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SATURDAY, MARCH 17, 2012

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Editor: Phil Angelo 815-937-3382 pangelo@daily-journal.com

Illinois primary

Its the delegates that count Tuesday


Dont stop after picking a presidential candidate
By Phil Angelo
pangelo@daily-journal.com 815-937-3382

You go to the voting booth on Tuesday, intending to vote for a Republican for president. You make your choice. You mark your ballot completely with the black marker. Does that ensure that the candidate of your choice will actually receive any delegates from Illinois? Not really. Thats because, in Illinois, the real choice rests with the delegates. Thus, if you want Mitt Romney to win, you will have to vote for Kurt Diekelman for delegate, or someone else you may have never heard of.

To really make your vote count, you will have to drop down to the third and fourth decision on the ballot, where the delegates and alternates are selected. The delegates and alternates names are listed, together with the candidate they support. There is an irony this time out that Illinois, regarded as one of the most Democratic states in the union for presidential politics and the home of President Barack Obama, could have an impact on the Republican presidential nomination. Illinois will have 69 votes at the Republican National Convention, scheduled for Aug. 27-30 in Tampa Bay. The Illinois count includes two bonus delegates one for electing a congressional delegation in 2010 that includes a majority of Republicans and one for electing U.S. Sen Mark Kirk.

Kankakee County Clerk Bruce Clark explained that 54 of those delegates will be selected Tuesday night, as voters pick three delegates in each of the states 18 congressional districts. In 2008, for example, John McCain won the majority of the delegate battles throughout Illinois, but Mitt Romney won three Illinois delegates by carrying the congressional district in Moline and Rock Island in the western part of the state. Even after Tuesday, Clark said, there will still be 15 delegates to be selected. A dozen will be picked at the state convention, set for June 8-9 in Tinley Park. Three others are selected by the state chairman.

The delegates jobs


Barbara Bobbie Peterson, of Beecher,

who has been a delegate to four Republican National Conventions, is on the ballot again, running to support Newt Gingrich. Delegates, she said, are bound to support the candidate they are pledged to on the first ballot. If the decision goes beyond the first round, delegates can vote for anyone. While this scenario is much espoused in the television media, because arguing makes for good theater, its highly unlikely. The last national convention that was not decided on the first ballot was the Democratic one in 1952, when Illinois Adlai Stevenson pulled ahead of Estes Kefauver. Peterson explained that both delegates and alternates go to the convention, and there have been occasions when alternates participate because an elected delegate fails to show. Both alternates and delegates, she said, pay their own way. Every dime, she said.

We asked each of the four delegates these questions:

What is the most important issue for the Republicans in 2012?

Why did you choose to support your candidate?

Do you have a second choice?

Will you support any Republican in November against Obama?

The delegate list


There are some other delegate candidates in the 2nd District that you may have heard of: Barbara Bobbie Peterson, of Beecher, who has been elected for four national conventions, is running as a Gingrich delegate. Hes the right person to debate Obama, she said. He would wipe the floor with him. Kankakee County Sheriff Tim Bukowski is running as a Romney alternate. Kankakee County Board Chairman Mike Bossert is running as a Gingrich alternate. He was asked at the last minute and thought going to the convention would be interesting. The complete slate in the 2nd Congressional District Romney delegates: Kurt D. Diekelman, Marjorie Milone and Suzy J. Newberg. Romney alternates: Tim Bukowski, Isaac Hayes and Miriam Shabo. Paul delegates: Anthony Raczek, James P. Wogan and Lisa Wogan.

Paul delegate Lisa Wogan


Lisa Wogan, of Momence, is running as a Ron Paul delegate. She also campaigned for Paul in 2008, running as a delegate then and serving as Pauls communications director for Illinois. Shes since been bitten by the political bug and has done public relations for Republican candidates in Illinois congressional and mayoral races. By profession, she is an independent Wogan marketing consultant in Momence. Most important issue? The economy and jobs. Thats what the polls show. Thats the reason I am still involved. Why Paul? The main thing that attracts me to him is his ability to see everything as a package. He connects the dots. He shows how our commitments overseas affect our ability to get things done at home. What he says makes a lot of sense. Second choice? I have nobody in mind; I am pretty confident about Pauls chances. Hes doing pretty well. Any Republican against Obama? I would have to assess that. I probably would not vote for Obama under any circumstances, but I might vote third party.

Gingrich delegate Darrel Smith


Darrel Smith, of Bonfield, is running as a delegate for Newt Gingrich. Smith is a former chairman of the Kankakee County Republican Central Committee. Hes been asked to run as a delegate before, but this is the first time he has actually done it. It was something I always considered, he Smith said. Most important issue? The economy. To rephrase something that has been said before Its the jobs, stupid. The Obama administration has revised the methodology for counting unemployment at least twice that Im aware of. Thats why the problem feels much worse than the numbers show. We are just not gaining enough jobs. Why Gingrich? He has the experience. He doesnt bounce back and forth on the issues. During the Clinton years, he helped balance the budget and got welfare reform through. There was more of a concerted effort then to do things right. We were on the path to solvency then. Second choice? Santorum. Any Republican against Obama? Hands down.

Santorum delegate Jay Farquhar


Jay Farquhar, the Monee village treasurer, grew up in Bourbonnais, and is now campaigning as a delegate for Rick Santorum. This is the first time he has sought a spot as a delegate. Most important issue? I support Santorum because he has the right inner core values. He also has the ability to deliver on all the other Farquhar issues. Why would a voter settle for a Republican candidate like Romney who is basically Obama-lite? Why Santorum? The most important thing to me is a candidates personal convictions. You look under the shirt to see if they are for sale. The other candidates are weak on convictions. Santorum has them. Too many people are citing electability. Santorum has won as many states as Romney while being outspent 40-to-1. In reality, Santorum is a gracious candidate who will protect our God-given and constitutional rights. Second choice? Not at this point. Any Republican against Obama? Yes. I cannot fathom letting him ruin the future for our families. He committed to getting unemployment below eight percent, and we havent been there yet.

Romney delegate Suzy Newberg


Suzy Newberg, of Bourbonnais, is campaigning as a delegate for Mitt Romney. She campaigned as an alternate for Romney in 2008. Shes long been active in politics. She is helping her father, David Newberg, campaign for a seat on the DeWitt County Board. Shes also been active with campaigns for Dan Rutherford, the former state senator, who is now the Illinois treasurer. Most important issue? Getting the economy back on track. Why Romney? Its his private sector business experience. Hes the only one who knows what it is like to build a business. Hes the one up to the task. Rebuilding the economy will not be fun. Hes the only one who can see the point of view of business, when it comes to work. Second choice? I havent really thought that far. But whoever becomes the candidate, we all have to get behind. Any Republican against Obama? Absolutely.

NewBerg

Paul alternates: Melanie Alejandre, Michael Neuliep and Michael Watson. Gingrich delegates: Barbara Bobbie Peterson, Judy A. Diekelman and Darrel Smith. Gingrich alternates: Todd E. Arseneau, Michael Bossert and Kimberly A. Curlee. Santorum delegates: David E. Smith, Caesar I. LeFlore and Jay Farquhar. Santorum alternates: George L. Pearson and James Skutt.

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