UPDATE 1X: McKenna in the 10th | Cross as ILGOP Chair?

Sources are telling IR there may be a deal being discussed to run Illinois GOP Chairman Andy McKenna in the 10th Congressional District to replace U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk when he runs for U.S. Senate in 2010. The demographics of the district would lend themselves to McKenna. However, recent "hiccups" regarding the U.S. Senate race may have damaged Andy's standing with key GOP leaders.

Given Kirk's recent vote on Cap & Trade, it may be more likely that Andy is still contemplating a run for U.S. Senate - challenging Kirk in the primary. Washington DC sources are leaking that McKenna is still having meetings out there. About what we don't know. Stay tuned.

An another, related, note, Lee Roupas, Chairman of the Cook County Republican Party, and Tom Cross, Republican Minority Leader in the Illinois House are names being talked about as replacements for Andy should he step down as Chairman of the Illinois Republican Party.

UPDATE: Response from Leader Cross's office:

House Republican Leader Tom Cross is focused on defeating the democrat income tax increase plan, reforming Illinois government and recruiting the best crop of candidates for the 2010 election cycle in order to win a Republican majority in the Illinois House.

Comments

[Dave]

Is this the best we can in holding this seat?

Serious, aren't there any state rep or state senators in district who have shown to be electable?

[RickyHenderson]

LeeRopas....for...Chairman????OhNo.

[Pittsburgh Steelers Fan]

Musical chairs at the Illinois Republican Party, start the music. I don't want to see Cross be minority leader and party chairman.

Having that much power in 1 mans hands is not a good idea

[Right on]

Who is pushing Roupas or Cross for state gop chair? Would have to be a Democrat.

[PeteSpeer]

What a joke!!

Lee Roupas has not yet proven himself a competent leader of the Cook County Republican Party. State party? He would be putty in the hands of the combine and cement the status quo, keeping Illinois Republicans in the minority.

On the other hand, Tom Cross has at least battlefield experience.. We want an operative for the position,

The measure in any respect is to organize for victory in 2010. No ideologues please.

[Eastsider]

PeteSpeer -

It the metric you are using is ability to organize for victory, then Jim Durkin is the guy. He ran a strong grassroots effort for the McCain campaign in the primary last year that was tremendously effective. Durkin is also a former statewide primary winner...He should be the next chair.

[Jim]

Cross or Roupas??? Can not think of two more ineffective or weak candidates. Either individual would make the Democratic party very happy.

[Conservative Veteran]

A March 24 Roll Call article states that State Rep. Elizabeth Coulson was considering running for Kirk's seat, if he didn't run for re-election. She agrees with him, about many issues, and she's been a legislator since 1997.

[Quit Hating GOP]

To the people talking down Roupas or Cross as potential replacements -- what makes you speak so negatively against these people? While admittedely, I am neither an elected party or public official, I am a resident of Cook County and have experienced first-hand the difference under Roupas' leadership.

I agree that Tom Cross serving in both capacities may be too great a concentration of the little power that we Republicans have in IL, but I wouldn't question his ability to be successful in the post.

In the end, its comments like those posted by Jim and RickyHendersen do not contribute to the marketplace of ideas or to the discourse in how we can make our party better; rather, they are conclusory, accusatory and baseless attacks ON MEMBERS OF OUR OWN PARTY. No wonder we're where we're at...

[PeteSpeer]

Quit hating GOP --

Please tell us some of the 'first have experience' you are citing.

I can tell you about the Bob Shelstrom experience. Roupas and company nominated nobody for a South Cook GA seat in the primary, guaranteeing a Dem would be unopposed.

Bob got everything together and went to the Board of Elections to be an approved write in candidate. Roupas screwed up his appeal, making sure he would not be approved.

That is the Roupas-Doody Gorman cabal in south Cook. Couldn't find a Republican candidate and would rather let a Democrat run unopposed.

From where I sit in North Cook, that ain't leadership.

But, truthfully, I would like to here how Lee Roupas is organizing South Cook for victory. We need full precinct management in Palos and the other townships. We need Republican votes in Cook County in 2010 to elect a governor.

So what is Lee doing to find anybody - -like Eric Wallace, for instance -- organize the Republicans?

Where are the numbers?

The floor is yours.

[PeteSpeer]

Sorry, QHG, I meant to write "first hand" to quote you, not "first have".

Don't let that cloud your mind.

[Sam Pierce]

How about John Bambenek to lead the IL GOP?

[Quit Hating GOP]

My understanding and reading of the same events that you cite are quite different Pete. Roupas was the supported Bob for office in 2006 and orchestrated the votes for Bob to be slated in 2008. In 2009, he endorsed Bob for School Board. These are the facts. Feel free to correct my account of the record if you think I'm wrong...

When Roupas was elected Chairman in March 2008, he had a month to fill vacancies on the ballot. Nevertheless, he was able to slate over 30 candidates in that short time frame. Going from a totally vacant countywide slate to whatever representation we did provide (it was not enough, we clearly are STILL FAILING to communicate a messgae that is resonating with moderates in this state) is no small feat.

I am also pretty sure that Roupas is doing this all with no salary or sitpend (I could be wrong). Either way, his committment to the party in this state is beyond rapproach. I am not against discussing his qualifications as IL State Chair, but I think the tenor of the discussion ought to be one of objective fact.

Bob was one a few candidates that were challenged and removed from the ballot. I'm confident that Roupas didn't abandon him. Either way he has thus far excersied the sound judgment equal to or more informed and pracitcal than any of the other party operatives that I've come across in this state in years. He has given a significant portion of his life thus far to the Republican party. That's just a fact.

When you say that he has an agenda in protecting Democrats then, you disqualify yourself from the discourse entirely. That is just baseless and not supported by anything in real life. Its silly and beats up our party -- most damaging the republicans who are the core of this party or who are objectively leading it in some capacity already.

Sorry if this was long... I just hope that we will not squander this opportunity in 2010. This whole point may be moot if McKenna doesn't run.