-By Warner Todd Huston
Here is a little tale of the nonsense that goes on all too often in the Illinois GOP that seems to show why Democrats don’t have to work too hard to destroy Republicans because Republicans will do it for them. It also tends to show that Democrats don’t have to worry overmuch that the Illinois GOP would ever bother to work to reform Illinois government.
Down in Champaign County John Bambenek is a precinct committeeman for the 34th District. Now, Bambenek is a well-known advocate for government reform and has been involved in activism for that for some time. Currently Bambenek is running for the 52nd District State Senate seat, as well.
But this story is about his committeeman’s spot. It turns out the establishment GOP of Champaign County is dead set on excising anyone interested in government reform even from the position of precinct committeeman because Bambenek is being primaried!
The shill in question is Champaign City Councilman Kyle Harrison, who has been put up to run against Bambenek for committeeman by Jason Barickman, the current COP County Chairman as well as the State Rep for the 105th District, and Gordy Hulten, the County Clerk.
Harrison is already the precinct committeeman for District One but is looking to take district 34 away from Bambenek. Why? It can only be that the party establishment is trying to get rid of anyone interested in government reform.
Further, it has been a practice in the past not to primary each other as committeemen unless it is an open seat. Yet here we have establishment Republicans targeting a reform-minded committeeman for removal. But I’m sure this is all just an accident, eh?
No wonder Democrats don’t have to work too hard wreck the Illinois GOP. Republicans have that handled all by themselves.
John Bambenek Is a candidate for the Illinois State Senate of the 52nd District. www.johnbambenek.com/.
Facebook: www.facebook.com/JohnBambenek
Twitter: twitter.com/bambenek
