Republican candidates vying for upsets in a handful of local and regional races in November made their cases last week in downtown Skokie just before Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton duked it out in their first national debate.
The Niles Township Regular Republican Organization (NTRRO) called the event at the El Fuego restaurant a “candidates’ forum” and a “debate-watching party.” What that really meant was a meet-and-greet with the candidates, brief speeches and then watching the highly-anticipated Clinton-Trump debate on one of a handful of televisions.
The candidates in each of these races are trying to win seats that traditionally have been dominated by Democrats. But each of the candidates expressed optimism and said it was past time for a change.
Among those Republican underdogs on hand were Christopher Pfannkuche, running for Cook County state’s attorney, Diana Shapiro, Cook County Circuit Court clerk, Jonathan Edelman, state congressman in the 15th District, and Joan McCarthy Lasonde, U.S. congresswoman in the 9th District.
Lasonde has the difficult task of trying to unseat U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowskywho has not faced a serious challenge for a long time. Lasonde said that she believes she has a chance — if she can get her poll numbers closer to 44 percent. If she is in striking range, she said, that’s when the Republican Party could kick in some serious funding to mount a challenge.
“No one bets on a losing horse,” she said.
The candidate, who lives in Wilmette, said her top priority for the district is the economy.
“I know because I’m out every weekend and knocking on doors and you know what? People are nervous,” she said.
Pfannkuche, who will face Kim Foxx for state’s attorney in November after the latter’s victory over Anita Alvarez, has served as a prosecutor for many years. Pfannkuche’s campaign, he said, focuses on prosecuting violent felons, repeat offenders and domestic abusers “to make our communities safer.”
Pfannkuche on Sept. 26 echoed some of the comments he has made in his campaign literature.
“Cook County needs a new state’s attorney,” he says on his website. “The reputation of the state’s attorney’s office has been greatly damaged under the current leadership. Justice is no longer being pursued. I intend to restore respect, integrity and professionalism.”
Diana Shapiro, facing Dorothy Brown for Circuit Court clerk, said the county faces “dire financial strains on our economy due to corruption and wasteful pay-to-play politics of our elected leaders who would rather raise taxes than cut costs and operate within a balanced budget.”
On her website, she has called ethics her “guiding light.”
She promised to “reform the office of the Circuit Court clerk, end wasteful spending, lead by example and be an honorable public servant who will restore efficiency, reliability and dignity.”
Jonathan Edelman, running for state representative against John D’Amico in the 15th District, handed out his own “Common Sense” pamphlet in the tradition of Thomas Paine.
“I have the strange notion that if you’re running for public office, you ought to tell people what you believe, what you’re going to do and how you’re going to be in office,” he said.
In Edelman’s booklet, he advocates for term limits, balanced budgets and addresses pensions, taxes, business, labor and trade, education, college, crime, prison reform and more.
“One of the things we have to do in Illinois politics is we have to get rid of political royalty,” he said.
Twitter: @SKReview_Mike
