By Nancy Thorner -
The lines drawn in the Illinois Republican Party between those pushing for Governor Bruce Rauner's re-election and party's base conservatives rejecting the incumbent's performance were distinct during the Lake Forest/Lake Bluff Republican Women's annual Christmas party in early December.
Mark Shaw, 10th CD Republican Committeeman and Lake County GOP Chairman, who was honored during the evening for his work to build the local party, confronted the evening's keynote speaker Dan Proft. ""You were given 40 minutes to shoot your mouth off with your b*****," Shaw said, and went on to challenge Proft, asking him how much Proft had donated in time and money to the IL GOP.
The confrontation between personalities and perspectives didn't stop there.
Proft, a local radio talk show host, plays a key role in the Illinois Opportunity Project, the Illinois Policy Institute, Liberty Principles and co-founded a network of political news sites and newspapers throughout the state. He has been a vocal opponent of Governor Rauner and the Illinois Republican establishment over the years.
Proft's keynote topic was how the IL GOP could progress in deep blue Illinois during the 2018 elections.
The Republican Party keeps making the same mistake in Illinois, which has destroyed the state's economy, and which is how Michael Madigan has become the biggest friend of the Republican Party, Proft said.
What was the mistake referenced by Proft? "Everything Republicans do is done in reaction to Mike Madigan and Chicago Democrats," he said. As such, Republicans have no strategy to defeat Democrat Speaker Mike Madigan.
Proft continued by asking what the IL GOP is pitching? How is the Party defining itself? He said Democrats pull out the same playbook every election because it works. What Republicans are doing isn't working. "We need better messaging. It is not enough for Republicans just to say we are not Mike Madigan, it's not a winning ticket!" Proft told the crowd.
It isn't helpful that Illinois is the least Republican state not located on the East or the West coast. Illinois further ranks the second-largest in the Top 10 of least Republican states after California, because of the city of Chicago. Nor is it helpful that Illinois lost 41,000 tax returns to other states las year – $4.75 billion in adjusted gross income in tax year 2017 — when 86,100 individuals moved to other states, many of which voted Republican voters.
Proft asked "Do Republican voters really view House Speakere Michael Madigan as the primary reason why Illinois is in the doldrums economically? " If, however, members of the Republican establishment and Republican voters continue to blame Michael Madigan for all their woes, how can they expect the Republican Party to rise above its present super minority position here in Illinois? It also can't continue to accept that Chicago, as a city of almost three million, has zones which are off limits because of crime.
As the state of Illinois continues to fail, Proft said the Illinois Republican Party must acquiesce to a different way of doing things. Republicans should attempt to find the best conservative Republican candidates possible to run for office, not select candidates based primarily on having an "R" following their names but who are not in step with the Illinois Republican Platform. For if the latter so often remains the criteria for selecting Republican candidates, complaints about what has happened to Illinois are not justified.
Proft then went on to describe some of what ails Chicago and Illinois:
- Illinois has the highest property taxes in the nation.
- Chicago is the worst governed city in the entire nation.
- Illinois has the lowest bond rating since 1992 under Mike Madigan.
- Young people are looking for opportunities elsewhere and are leading the exodus from Illinois.
- Chicagoans are moving to the suburbs, resulting in the Democratic Party becoming the Party of the suburbs.
Soaring taxes have a major impact on Lake County property values
Proft spoke about Cross Lake which straddles the Illinois-Wisconsin border. Cross Lake, 89 acres in size, straddles the Illinois-Wisconsin border has been greatly affected by soaring taxes. It’s western shore spans two adjacent communities, Antioch, Illinois and Trevor, Wisconsin, where a continuous development of modest lakefront homes makes the state line essentially indistinguishable. The homes on Cross Lake look no different; however, in Trevor, a 1,368 square-foot two bedroom, two bath sold in the fall of 2015 for $255,000 while in Antioch, a three-minute walk south across the state line, a 2,400-square-foot, three-bedroom, three-bath sold last spring for $225,000.
