loan Received
The Gorman Good Government Group

Dodge of Midlothian 14500 S. Cicero Avenue
Midlothian, IL 60445 $40,000.00
1/16/2002 Loan Received
The Gorman Good Government Group

Dodge of Midlothian 14500 S. Cicero Avenue
Midlothian, IL 60445 $50,000.00
2/7/2002 Loan Received
The Gorman Good Government Group

Sales Inc. 14500 S. Cicero Avenue
Midlothian, IL 60445 $50,000.00
2/22/2002 Loan Received
The Gorman Good Government Group

That's $375,000 bucks, folks!

Just to make things even more interesting, let's take a look at the 6/30/04 form D-2 for Liz's committee, to see how the loans are recognized for repayment:

Gorman, Gerald 10834 Carolyn Ct.
Orland Park, IL 60467 $39,000.00 1/16/2002 $40,000.00

Gorman, Gerald 10834 Carolyn Ct.
Orland Park, IL 60467 $50,000.00 2/7/2002 $50,000.00

Gorman, Gerald 10834 Carolyn Ct.
Orland Park, IL 60467 $50,000.00 2/22/2002 $50,000.00

Gorman, Gerald 10834 Carolyn Ct.
Orland Park, IL 60467 $125,000.00 3/11/2002 $125,000.00

Gorman, Gerald 10834 Carolyn Ct.
Orland Park, IL 60467 $9,920.00 6/28/2002 $110,000.00

Gorman, Gerald 10834 Carolyn Ct.
Orland Park, IL 60467 $20,000.00 10/3/2002 $20,000.00

Am I seeing what I think I see? The dealerships make the loans, Chrysler gets screwed, then Gerry Gorman gets repaid the loan amounts, since the dealships are now defunct?

Resign Liz, now!

Liz Gorman and her husband are great people. They harken back to the days when politicians actually wanted to help people. Imagine that aspiring to a higher office to help people who need it.
As much as hear Tony Peraica tantrum about the insiders in politics, I have to believe that's he's just jealous that he doesn't have similar influence. Wasn't he a part of Vrdolyaks circle of supportors at one time?