By Fran Eaton - June 16, 2010
When Vice President Joe Biden arrives in Chicago next week to promote Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Alexi Giannoulias, he will see signs of an emerging threat to Chicago's one-party, decades-old political tyranny.
One of those many indications is on a particularly huge sign prominently displayed on a building at Chicago Avenue and Wells Street, with the demanding words, "Right Here, Right Now."
Those signs of discontentment Biden may notice will be throughout Chicago during the summer months for the second year in a row, appearing on billboards, cab toppers, CTA platform posters and train wraps. Chicago Young Republican President Jeremy Rose said last year's first membership drive effectively depicted a growing dissatisfaction with one-party rule in Chicago, while raising awareness of a viable political alternative and emboldening leery young Republicans to get involved.
"Less than a year and a half ago, the Chicago Young Republicans really got going during the 2008 election cycle when we had about 50 members," Rose said. "Right now, we're close to 900, and our goal is to get another 750 to 1,000 new members this year."
Along with the "Right Here, Right Now" summer marketing campaign, the Chicago YRs and the Cook County GOP opened a campaign office on the city's North Side.
"The Lincoln Park neighborhood has one of the highest concentrations of young professionals in the nation," Rose said. "In the recent past, Republicans like John McCain and Tony Peraica have done well here. We're hoping to build on that base by making political involvement more accessible. People here are concerned about their future and disgusted with Illinois' corruption. Now is the time to move."
The Chicago YRs' efforts are beginning to show not only in the number of active members, but in members willing to run for office. Dave Lenkowski, who teaches at a high school in Barrington, is opposing never-before-challenged state Rep. Sara Feigenholtz, and Uptown's Adam Robinson, who recruits for Chicago-area businesses, is taking on state Sen. Heather Steans.
Lenkowski is passionate about improving Illinois' failing education system, and Robinson is focused on producing more entrepreneurial and business opportunities in Illinois. Lenkowski said while he knows his race will be tough, he's encouraged by the number of enthused volunteers willing to get involved in his campaign. Both Lenkowski and Robinson are active in Chicago Young Republicans.
Anyone who's been involved in Chicago or Cook County politics over the years knows that any positive reports coming from Democrats' rarely challenged territory means there's something going on that could spell some degree of upset in 2010, but more likely in years to come.
But voter uneasiness doesn't stop at Chicago's boundaries.
Since state Rep. Kevin Joyce (D-Chicago) recently announced his retirement at the end of this legislative session, a little-known Republican challenger, Dr. Barbara Bellar, has gained new attention. A resident of Burr Ridge, Bellar is a doctor, a lawyer, a university professor and a former nun. She said she's frustrated with one-party rule in Springfield and decided to do her part to change Illinois' embarrassing notorious reputation.
Frustration with House Speaker Mike Madigan's one-party rule continues to spread toward the Democrats' southwest suburban territory, where Republican Rich Grabowski is opposing recently resigned state Rep. Jim Brosnahan's successor and Orland Park's Jeff Junkas is matching up with rarely challenged Democratic House member Kevin McCarthy.
Unchallenged one-party rule is not the way to get good government. Democrats - or Republicans for that matter - running unopposed year after year breeds political arrogance. If entrenched powers can keep voters disengaged and turned off to the process, they maintain control and we all know what happens when anyone has absolute power. We have plenty of the resulting absolute corruption throughout Illinois.
It appears that the cleanup of all this is falling into the hands of the next generation.
The job won't be easy. Rose will tell you that it was tough to get funds for the Chicago YRs' first "It's Not Easy Being Right" membership drive. Battle-fatigued, defeated and discouraged Republican veterans praised the idea, but most found it difficult to invest in such a radical concept.
But during a year that coincided with Chicago's Tea Party unrest spreading nationwide, Barack Obama pushing through an unpopular government-controlled health care plan, Rod Blagojevich denying any wrongdoing, and the Democrats shirking responsibility for a $13 billion unbalanced state budget, the Chicago YRs' gutsy campaign may have been just what the doctor ordered.
Cook County GOP Chairman Lee Roupas, a 27-year-old Loyola University grad student, was optimistic during a news conference at the Lincoln Park GOP office opening Monday.
"The Chicago Young Republicans will reach thousands and thousands of new voters and new Republicans, new young people coming to the city. We couldn't be more pleased and more happy with the rebirth of the Republican Party in Chicago and Cook County," Roupas said.
No one at the news conference claimed there would be a Republican sweep in Illinois this November, but all were proud of challenging Chicago's status quo and, at the very least, making Democrats fight to defend their long-held, taken-for-granted political territory.
So when you're in the city this summer, notice the golden-lettered "Right Here, Right Now" signs and smile. Because whether you're a Democrat or a Republican, those signs serve as reminders our feisty American spirit is alive and well and, thanks to the Young Republicans, Chicago's vital two-party system is on its way back.
How ya like that, Mr. Biden?
