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Sangamon County Republicans endorse Giuliani

Posted December 19, 2007 10:00 pm

Bernard Schoenburg

The Sangamon County Republican Party Wednesday night endorsed former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani for president, and county GOP chairman Tony Libri said Giuliani may be the party's Lincoln Day Luncheon speaker at a special pre-primary date - Feb. 2.

The luncheon is usually held on Lincoln's birthday, Feb. 12, but Libri told committeemen meeting at Gardner Township Hall that the Giuliani camp suggested that "if we're really going to matter, they wanted us to have an event prior to Election Day."

He said there is a tentative agreement for the speech, and it could be solidified this (Thursday) morning.

"It should be a tremendous event," Libri said, noting that Giuliani is speaking the evening of Feb. 2 - a Saturday - in East Peoria, so a Springfield lunch would fit the same day.

The Sangamon County party's central committee also heard Wednesday from the three Republicans seeking to be nominated to the 18th Congressional District seat being vacated by U.S. Rep. Ray LaHood, R-Peoria, but decided not to make an endorsement yet.

"With the three wonderful candidates, we're hoping that somebody drops out on their own," Libri said.

Barring that, he said, a January endorsement will be made after more polling and watching how the campaign plays out among state Rep. Aaron Schock, John Morris and Jim McConoughey.

Precinct committeemen discussed the endorsements in closed session, but the results were announced in a public part of Wednesday's meeting.

"I think he is the one that has the best chance of winning," Libri said afterward of Giuliani.

As mayor of New York, including when terrorists hit that city in 2001, Libri said, "He proved his ability to lead."

Libri also said at the meeting that while the county organization reached out to several Republican presidential campaigns, "Rudy Giuliani personally called me - he really did."

Libri said he at first thought it was someone impersonating the candidate.

"I said, 'Man, you sound just like you,'" Libri said. "He said, 'Tony, it's me.'"

Springfield lawyer Dave White, Sangamon County coordinator for Giuliani, thanked the organization for its support and said the campaign sees the county as a key to winning Illinois and Illinois as a key to winning nationally.

White noted that former Govs. Jim Thompson and Jim Edgar are both for Giuliani. Their tenure represented "glory days" for Sangamon County and Illinois Republicans, White said, adding, "We can bring those glory days back." He also said Giuliani would "reshape the electoral map" and make it possible again for Illinois to be in the Republican column.

In his presentation, McConoughey touted his farm background, business and economic development experience, and the fact that he has "a little gray hair."

Morris spoke of his conservative credentials and Peoria City Council experience, and by introducing Chris Cearlock, a former Sangamon County committeeman now living in Maryland and on a 15-day leave from his Army National Guard duty in Iraq, generated a standing ovation for the soldier.

Schock said his record of winning school board and legislative seats and his experience in government shows he is electable, can do the job and will represent the area's values.

Bernard Schoenburg can be reached at (217) 788-1540 or bernard.schoenburg@sj-r.com.

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