Why would a home 75 percent larger with more bedrooms and bathrooms sell for $30,000 less? It is because of property taxes. The Wisconsin home is valued higher because its tax bill is so much lower. At $3,202 per year, it’s about half what their Illinois neighbor pays— $6,211 per year— just across the state line.
As Proft related, every Lake County community saw their home values fall significantly, while rising property taxes compounded the pain. The rise was driven, in large part, by steady increases in local school district spending, which make up 70 percent of a typical property tax bill, yet most often the increases are not for the benefit of the children, but are used to fund salary increases for teachers and teacher pension.
In bringing the property tax issue to the local level, Proft spoke about homes in Lake Forest and Lake Bluff where property taxes rank 22nd highest in the nation. The average property tax nationwide is .9 of a percent, while in Lake Forest it is 2% and in Lake Bluff 2.4 percent. From 2007 – 2013 the dollar value of home in Lake Forest dropped 39% and in Lake Bluff 29%. Proft then posed these question: Are Lake Forest and Lake Bluff citizens really fine with having their homes taken from them by government? With more money being spent on K-12 education than in other Lake County School Districts, are Lake Forest and Lake Bluff schools superior to other schools in Lake County who spend less per child?
Proft outlines his winning plan for Illinois
There were 15 Republican state representatives who voted for tax increases along with all Democrats. They should have all been fired, he said, but the Republican Party is adverse to holding itself accountable. However, nine of the fifteen did retire, knowing there would be a reckoning if they did ran for another term in office.
Chosen to replace the nine retiring Republicans are conservative reform candidates. Proft will be supporting these nine Republican candidates, through his Illinois Opportunity Project funded mostly by Wisconsin businessman Dick Uhlein. He is also backing candidates that are challenging Republican House leader Minority Leader Jim Durkin and Illinois' governor Bruce Rauner.
As Proft related, both parties lie to their voters to win elections. With a debt of $250 billion, which is a definition of bankruptcy, do Illinoisans wish to continue this course or change to another course of action. It is not written in the stars that Michael Madigan should head the Illinois House, he said. The Republican Party must make better choices in their candidates if a better Illinois is to be realized.
Question and Answers: Lake County Republican Chairman, Mark Shaw, responds in anger toward Dan Proft
It was during this time when some in attendance who were squarely behind Governor Bruce Rauner but skeptical of the candidacy of Jeanne Ives in her bid to defeat Governor Rauner, became evident.
One of the most vocal critics of what Dan Proft had to say came from Mark Shaw, Chairman of the Lake County Republican Party, who also represents the 10th District on the Illinois State Central Committee, when he stood up and addressed Proft with these words: "You were given 40 minutes to shoot your mouth off with your bullshit." Shaw then proceeded to ask of Proft: "Have you ever walked precincts?" "How much of your money are you donating to help Republican?"
An article published at Illinois Review on Friday, December 8th, Still no response: How does the IL GOP decide how to spend Rauner's millions in donations?, spoke of an inquiry made of Illinois Republican Party spokesman Aaron DeGroot as to why he has not yet answered questions about how the party determined where it directed millions of dollars over the past month donated by governor Bruce Rauner. Specifically mentioned in the article was Lake County GOP as being a recipient of $25K.
It seems unlikely that Mark Shaw would support Governor Rauner because of the $25K he received as a beneficiary of Rauner's money, but the connection cannot be ignored.
Even so, in my opinion, Shaw needs to apologize for his rudeness toward Dan Proft and to everyone in the room, indeed to the whole county. Shaw's job as County Chairman isn't to take sides but to put the party back together after the primary to elect whoever wins. Dan Proft has raised millions for Republicans and his good will is essential in electing Republican candidates like Barrett Davie and Cindy Massover. Shaw failed with his outburst of anger about Proft at the WRC Lake Forest event.
In Proft's exchange with Shaw, Proft pointed out how the generic ballot in Illinois for Republicans stood at -8, while Rauner's favorable level was at -28. Proft took great pains to assure Mark Shaw that his comments were not directed against him and the function of the Lake County Republican Party, but were generic in nature.
