DUPAGE CO - The Cold War between competing leadership teams of two factions of the Republican National Hispanic Assemblies (RNHA) of Illinois got hot Wednesday when one team, headed by Steve Orlando, filed a cease and desist lawsuit (click HERE) in DuPage County against Rafael Rivadeneira, the head of the other RNHA IL organizaton.
The conflict goes back to a dispute arising at the organization's convention two years ago in Dixon, Illinois, when Rivadeneira's leadership was challenged. Since then, accusations from each side have flown back-and-forth, effectively weakening Republican outreach to Illinois Hispanics during the 2012 election cycle.
The lawsuit comes just before the Rivadeneira team holds its 2013 Illinois RNHA convention this Saturday in Elgin, where Illinois State Treasurer Dan Rutherford, State Rep. John Cabello, For The Good of Illinois' Adam Andrzejewski, former Congressman Joe Walsh, Illinois Family Institute's Dave Smith, conservative Jack Roeser and Kane County Board Chairman Chris Lauzen are scheduled to speak.
