Sunday night, Republican state Representative Jeanne Ives hosted a sizable crowd of supporters in her hometown of Wheaton. She's on the 2018 GOP primary ballot challenging incumbent GOP Governor Bruce Rauner. Illinois Review contributor Nancy Thorner was on hand at one of several events Ives has been appearing at over the past few weeks …
By Nancy Thorner -
The Republican Assembly of Lake County, Illinois, held its Christmas party at J & D's Bar & Grill in Wauconda, IL. on Saturday evening, December 2nd, 2017. The RALC is a grassroots organization made up of Ronald Reagan conservatives who believe in small government, lower taxes, free market capitalism, strong defense, the right to life, and the support of the US. Constitution in the tradition of the Founding Fathers. Attendance at this year's RALC Christmas party was the largest ever, numbering 85 members and guests.
Bob Bednar, Chairman of the RALC, introduced featured speaker Jeanne Ives, who is running as a conservative Republican challenger to Governor Bruce Rauner. Check out Ives For Illinois.
Meet Jeanne Ives
Jeanne Ives served as a Representative in the Illinois State House (42nd District), which includes all or portions of Wheaton, Warrenville, West Chicago, Winfield, Carol Stream, Lisle and Naperville. Ives was first elected in 2013, until she was “drafted” in the fall of this year by the state’s grassroots Republican base to challenge incumbent Governor Bruce Rauner. While serving in the Illinois House Ives demonstrated not only a willingness to lead on difficult issues and question powerful House leaders, but she also gained an insightful understanding of policy.
As a West Point graduate of the Class of 1987 with a Bachelor of Science in Economics, Jeanne Ives went on to serve in the U.S. Army. Her assignments included platoon leader and headquarters detachment commander for transportation units in Germany and ROTC instructor at Wheaton College. Ives resigned from the Army in 1993 to raise her children, while working as a tax advisor and bookkeeper for small businesses and individuals.
It was on October 28, 2017, that State Rep. Jeanne Ives announced she would challenge incumbent Governor Bruce Rauner. Her running mate is former State Rep. Richard Morthland of Cordova, lllinois. Unlike other candidates who have been collecting signatures since early September, Ives and her choice for lieutenant governor had a late start. Despite this late state, State Rep. Jeanne Ives announced officially Sunday night, December 3, 2017, in an invitation-only gathering in her home district that she would be a candidate for governor in the March 2018 Illinois Republican Party primary. She was introduced to the crowd by her running mate, former State Rep. Rich Morthland from the Rock Island area.
If you still have some doubts or misgivings about Jeanne Ives running on the Republican ticket to unseat Republican governor Bruce Rauner, this article, due for publication at National Review on 2017-12-17, titled "Bruce Rauner's Illinois Breakdown," describes Rauner's unacceptable performance as Illinois' governor during his first term in office.
"When Governor Bruce Rauner of Illinois announced in October that he would seek reelection in 2018, he released a two-minute campaign video. It shows the Republican wearing blue jeans and a black leather vest as he rides his Harley-Davidson motorcycle from Chicago to Springfield, the state capital. “Four years ago,” he says in a voiceover, “I crisscrossed our state, looked people in the eye, and promised to fight business as usual.
This boast came about a month after Cardinal Blase Cupich accused him of breaking his word and the Chicago Sun-Times put his picture on its front page, below a headline that shouted: “Benedict Rauner.” The governor’s offense was to have signed what may be America’s most radical abortion-funding law after vowing to veto it. The betrayal capped a season of defeats for conservatives, including an income-tax hike, a big bailout of Chicago’s public schools, and turning Illinois into what critics of illegal immigration are calling a sanctuary state."
Jeanne Ives comments on state of Illinois
Candidate Ives was received with much enthusiasm by RALC members and friends. As Jeanne stated, the catalyst for her gubernatorial challenge was not only Rauner’s signing of a bill to expand taxpayer-funded abortion coverage for women on Medicaid, but also the provision to increase funding to Chicago Public Schools.
When serving in the Illinois General Assembly, Ives fought for school choice and Right for Life. She also opted out of both a taxpayer funded pension and healthcare, as both pension and state group health insurance have greatly contributed to budget pressures and both need reform.
In relation to Governor Rauner, “He has basically discredited himself as a Republican. He’s signed into law very extreme measures. The man who said he had no social agenda ended up having only a social agenda.”
Ives related, when elected to the House in 2013, how both the Illinois House and the Senate had super majorities making it possible for Democrats to pass anything they desired. At the time Ives wondered how things could get any worse than they already were. When Bruce Rauner ran as a reform candidate in 2014, Ives helped to elect Rauner to lead his promised revolt. But instead of Rauner fulfilling his campaign promises, Ives instead experienced betrayal. As Ives said:
“Rauner has basically discredited himself as a Republican. He’s signed into law very extreme measures. The man who said he had no social agenda ended up having only a social agenda, having enacted the same economic and social agenda of his buddy Rahn Emmanuel.”
