By DOUG IBENDAHL • November 28, 2011
Today (Monday, November 28) is the first day for candidates to file petitions for all offices in Illinois (all except for the presidential delegates and congressional candidates). One week from today (Monday, December 5th at 5 PM) is the deadline for collecting and filing candidate petitions.
That’s plenty of time to still get on the ballot for one of the thousands of Republican Precinct Committeeman positions in the 101 counties outside of Cook – even if a candidate hasn’t started getting signatures yet. The whole process can be completed in a few hours.
The same is true in Cook County where all 50 Republican Ward Committeemen spots are up for election in Chicago.
It’s up to regular Republicans like you to get the Illinois Republican Party on track. Our State Party’s current officials are missing in action.
Our Illinois GOP needs new blood from top to bottom – literally thousands of fresh leaders. Republican Precinct Committeeman (or Republican Ward Committeeman in Chicago) is the perfect place to start.
Even if you aren’t running yourself this time, please help us with the final recruitment push. Simply forwarding this article to other good Republicans across the state would be a huge help.
The team in place by December 5 will largely determine the GOP’s fortunes in Illinois next year.
The Republican Precinct Project (www.RepublicanPrecinctProject.com) pulls back the curtain and provides the information and forms you need.
We’ve already heard from dedicated Republicans in several counties who are visiting their County Clerk’s office, purchasing a list of the county’s registered voters (typically just a few dollars), and then calling-up “Hard Rs” as part of their recruitment drive. This is smart politics as folks with an established and consistent history of pulling Republican ballots in Primaries are natural potential candidates for Republican Precinct Committeeman.
Work, church, family, friends, and civic and charitable groups are other obvious fertile grounds for recruitment.
Becoming a committeeman gives you a seat at the GOP table. While strictly volunteer, it’s a crucial job. Committeemen also represent the GOP’s farm team. From these ranks come the next candidates for county board, state house, state senate, school board, congress, and governor.
You’ll find more information on running for Republican Precinct Committeeman including links to the required forms HERE.
The rules and the forms are the same for 101 Illinois counties. That’s every one except for Cook County. No political party elects Precinct Committeemen in Cook which has a unique legal structure. However, the analogous position of Republican Ward Committeeman is available right now. All 50 of those Republican positions in Chicago are also up for election in the March 20 Primary. You’ll find more information on running for Republican Ward Committeeman in Chicago HERE. (Note the petition form and signature requirements differ a little from Precinct Committeeman, but the basic job of building the GOP and representing Republicans in your area is the same.)
If you ever have any questions about any of this, don’t hesitate to contact me at (312) 648-0061 or at [email protected].
Finally, even if you aren’t running for office this year, there is another way you can help. Your financial contribution to the Republican Precinct Project will help us get the boots on the ground necessary to counter Barack Obama and his Democrat pals in Illinois. You can contribute online or by mail HERE.
Paid for by the Republican Precinct Project. A copy of our report filed with the State Board of Elections is (or will be) available on the Board’s official website (www.elections.il.gov) or for purchase from the State Board of Elections, Springfield, Illinois.
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