I am currently having a problem. As a Republican, i would love to be able to have someone from my party represent me in the state house from my own party. However, I am having reservations about supporting our current candidate. It is not that he is 21 or a student. It has more to do with the maturity level. Someone running for any office should not be bragging about what they did on Unofficial St. Patricks Day. I am also leery about supporting a candidate that thinks that there is some natural right for college students to binge drink.
I also have a problem with the fact that Mr. Calabrese has zero ties to Champaign-Urbana outside of his college days. Contrary to what he may think, there is more in CU than the U of I. How is Calabrese going to reach out to the non-student population in the 103rd who are actually registered to vote in the 103rd? Most students are not from CU nor are they registered to vote here at all! Remember how most election years, Mark Sheldan is accused of disenfranchising students because he enforces actual election laws? How is Calabrese supposed to just rely on student voters when most students can not vote in his own state house race? How many students are actually from the 103rd? I have three options, just "support the party" and vote for Calabrese, switch over and vote for Naomi, or just skip that line in its entirety. What should I do? What is Frank going to do for the actual residents of the 103rd district rather than some kids from the "Burbs?"
Finally, when will the GOP get some real candidates from this area to "threaten" Naomi? I know that Mr. Brendan McGinty might give her a primary in 2010 after the November election. Maybe he would be a better state rep than the above options?
Any thoughts?
Why don't you stop complaining and recruit some "real" candidates yourself.
Without Calabrese running, instead of your current three options, you would only have two: vote for Naomi or not vote at all. At least you have a conservative choice.
Fair enough, but isn't it fair to ask why we Republicans have not had a clear choice in 4 years?
Good observation, however, i probably am going to support the entire party and vote for Calabrese. Naomi has been so ineffective. People are right that if the state party is going crazy with bumping Frank off of the ballot, they must be scared of losing that seat.
On another note, is there enough discontent with how the Democrats have handled the state government, that the state GOP could possibly take one if not both houses back? I know that we may have a shot at taking the County Board back. Anyones thoughtful analysis would be helpful.
We can take the county board this time, and focus on bigger things next time. The local party is still pretty weak. How many precinct committeemen ran in the primary in Champaign County? How many of those spots are filled now? (If memory serves, it's around half?) It's going to take time to find, recruit and cultivate "real" candidates. It's going to take time to educate the citizens. It's also going to take cooperation and hard work. It's fair to ask why we don't have a stronger candidate running or why we have so many uncontested races, and other important questions, but it's not really going to bring anything positive to launch personal attacks on the one person who is sticking his neck out to run against Naomi.
MMM, I think that it's ok for Robert to voice his frustration. It doesnt show a lack of faith in the principles of the GOP but rather a healthy calling-to-account of the judgment of those who select candidates. Actually I do think that it does bring out something positive for Robert to express his dissent in whatever manner, and when it comes to expressing dissent about a candidate, almost all valid attacks will be personal.
Obviously the local GOP was not at all well prepared, for what ever reason. Maybe they didnt know that 2008 was an election year. Things like that so hard to keep up with ya know and are easy to forget for people who are busy. Dissent helps to raise the question of how do we avoid this trouble on the next go-around.
If it is that difficult for the GOP to get anybody to run and the DEM put up some real losers why all the effort to remain partisen?
"Maybe they didnt know that 2008 was an election year."
I think you may be on to something there... :)