Other questions directed at Proft included:
- Importance of the Map matter? Proft cited two choices: 1) Pick up 9 seats in the House to unseat Mike Madigan and 2) elect a Republican governor. Proft is shooting for a combination of the two. With 118 State House seats, Proft sees 16 seats as possible pick up opportunities.
- About Early Voting? Democrats have the advantage with early voting, and it's a winning strategy. Republicans must put more resources in the field and more boots on the ground to get out the early vote.
- Can candidate Jeanne Ives win? There are 800,000 Republican primary voters. We must "Stoke the Revolt" instead of continuing to do the bidding for the other side, as when Republicans voted for tax hikes, the bailout of Exelon, and the expansion of Medicaid. Ives must define herself and needs money to do so, between 3 and 5 million dollars. Her five-year record in the General Assembly is certainly laudable. Rauner betrayed many Republicans by voting for SB 40 and making Illinois a sanctuary state.
In closing the sheriff of Lake County, Mark Curran, who had questioned how Ives could win, advanced to the podium to offer a prayer of unity to heal the divisions that were apparent in the room between Rauner and Ives supporters. Curran was a vocal supporter of Rauner signing into law Illinois' sanctuary policy.
The Women's Republican Club's Annual Christmas Luncheon was held on December 2, l20o17, at Exmoor Country Club in Highland Park. Membership to the WRC of LF/LB (Est. 1941) is open to men and women as well as GOP local, state, and federal candidates and office holders. Residence in Lake Forest or Lake Bluff is not required. WRC exists to assist GOP candidates land office-holders land to educate voters on issues of importance.
When the event started, Lake Forest resident Peggy Siebert, president of the WRC, warmly greeted guests, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance and the singing of God Bless America. Past presidents were then recognized, as well as candidates and office-holders who were in attendance.
The bestowal of the Annual WRC "President's Award" was presented to Lake County Republican Chairman and Illinois State Central Committee member (10th) Mark Shaw, as the person who did the most during the past year for the Republican Party in Lake County, although an admission was made that the award is usually given to a much older individual. The presented award was a framed picture of a drawing done by artist Franklin Mahon, an acclaimed Lake Forest artist.
Prior to the introduction of Dan Proft, whose topic was The Importance of the 2018 Elections, two local Republican candidates were introduced. Barrett Davie is the GOP Candidate for State Senate (District 29th) running to defeat incumbent Democrat Senator Julie Morrison. Cindy Massover is running for the Illinois State House (58th) in her bid to unseat incumbent Democrat Scott Drury.
Officers of the Women's Republican Club of Lake Forest/Lake Bluff
- Peggy Siebert, President
- Hilary Till, 2nd Vice President
- Susan Somberg, Secretary
- Lisa Roti, Angie Sage, Betsy Thurman, Nancy Thorner, Board Members
- Jennifer Neubauer, Pat Falkowski, Kim Madden, Past Presidents and members of the Advisory Board.
Elected Officials in attendance
- Roycealee Wood, Superintendent Lake County Schools
- Carla Wycoff, Lake County Clerk
- Mark Curran, Lake County Sheriff
- David Stoleman, Lake County Treasurer
- Mike Rummel, Lake County Board, District 12
- Christy Bishop, Circuit Court Judge
- Chris Stide, Circuit Court Judge
- Terry Darraugh, Shields Township Supervisor
- Scott Helton, Shields Township Assessor
- Bill Griffin, CLC Trustee
Candidates in Attendance
- Jeanne Ives – Illinois Governor
- Cindy Masover – Illinois H 58th
- Barrett Davies – Illinois S 29th
- Becky Zeidamn – Lake County Board Dist 11
- Karen Feldman - Illinois H 59th
- Marco Sukovic - Illinois H 59th
- Doug Bennett – 10th Congressional District
- Sapan Shah – 10 Congressional District
- Jeremy Wynes – 10th Congressional District