Ives questioned what we have at the end of three years and listed the negatives as high taxes, more debt, and many people exiting Illinois for a better economic climate. Noted by Ives was new data in the deterioration of Illinois' tax base. In 2017 Illinois experienced a loss of nearly 42,000 tax returns to other states representing 86,100 individuals at a net loss to Illinois of $4.75 billion in adjusted gross income. Continued Ives: "Because Illinois became a sanctuary state under Governor Rauner, Illinois is less safe." In what was a huge disappointment to Ives and conservatives state-wide was the signing by Rauner of HB-40 which sanctions tax payer funding of abortions. Instead of reforming our Medicaid system, Gov. Rauner expanded it. Ives further revealed that Illinois ranks 48th in the nation on serving those with developmental disabilities.
As to Governor Rauner being elected to a second term, Jeannie Ives was insistent that Rauner can't win in the November 2018 General Election, for no amount of money can win back Republicans who feel betrayed by Rauner.
Jeanne Ives as a candidate
In speaking of herself as a former army officer and graduate of West Point, Ives informed her audience that she lives by the West Point Code and that she can be counted on not to lie, cheat, or steal, nor does she tolerate others who do so. In the House, Ives opposed tax increases, big government bailouts, and stood up for conservative values when other House members were not willing to doing to.
Ives then spoke about the work of grassroots Republicans in turning in 16,000 signatures in only four weeks. This included 520 circulators of petitions in 64 counties. Ives noted that where ever she goes in Illinois she receives a warm reception, an indication that voter motivation is high for Ives, in contrast to the rejection of Rauner by Illinois voters.
Campaign promises made by Jeanne Ives
- Property taxes would be cut, not frozen. Property taxes in Illinois are out of control. Home owners end up renting from the government.
- Spending would be cut. Ives, when serving in the House, did propose and filed bills to cut spending.
- On day one a task force would be formed to detect and prosecute public corruption in Illinois. Mention was made by Ives of the corruption in the Cook County Assessment System. Governor Rauner was given the vehicle to lead on this issue, but he didn't follow through.
In closing, Ives wants Illinois to be a place which our families can call home for many generations to come.
Republican Secretary of State, Joshua Griffin
Following Jeanne Ives, Joshua Griffin spoke about his credentials as a Republican candidate to unseat Jesse White, Secretary of State.
Joshua Griffin expressed his disgust of Illinois in its status as a failed state. Regarding Jesse White, having served a total of 40+ years in public elected office, Jesse represents "the machine" politics which operates within Illinois. As such, said Griffin, we need fresh voices in Springfield and around the state. Voices that will stand up to the establishment every time they attempt to set the status quo back in place. No longer can we allow our elected officials or political parties to dictate the rules and reap self-dignified personal gain from their highly coveted political perches. Joshua Griffin's impressive bio is noted here.
A native of Chicago, IL, Joshua “J.C.” Griffin was born on the city’s south side and raised in the both the western and southern suburbs of Cook County. is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force, and the 4th generation of military serviceman from his family. After a distinguished military service from 2007 – 2012, Griffin achieved the rank of Senior Airman prior to receiving an honorable discharge in 2012. Griffin also holds Impressive business credentials.
RALC Officers
Bob Bednar, Chairman
Glenn Garamoni, Vice-Chair
Mike McKay, Treasurer
Mary Biron, Secretary
Bob Cook, Executive Director
Lake County Legislators and Officials Present at December 2 event:
- Adam Solano - Candidate – State House District 62
- Jeanne Ives – State Rep. District 42 - Candidate – Governor
- John Reinert – McHenry County Board District 2 – Candidate State Senate District 32
- Doug Bennett — Candidate US House District 10
- Mark Shaw – Lake County Republican Central Committee Chairman
- Larry Falbe - Lake County Federation President
- Jeri Atleson - Fremont Township Trustee
- Tom Weber - Lake County Board – Candidate State Rep. District 64
- Marty Zeidman – Moraine Township Republican Chairman
- Mark Curran, Lake County Sherriff
- Bob Bednar – Candidate for Lake County Board, District 6
- Glenn Garamoni - Fremont Township Republican Chairman
- Nancy Kubalanza – Grant Township Republican Chairman
- Marjorie Kubalanza – Lake County Central Committee Chairwoman
- Connie Shanahan – Fremont Township Trustee
The new RALC Meeting location is Fremont Public Library located on 1170 Midlothian Road, Mundelein IL. Meetings are held at 7:00 p.m. on the 3rd Thursday of every month. The next meeting will be on Thursday, January 18th.
