Incumbent County Board member Carol Calabresa (R-Libertyville) and former member Roberta “Bobbie” O’Reilly are among those seeking the endorsement of the Lake County Republican Party in bids for board seats in the March primary.
Calabresa has never been endorsed by the party’s central committee, but still has won election to office three times.
Lake County Board of Health President Martin Paulson interviewed for the party’s endorsement to run for her seat Monday night.
O’Reilly, who also hasn’t fared well with the Republican endorsement panel in the past, has served in the influential position of Forest Preserve District finance chairwoman before leaving the forest preserve and County Board a year ago. O’Reilly will face incumbent board member Pamela Newton (R-Vernon Hills) in the primary.
The four were among the more than 30 candidates interviewing for the party’s endorsement in the past few days.
A third possible Republican contest will be for the seat of Democratic County Board member Bertha Ogrin of Waukegan. Former North Chicago High School Board member James Stanczak and consultant Gerald Clausing were seeking the Republican Party’s blessing in weekend interviews.
