The announcement by Gov. Jim Edgar that he will retire from politics at the end of his term will send ripples throughout the Republican Party in Illinois.
But one of the bigger splashes is likely to be seen in DuPage County’s political pond, where a dozen or so Republicans have been considering campaigns for higher office.
County Board Chairman Gayle Franzen said Wednesday that he will take “a real hard look” at running for secretary of state in the GOP primary next year if incumbent George Ryan opts to run for governor as expected.
Franzen said he will make his decision in the next few weeks, after talks with his family and staff.
But even before Edgar’s announcement, political insiders had speculated that Franzen was unlikely to seek re-election as board chairman next year and were watching with some amusement as would-be candidates began staking out positions, exploring possibilities and drawing up game plans.
“Gayle is not terribly interested in the job anymore,” a County Board member who asked not to be identified said last month. “Gayle is running for something else.”
At least three board members–Michael Formento (R-Glen Ellyn), Patrick O’Shea (R-Lombard) and Gwen Henry (R-Wheaton)–have acknowledged interest in running for board chairman if Franzen doesn’t.
“I might consider it if the circumstances were right,” said Henry, who finished second to Franzen in a four-way GOP primary contest three years ago.
If Franzen were to seek re-election, most insiders expect he would face no serious opposition, either in the Republican primary next March or in the general election.
Without Franzen, the contest could be wide open.
Insiders predict that one or more of DuPage’s mayors also might be interested in making the race, and they say there are several who could be attractive candidates.
No member of the County Board has been elected board chairman in at least two decades: Jack Knuepfer had been a state senator; Aldo Botti was a lawyer and political maverick when he ousted Knuepfer; and Franzen, though an insider in state government circles, was Regional Transportation Authority chairman and pretty much of an outsider in DuPage politics when he announced his decision to run in 1993.
In at least part of DuPage, there also is likely to be a crowd of candidates seeking the GOP nomination to fill the seat of retiring U.S. Rep. Harris Fawell in the 13th Congressional District.
The district includes the southern third of DuPage, as well as portions of Will and Cook Counties.
The election season leading up to the GOP primary next year will be “up for grabs,” said Jack Tenison, Republican chairman in Lisle Township and one of a dozen or so Republicans considering a possible race for Congress.
“I think there are a lot of people interested in a lot of different positions and all of them are from DuPage County,” Tenison said.
Franzen already has accumulated nearly $500,000 in his political fund if he does decide to seek the GOP nomination for secretary of state, and he proved himself a tough campaigner four years ago, in his first run for elected office.
He also has built himself a solid platform to run for statewide office, by reducing county government’s share of the local property-tax dollars over the past three years.
A recent Tribune poll showed Franzen with decent name recognition in DuPage and a favorable rating among county residents.
The poll found that 60 percent of DuPage residents had heard of Franzen, and 21 percent had a favorable opinion of him. Only 6 percent had an unfavorable view.
